Emerald Isle, NC and Its Gorgeous OFF-SEASON

Today’s post is all about marking the beginning of the “off-season” here on the North Carolina Crystal Coast. Whether you visit here occasionally or live here full time, experiencing winter along the Crystal Coast is a story that deserves telling. Before I begin, please subscribe to my blog now, or at the end of this post.

As I write this post, it is the first day of December. And this is significant for three reasons. First, today is my birthday! Bum bum bum bum bum bum BUM. Second, hurricane season is finally over. While only one named storm brushed the Crystal Coast, no previous hurricane season had so many storms. Third, today marks the beginning of our “off season” here along the Crystal Coast. To be sure, for some, especially those in the construction trades, off-season may be a misnomer as this is the time of year homeowners are making repairs and renovations to their homes. Commercial vehicles transporting loads of new lumber, step vans filled with the tools of construction, various pick-up trucks with electrical, plumbing, heating and cooling signs all are motoring on Emerald Drive in increasing number and frequency. That caveat aside, the ‘off-season’ I am celebrating is the return of the island to its fulltime residents, which includes me! Let’s face it. When it starts to get cold, most of you are not thinking about the North Carolina Crystal Coast. Your beach thoughts may wander to Key West or Sanibel, but they are not taking you to the Crystal Coast. Not in December, January or February, for sure. But, if you stay with me to the end of this post, maybe, just maybe, you will want to join me here in Emerald Isle this ‘off-season,’ parttime or fulltime.

As a fulltime resident, I’ve learned that nothing warms me up faster than a nice walk along the beach as I listen to the sound of the waves as they crash onto the shore and breathe in the cool fresh air. This time of year I usually take my daily walk in the early afternoon. Empty, cool, windy are words to describe the beaches of Emerald Isle and the Crystal Coast in the ‘off-season.’ I walk west down a deserted shore with the waves rumbling next to me on my left. I see little evidence of life except for a stray gull or a few pelicans gliding just beyond the surf zone. The wind whips sand particles stinging as they hit my face. Walking into the wind takes some effort. Geographically, this is a beach I visit often, indeed daily! But it is a very different beach than the one I walked only a few weeks ago in the early fall as storms, wind and waves have continued with their eternal reshaping of the landscape. Large sections of sand dunes have expanded, a result of the prevailing offshore winds arising from the southwest. The constant wind redistributes clouds of sand along exposed sections of beach. Sand grains collect in clam shells, behind clumps of dune grass or debris, any place that allows relief from the vigorous wind.

In my lifetime, I’ve seen nature’s reshuffling of this beach dozens and dozens of times. As I stroll along the shore, I find myself contemplating the fate of a grain of sand during its lifetime. How many times does a single grain of sand get moved? How far does it travel? I envision the grain of sand being blown down the beach by the wind and moving in and out on a wave or with the tide. The one constant for a sand grain is motion. The one constant for most beaches is change. With climate change triggering sea level rise and more intense storms, this current rate of change will also change. It is time to turn back and as I retrace my steps from the way I came; the wind is now at my back. With the wind at my back, nature doesn’t seem quite as violent. The waves coming ashore don’t look as big. A gull floats effortlessly above me on the wind exerting no effort at all, appearing at peace. As am I.

In the off-season, the beaches are not only made for walking, they are made for fishing, too. Fishing is a year-round sport along the Crystal Coast that doesn’t take a seat during the cooler months. During the fall months of October, November and early December, surf-casting anglers will find a bountiful source of false albacore and red drum. The false albacore can reach anywhere from six to 15 pounds while red drum in recent years have reached 70 pounds. Seatrout angling is also very popular in the fall, especially off the shores of Cape Lookout National Seashore and at Fort Macon State Park. The refreshing weather brought on by winter’s wind usher in with it some very large striped bass, lots of bluefish and plenty of large flounder. The chances of catching a ‘big one’ are enhanced along the Crystal Coast with Bogue Inlet Pier in Emerald Isle, convenient beach access at Fort Macon, and a Bogue Sound where many a fishing boat can be seen pleasantly bobbing about.

After all this physical activity, it is time to relax and watch the water flow. And, that reminds me of perhaps my favorite off-season activity: sitting on my dune deck and watching and listening to the ocean waters roll onto the beach. As you may know, Emerald Isle and other Crystal Coast beaches face south. What you may not know is that in the off-season, the prevailing winds shift from the southwest to the northeast. These northeast winds can be brisk but being Oceanside, here in Emerald Isle you are buffered from the cold by the entire width of the island. Many a day, you will find me sitting on my dune deck clad only in a windbreaker enjoying the sounds and sights of the beach with a book and beverage as my companions.

So, have I convinced you to visit my piece of paradise this off-season? To enjoy this perfect storm of a deserted, peaceful beach, impressive fishing and blissful day dreaming, come visit Emerald Isle and the Crystal Coast this off season. There’s no better present to give the family than a beach vacation to North Carolina’s Crystal Coast! You can rent one of my ocean front homes, Rooms with a View, by texting me at 919-308-2292. The off season is the best time to get a great deal on a rental property and, if a week is not enough, my home also has very affordable offseason monthly rates. Whether you’re looking for a non-traditional holiday vacation or just want to get away from the cold, Emerald Isle is the perfect spot for your next winter beach getaway or month-long retreat! So, come on down to learn more about living Emerald Isle, NC, visit my website, www.EmeraldIsleHomesforSaleNC.com and sign up for my blog. Explore the video tab for my weekly uploads to my YouTube channel. Subscribe to my YouTube channel and receive a free donut at my Flip Flops Donut shop. Text your email address to 919-308-2292 and be subscribed to my newsletter. In these ways you can still practice social distancing and learn about real estate! Stay well and Stay safe!