After a hot, busy summer, some of us are longing for a cooler, simpler season… fall. Everyone looks forward to the first day of fall. It’s the first day where you can pull out your boots, scarfs, and flannel shirts, and begin stocking your home with all the pumpkin flavored items your heart desires. Even though summer gets all the glory on the Outer Banks, fall is a hidden secret among locals, who claim it to be their favorite time of year. The island feels more at ease with less crowds and more beach to enjoy. Check out our Top 10 List to see why you should plan an OBX getaway this fall.
School is back in session and families are getting back to their yearly routine. The summer travelers have come and gone, making it much easier to get to the beach, your favorite Outer Banks restaurants, and local attractions. Spend less time in the car and more time enjoying all your favorite OBX spots.
Less traffic, of course, equals more beach for you! Finding a spot to spread out your beach blanket is easier than ever. There is plenty of room to surf fish, paddle board, surf, or just sit and relax. The cooler temperatures in the 70s make it more enjoyable to kick back and enjoy a good book in your beach chair.
Local fishermen don’t want to give away this secret, but fall is the best time to go fishing on the Outer Banks. A variety of fish begin to migrate from west to the east coast in the fall, so there is more fish in the sea for you to reel in. White marlin, sailfish, and tuna are plentiful for the offshore angler. Inshore, pier, and surf fishing are also promising if you’re looking to fill up your cooler with Spanish and king mackerel, bluefish, red drum, cobia, trout, mullet, and puppy drum.
Whether you’re a seasoned rider or just enjoy watching from the shore, fall is when the waves get bigger and the surfing is at an all-time high. Windswells, north, south, and east swells and light westerly winds make for great surfing conditions, especially on Hatteras Island. If you’re no Kelly Slater, you can still enjoy watching as the best amateur surfers at the Easterns surf competition at Jennette’s Pier, that takes place every fall.
Were you craving a jerk burger from Tortugas’s Lie this summer, but couldn’t take the wait? Now is your chance to visit your favorite OBX restaurants and grub on your favorite dishes before some places close for the winter. Many restaurants offer discounts and specialty menus during the fall so you can try something new at an even better price.
Leisurely climb the lighthouses and visit the Wright Brother’s Memorial without feeling the rush of the crowd. You can finally take you time to soak in the history and the beauty of these famous local attractions.
Get a jump on your Christmas shopping this fall on the OBX. Many shops prepare to close for the off-season and offer wonderful deals on unique trinkets and gifts. Outlets Nags Head is also a don’t miss spot for Black Friday shopping and fall sales.
The change in temperature and weather conditions make for stunning sunsets that you just have to see in person. Vibrant colors of purple, orange, red, pink, and blue fill the evening sky and are the perfect way to end the day. Watch the sun set over the sound from the public soundfront piers and gazebos or from the sun decks of your soundfront vacation rental home.
From the foodie to the music lover, there is a special event for everyone to enjoy on the OBX this fall. The Easterns Surfing Championships, the Outer Banks Parade of Homes, Outer Banks Seafood Festival, and Duck Jazz Festival are just a few of the upcoming fall events that you don’t want to miss.
A getaway to the OBX is incredibly affordable in the fall. Rental rates are heavily discounted in the off-season, which means you can stay in a great location for a fraction of the summer price. From Corolla to Hatteras Island, you have a wide selection of homes to choose from. Our Last Minute Offers page allows you to submit an offer (21 days or less prior to your arrival) for the chance to receive incredible savings on your trip. We always have homes on special on our Weekly Specials page too!
The OBX is yours for the taking this fall. Don’t miss the sights, sounds, and events that only happen this time of year. Book your fall getaway on the Outer Banks today!
Rain. Wind. Red flags. Sunburn. When these unfortunate events strike on your Outer Banks vacation, we have the perfect prescription. Head to Manteo, North Carolina for some indoor fun at Jumpmasters Trampoline Park! We decided to do just that this past week — when the Outer Banks was inundated with rain for what seemed like FOREVER. No fear! We simply jumped in the car and took a quick trip over the Washington Baum Bridge to Roanoke Island to the charming waterfront town of Manteo to check out Jumpmasters. And we have to say, WE. HAD. A. BLAST.
Jumpmasters Trampoline Park features fun for the ENTIRE family! From the obstacle course and foam pit with foam jousting sticks, to the climbing wall, dodgeball area, and multiple trampolines for “open jump,” we forgot all about the rain!
Rock Climbing Wall
Build muscle and hone your skills as you defy gravity and master your ascent while enjoying some rock wall fun.
https://youtu.be/4NdJl3eQVO8
I don’t know about your kids, but mine live for the TV show “American Ninja Warrior” in the summer. So when they discovered that Jumpmasters had their own smaller-scale version of a ninja warrior course that they could try for themselves, they were pumped!
https://youtu.be/niolm61bfe8
The balance beam meets jousting. Only the lances are soft (and a bit more awkward we might add) and the pit below is full of cushy blocks of foam. So instead of perishing, you’ll just fall off the balance beam and giggle as you try to make your way out of the foamy pit.
https://youtu.be/K6a4raFdwcw
Feeling brave but want the assurance an extra soft landing? Try out the air bag! This unique airbag landing area is just that…a HUGE BAG OF AIR. Practice your flips, spins or other amazing acrobatics, all with the confidence that you’ll land safely on a giant, inflatable airbag.
Dodge Ball
Just when you thought the long lost days of PE were done! The funnest sport from your childhood re-emerges…but this time on trampolines! Jumpmasters has a dedicated area to play this classic game with friends. The only downside is that once you’ve experienced trampoline dodgeball, you’ll never want to play normal dodgeball again.
Open Jump on the trampolines
Jumpmasters has trampolines on the floor and trampolines on the walls. The only place they don’t have trampolines is on the ceiling. Easily the most well known attraction of indoor trampoline parks, the open jump trampoline area is home to the best acrobats, stuntmen, and daredevils…even the smallest of jumpers can get airborne during Toddler Time, safe and supervised jump time each morning from 9 to 11AM.
Planning on checking out this super fun indoor trampoline park on the Outer Banks? Check out a couple of helpful tips before you go…
In addition to Jumpmasters Trampoline Park, Manteo, North Carolina offers a full day of fun excursions for the entire family to enjoy on your Outer Banks vacation. Be sure to check out Roanoke Island Festival Park, The Elizabethan Gardens, Fort Raleigh Historical Site, and the NC Aquarium…plus several local boutiques and a variety of dining options (for the epicurean and the casual diner alike!) — located downtown along the beautiful Manteo waterfront.
Inspired by owner and operator Brent Johnson, a retired Major in the U.S. Army and certified Army jumpmaster, Jumpmasters is located on Highway 64 in the old Griggs Lumber site in Manteo. For more information about Jumpmasters, including operating hours and ticket prices, visit www.jumpmastersobx.com.
The history of flight and The Wright Brothers go hand in hand. Almost everyone knows who the famous flying brothers are and how much they contributed to the science of aviation. However, not everyone knows that the first flight took place right here on the Outer Banks! On December 17th, 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright made history with the first successful powered airplane flight.
The first flight actually took place in Kitty Hawk even though the park and the memorial are both located in Kill Devil Hills. Wilbur and Orville chose Kitty Hawk because the tall sand dunes and high winds would give them enough lift and all of the sand would allow a soft place to land. On the day of December 17th, 1903, 5 other people witnessed the first flight. Adam Etheridge, John T. Daniels, Will Dough, W.C. Brinkley, and Johnny Moore. John T. Daniels took the now-famous photo of the first flight. Statues of all 7 people on this historic day are actually at the Wright Brothers Memorial in Kill Devil Hills!
– Orville Wright was the first brother to fly the glider because of a coin toss
– The Wright Flyer flew at 10:35 AM and was airborne for 12 seconds before landing
– The first flight spanned 120 feet
– After the first flight in 1903, the Wright Flyer was destroyed by a strong gust of wind
– Wilbur is the oldest of the two brothers
– John Daniels had never seen a camera before taking the photo of the first flight; in fact, he was so excited about what he was seeing he almost forgot to take the photo
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