Once upon a time, beach towns practically rolled up the sidewalks at the end of summer, and many shops and restaurants shut down over fall and winter. Now, that isn’t the case anymore for many of North Carolina’s beaches, where visitors book trips year round.
Coastal towns from the Outer Banks and Wilmington through Sunset Beach are welcoming visitors for the holiday season, where beach rentals can hold large families so everyone can gather for Thanksgiving dinner or Christmas celebrations — and you can even find a few spots offering discounts.
If an off-peak season trip sounds like a good time to you, here are a few planning points to get you started.
Here are a few events to check out during holiday vacations at North Carolina beaches:
[BEST OF THE BEST: These NC beaches are among the best in the South, Southern Living says.]
While some restaurants do close at the end of summer, plenty of North Carolina beach spots stay open to serve you through the fall.
The Outer Banks tourism authority created a list of restaurants that remain open through the fall and noted those that are open for Thanksgiving for those who are gathering together at the beach.
In addition to grabbing a taste of North Carolina’s famous Calabash seafood in the Brunswick Islands, another flavorful perk of traveling to the beach at off-peak times is hitting the coast during oyster season, which runs October through March. If you’re an oyster super fan, you can hit up the NC Oyster Trail to explore restaurants to enjoy the fresh, local seafood, along with oyster farms you can tour and places to shop for shellfish jewelry.
[READER FAVORITES: Sand, surf and fun: Here are your picks for best beach vacation spots in the Carolinas.]
A few options to check out for North Carolina beach rentals outside of Airbnb or Vrbo include:
Bluewater Real Estate & Vacation Rentals
Location: 200 Mangrove Drive, Emerald Isle, NC 28594
Bluewater Vacation Rentals covers 800 properties from Atlantic Beach to Emerald Isle and offers holiday specials of up to 20 percent off select weeks at some participating rentals from Nov. 20-Jan. 1.
Holden Beach Vacations
Location: 123 Ocean Boulevard W, Holden Beach, NC 28462
Holden Beach Vacations, which was formerly Brunswickland Realty, has a variety of properties to choose from, including pet-friendly rentals, oceanfront and canal-front homes, and spaces for large groups to gather for multi-family holidays.
Sun Realty
Location: Multiple, including Corolla, Duck, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills and Hattaras Island
Sun Realty, which has offices throughout the Outer Banks, represents hundreds of properties. Holiday deals are available at select properties — most of which require a seven-night stay.
Blockade Runner Beach Resort
Location: 275 Waynick Blvd, Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480
Blockade Runner is currently undergoing renovations as it transforms to Trailborn Surf & Sound in early 2025, but it remains open for stays in the meantime. Oceanfront rooms offer stunning views, and there’s also a cottage that sleeps up to 26 people for large group gatherings. You can also reach the sound by crosswalk across from the resort..
If you’re looking for holiday vacation spots where you can bring your dog, U.S. News & World Report’s list of 32 best dog-friendly beaches in the U.S. touts North Carolina’s Crystal Coast, particularly the Atlantic, Indian, Emerald Isle and Pine Knoll Shores beaches.
Pets are also so welcome in the Brunswick Islands — which topped another dog-friendly beaches list — that you can find special guides to dog-friendly rentals and pet-friendly restaurants there, too.