Halloween Fun in the Outer Banks

Halloween in the Outer Banks can be a fun filled weekend for both kids and parents alike. The weather is perfect for being outside which makes trick or treating fun for the whole family. If you are looking for other events to occupy your time, you have come to the right place. The Outer Banks has a host of activities planned for the Halloween weekend.

Kicking off the week will be the Harvest Heyday taking place at The Elizabethan Gardens. This fun filled event features games, music, hay rides and more. The festivities take place on October 25 from 2-4 PM. Kids under 12 get in free with a paying adult or a Friends member. Come early to explore the fabulous gardens and history that is featured here.

For more fun with the kids, head over to the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island for Trick or Treat Under the Sea. Kids can participate in a costume contest, scream contest, arts and crafts activities, or just mingle with some of the creepy characters that will be roaming about. Tickets are $6 and can be purchased at the aquarium. The event is on October 29 and activities are from 6-8 PM.

And for the final event in October, you can visit Currituck Heritage Park for the 6th annual Haunted Corolla Village. The haunting starts at 6:30 PM and runs through 9PM. Enjoy a haunted hay ride as you are told spooky stories. After the ride, walk the park grounds for more scary adventures!

Off Season in the Outer Banks

With the busy season winding down in the Outer Banks, now may be the best time to take a well deserved vacation or plan ahead for a winter getaway. While cooler, the weather is still very comfortable. Most months will record a high temperature of 80, with the exception of January. This cooler weather and general lack of tourists makes the Outer Banks feel like your own private island.

The off season is a great time to get the family together for a reunion. Book an Outer Banks vacation rental to accommodate everyone. Many people visit the Outer Banks in the winter months to escape the cold winters of the north, or to get their golf fix when everyone else has their clubs stored in the garage. The off season also features many deals and discounts. You can often find specials on food, activities and other fun things to do. Even if the water is too cool for your liking, you can still hit the beach to read a good book and relax as the waves crash on the beach.

If an Outer Banks vacation getaway sounds appealing, contact a vacation specialist at www.elanvacations.com. Our wide array of vacation rentals and staff knowledge of the area will ensure that you have the vacation that you have been waiting for and deserve.

Wild Horses of the Outer Banks

During your next vacation to the Outer Banks, one adventure that you should definitely not pass up is seeing the wild horses. As you may know, North Carolina's Outer Banks is home to hundreds of horses. These horses, also known as Banker horses, Shackleford ponies, and Ocracoke ponies, are said to have descended from a breed of Spanish horses and arrived to the barrier islands during the 16th century.

The Banker horse, although somewhat small, weighing approximately 800 to 1,000 pounds, is a tough breed. They have endured hurricanes, hot and humid summers, and winter storms. They live on the tough sea grasses and at times, limited access to fresh drinking water. The horses are docile and quite friendly, although it’s not encouraged to try and approach them.

Overpopulation, inbreeding, and protection of their habitat from being overgrazed, are managed by the National Park Service, the State of North Carolina, and several private organizations.

To see the horses, you can often drive along the beach and side roads if you have a 4WD vehicle. If you don’t, there are many guided tours to choose from. A few of these are below.

• Back Country Outfitters and Guides
• Beach Jeeps of Corolla
• Bob's Wild Horse Tours
• Corolla Outback Adventures
• Wild Horse Adventure Tours
  

At Élan Vacations, we hope you have an enjoyable vacation and take the time to share the beauty of these horses with the entire family.

Élan Vacations Activities Page

There is no doubt that the Outer Banks is full of activities for your family vacation. Sometimes it is difficult to decide what you want to do once you get here. Not to worry, Élan vacations has created a list of many of the area’s favorite activities and attractions. It can be found here: http://www.elanvacations.com/Outer-Banks-Activities.asp . As you can see, it is not a small list. There are so many great things to do and see, we had a hard time limiting the list.

One of the perks of staying with Élan Vacations is our concierge service. Simply check in and tell us what you are in the mood for. Our OBX experts will take it from there. They will make sure that you get to go fishing when you want, get the best tee time, and have reservations for the finest restaurants in the area. They are also a good source to ask what the local’s favorites are. Instead of asking, what the most popular restaurant is, ask them what their favorite place is, and you will be in for a treat. After a few moments speaking with our knowledge staff, you will feel like a local because of the tips you have learned.

To ensure that you are able to do the activities that you want, you should speak with our concierge when you make your reservations. This will give them plenty of time to make sure that the times and dates you are requesting for tee times, restaurant reservations and other activities are available.

Free Activities in the Outer Banks

This summer, if you are looking for a vacation that won’t dwindle your bank account severely, the Outer Banks is for you. Once you arrive, you will find that there are many free activities that can be enjoyed by the entire family. The Outer Banks is rich in history, beaches, sun and more fun than you can imagine. Here are some of our favorite FREE activities that you can enjoy while vacationing.

One of the top reasons family’s visit the Outer Banks is for the beaches. The best part is they are free! Unlike beaches elsewhere in the country, parking is free. That’s right, no parking meters! Save your change for something else. Year after year, the beaches in the Outer Banks are top rated by some of the travel industries best publications.

Jockey’s Ridge State Park also offers an abundance of free activities. From hiking the tallest natural sand dune in the Eastern United States, to flying kites and picnicking, this park will keep you and your family entertained for hours.

For those more interested in the science of the ocean and the surrounding area, visit the Army Corps of Engineers Field Research Facility in Duck. Here you can learn about waves and the many devices and vehicles that scientists use to study them. Because these waves and shoreline are so treacherous, this area is also named the Graveyard of the Atlantic. It has claimed over 2,000 shipwrecks and you can learn about them at the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum in Hatteras.

Visiting the Outer Banks doesn’t have to be an expensive vacation, as long as you know where to look. Activities are abundant and fun is also free!