Outer Banks Bucketlist for November

There’s no doubt the vacation season is over when you are here in November.  Except for Thanksgiving week, the roads, restaurants and the beach are less crowded. Many locals have adjusted to this slower pace and  it feels like the Outer Banks is a small town again. It’s easy to enjoy the Outer Banks this time of year.  Here’s our Outer Banks bucketlist for November.

Walk in Nags Head Woods

Taking a walk in Nags Head Woods this time of year is enjoyable. Our foliage changes much later than inland and to the north. November is usually the peak time for the leaves changing in this area.  Also, most of the insects and reptiles have found places to hide or hibernate from the cooler weather.  Picking a day with northeast winds can be especially enjoyable. Besides Nags Head Woods Road, there are over five miles of public trails throughout this maritme forest.

Bonfire on the Beach

There’s nothing like having smores on the beach on a cool fall evening. Just sitting there enjoying the sound of the waves crashing and the fire crackling is exhilarating. Most municipalities do not allow bonfires on the beach. They are concerned about the sparks catching beach grass on fire. However, Nags Head does under certain conditions.

Theoretically, they will issue a permit if light winds from the west are forecasted and very little chance of stronger winds.  You can purchase that permit here.  You can also obtain a permit for free from the National Park Service for a bonfire on the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.  Here’s a link to their permit and guidelines. November is a great time for this because most nights won’t be bitterly cold and we still get many nights with light and westerly winds.  Later in the year, the winds are usually out of the east or northeast.  You have to be flexible on what night to have that bonfire but watching the weather forecast will help you eliminate days with no chance. Of course, there’s no guarantee that the permit will be approved but if you have a window of a week or so then you should be able to find a night that is permitted.

Check out local art

It’s hard to say how many artists call the Outer Banks home. It’s likely in the hundreds. From decoy carvers and jewelry makers to photographers and painters, the Outer Banks has a rich history of artisans of all types.

You can find art for sale and/or a gallery in just about every Outer Banks town including Ocracoke and Roanoke Island. The Outer Banks lifestyle and environment brings out creativity in locals. We’re so lucky to have this resource! November is a good month to take a drive and view local art at a gallery. Usually, we’ll get some rainy or windy days that are best for an indoor activity. Also, traffic is lighter this time of year.

Probably the best place to learn about local art is the Dare County Art’s Council web site.  Besides information on local artists, you can also see a list of local events including art exhibitions, film screenings, performances and workshops. It makes sense this month to line up a tour of galleries for a rainy day or plan on attending a local art event.

There’s certainly no shortage of fun things to do on the Outer Banks in November.  We hope you get a chance this month to enjoy some of our Outer Banks Bucketlist for November items!