Outer Banks Christmas Week Itinerary!

Thursday, December 25:

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Enjoy the day with your family, a beautiful sunrise at the beach, and a delicious meal together!!

Friday, December 26:

8:00 AM - Breakfast at Home or On The Go! Enjoy a quiet morning after Christmas with breakfast in your pajamas before greeting the weekend to be filled with adventures. If you're heading into town, or just want someone else to cook, stop by Sam & Omie's for a fisherman's hearty breakfast. Fresh Fit Cafe just down the road offers lighter fare as well as an amazing view of the water.

10:00 AM - Morning at Jockey's Ridge! It's so much fun to see Jockey's Ridge State Park soon after the sun rises. Enjoy the cool winds and the sound of birds and other wildlife as you run around on the dunes, have some fun in the sand, or head on across the street to Jockey's Ridge Crossing to get some post-holiday shopping in! Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy some outdoor time as well as your lunch together in the fresh air and cool breezes of these amazing dunes.

1:00 PM - Explore the NC Aquarium on Roanoke Island!  No trip to the Outer Banks is complete without a trip to the NC Aquarium on Roanoke Island. Explore the cultural history of the Outer Banks as connected to wildlife and the wetlands before visiting the Sea Turtle Assistance and Rehabilitation (STAR) Center where your kiddos can follow their own sea turtle through to rehabilitation in a fantastic simulation. Have some fun at the Touch Tank and explore the unbelievable history of the U.S.S. Monitor before taking a breather and relaxing in front of the massive tank with sharks and other fish.

3:00 PM - Visit Roanoke Island Festival Park! And when you're done at the aquarium, Roanoke Island Festival Park is just a hop, skip, and a jump away. Explore this amazing museum park where you can walk through the Settlement Site or take a tour of the Elizabeth II and get an idea of what life would have been like aboard a 16th-century sailing ship. Don't forget to visit American Indian Town or the Adventure Museum for some hands-on history that you won't soon forget.

5:00 PM - Dinner! Before heading over to the Annual Winter Lights at the Elizabethan Gardens, be sure to grab a tasty dinner in Manteo or Nags Head, just across the causeway. Enjoy something yummy at Mahi Mahi's Island Grill or Miller's Waterfront Restaurant. If you're hoping to stay on the island, why not try Blue Water Grill & Raw Bar or Orega'z?

7:00 PM - Winter Lights at Elizabethan Gardens! The Annual Winter Lights at the Elizabethan Gardens is the biggest light display on the Outer Banks! Kids and adults of all ages will love wandering through this enchanted winter wonderland of dazzling lights and holiday decorations. Tickets are $18 for adults, $14 for ages 6-17, and $8 for children 2 to 5. Infants under 2 get in free!  Dogs can come, too, for $6. Tickets can be purchased in advance online or at the door. The final tickets of the night are sold at 8:15 PM and since this display is outside, it is subject to weather cancellations. Even if you’ve been in the past, this is a display that you should see year after year! Click here for more information.

Saturday, December 27:

9:00 AM - Breakfast at Home! Enjoy a quiet, easy breakfast as a family from the comfort of your vacation rental. Open presents a little early, watch Christmas movies, and each other's company in one of the most beautiful places in the country. Make ahead some cinnamon roles or Bisquick sausage balls to pop into the oven so that there's no distracting from the calm quiet atmosphere of your early morning vacation. And if you're not one to cook? The Jolly Roger is almost always open for breakfast, even on Christmas morning, so give them a call and drive on down for a yummy brunch.

11:00 AM - Visit the Wright Brothers Memorial! While you're in town, be sure to stop by and see the essential sites. Most places are going to be closed tomorrow, so step back in time and celebrate the "12 seconds that changed the world" by visiting the Wright Brothers Memorial. Take a walk around the beautiful park, see the exhibits, and wonder at the tall, beautiful memorial nearby.

1:00 PM - Lunch in Kitty Hawk! After your tour of the distillery, which is always a lot of fun, head back into Kitty Hawk for some lunch. The Black Pelican is always a classic, with a wide variety of food options from pizzas to seafood. For that beachy vibe that will have you chilling to the sounds of the ocean, head on over to Rundown Cafe for a noodle bowl. If burgers are your thing, check out Art's Place for a local favorite or enjoy a sit-down dining experience with a great atmosphere and even better service at Vilai's Thai Kitchen. There's a little bit of something for everyone in Kitty Hawk.

2:00 PM - Take an Afternoon Trip to Ocracoke! Since you're already on this side of the island, why not hop on the Ocracoke Ferry and spend the afternoon exploring Ocracoke Island? See the British Cemetery. This piece of land has been leased in perpetuity to the British Commonwealth, serving as the eternal resting place for four brave souls who tragically lost their lives on May 11, 1942 when a German U-Boat torpedoed a British ship. Visit the Ocracoke Lighthouse and go shopping at one of the dozens of shops that are within easy walking distance of the main area in town. Check out Springer's Point Preserve and see if you can see the ghost of Blackeard on the water. Grab dinner at one of the amazing restaurants on the island and be sure to get back on the ferry before 8:00 PM. 

8:00 PM - Ghost Crabbing on the Beach! Although you need a few simple supplies, ghost crabbing is generally a cost-free activity that the whole family will love! Ghost crabbing can be done on any of our beaches on any day of the week at any time of the year. Head to your nearest beach access with a flashlight and your phone or a camera and try to find these little crabs darting in and out of the sand after sunset. Check out our Guide to Ghost Crabbing on the Outer Banks for more tips and tricks.

Sunday, December 28:

8:00 AM – Breakfast in Your Vacation Rental! Savor a peaceful breakfast in your rental before a final day of Outer Banks adventures. Brew some coffee, warm up leftover treats, or whip up a quick homemade breakfast before heading out. Order some bagels from Barrier Island Bagels and get ready for a delicious treat you'll be talking about for years.

10:00 AM – Morning at the Beach! Bundle up and head to a Public Beach Acess for an afternoon of beachcombing and looking for sea glass. Check our guide for looking for sea glass and you'll find that the quiet, peacefull "off-season" can be the perfect time to enjoy the beauty of the Outer Banks while finding spectacular shells and ocean wildlife.

12:00 PM – Lunch in Kill Devil Hills! Stop for a casual lunch at a local favorite before heading toward Manteo. Country Deli offers big sandwiches perfect for hungry families, while Mama Kwan’s is always a fun option with OBX-inspired favorites.

3:00 PM - Find Your Way Out at OB-Xscape Rooms! End the day by enjoying some family fun at OB-Xscape Rooms in Southern Shores! See who can figure it out the fastest in one of their exciting, memorable rooms like "The Blind Tiger Speakeasy," the "Rest in Peace Motel," or "Raptor Revenge." This is a great bonding experience while enjoying some indoor fun after an exciting day exploring the sites of the Wright Brothers' first flight!

5:00 PM – Farewell Dinner! End your trip with a memorable meal. In Manteo, try Blue Water Grill & Raw Bar or Ortega’z Southwestern Grill & Wine Bar. For a soundfront sunset view in Nags Head, Miller’s Waterfront Restaurant makes the perfect farewell spot.

7:00 PM - End the Day with Stargazing! After a fun day of food, family, and (who can can forget) presents, step out onto our balcony or drive to a local beach access and take in the stars. The Outer Banks is an amazing place to see many different constellations and the full moon is far enough away, that tonight should be an amazing night for catching a glimpse of the great beyond. Check out our Outer Banks Stargazing Guide for more information and ideas. 

BOOK YOUR NEXT STAY NOW!

OBX Christmas Ornament

Looking for a last-minute deal on an Outer Banks vacation rental home? Click here! We're booking RIGHT NOW for the rest of the year and 2026!

Book your stay today in one of our cozy vacation rentals and explore all the best and brightest that the Outer Banks has to offer. Give our wonderful Guest Services Team a call today at (866) 884-0267 or take a look at our available rentals to get started planning your next historic adventure to the Outer Banks.

Still Looking for the Perfect Gift? It's Not Too Late! 

There are a lot of great, local gift ideas on this list that will help bring the Outer Banks home for holidays with the people you love. But sometimes, it just doesn’t get any better than an actual trip to the Outer Banks! So why not give them something they’ll remember for the rest of their lives and book an exciting, luxurious Outer Banks vacation for your family? We even offer physical gift certificates that we will print out and mail to you (for no additional cost) so that you can have something to put under the tree and enjoy the thrill of seeing their happy faces on Christmas morning. Check out our available rentals and pick out the ultimate Outer Banks vacation rental for you and your family.