The Outer Banks in North Carolina is made up of 200 miles of coastline dotted with several destination-worthy small towns. Stunningly beautiful, the coastal destination offers a wide variety of activities, scenic drives, shopping, restaurants, outdoor recreation, and of course the white sand beaches.
Duck and Corolla are two of our favorite charming towns on the less touristy northern shore of the Outer Banks.
Duck- Dining, Lodging & Shopping
The small seaside town of Duck is a popular Outer Banks beach destination for good reason. Visitors can roam 7 miles of beaches that are wide and uncrowded. A sound-front boardwalk makes getting around to Duck’s many shops and restaurants very easy and pleasant.
Dining
Duck has some of the best restaurants in all the Outer Banks, from casual to fine dining. Some of our suggestions include:
Blue Point established Duck as an Outer Banks dining destination when it opened in 1989. The menu is upscale Southern in a lively atmosphere with breathtaking views of Currituck Sound.
Head to the Paper Canoe for simple food in a polished atmosphere topped off with an amazing view. The owner hand picks fresh fish each morning for that evening’s menu.
Red Sky Café is an inviting casual café with a creative menu and top quality ingredients. The daily specials are always worth a try.
For your caffeine fix, head to Duck’s Cottage for artisan roasted coffee served alongside a handpicked selection of books. Coconut Crunch coffee is their signature flavor.
Duck Donuts is legendary and his since expanded all over the east coast, but the original is here. Expect a line out the door most mornings for these delicious fresh donuts.
Lodging
Most visitors to Duck rent a beach house or cottage. There is only one hotel in town, but it’s a great one— the Sanderling Resort. The newly renovated oceanfront resort features two pools, three restaurants, spa treatments, tennis, and golf. The resort pool is family friendly, while the tranquility pool caters to the adult-only crowd. All the buildings in the resort are in close proximity to each other and to the Atlantic Ocean and Currituck Sound, providing for an easily walkable village atmosphere.
Shopping
Duck is jokingly referred to as the Rodeo Drive of the Outer Banks due to the high number of truly great stores. Some of the best clothes shopping and home décor can be found here, as well as art galleries, jewelry stores, and gift shops. Duck boutiques and specialty shops are unique and individually owned- you won’t find a mall or superstore here. The nice thing is that the shops are clustered together within a half-mile stretch, so you can park your car and walk from place to place.
Some of our favorite shops include:
Bar-EE Station for men’s and women’s clothing and bathing suits
Duck’s General Store for a variety of gifts and Duck souvenirs
SeaDragon Gallery for artisan jewelry and handcrafts
Corolla- History, Horses & Outdoor Adventure
Corolla was one of the last areas of the Outer Banks to be developed, so it has retained much of its natural beauty. Nevertheless, today it is still a major tourist destination for its beaches and plentiful outdoor activities.
Corolla Park
Historic Corolla Park is a large public park with three distinct attractions. A short walk through Corolla Park will lead you to the unique red brick Currituck Beach Lighthouse. Take a tour and climb to the top for an amazing view of the ocean. For those interested in history, the Whalehead Club is a restored 1925 mansion and museum. Some claim it is haunted! Finally, the Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education is full of information about local nature, wildlife, and community history.
Wild Horses
The area is famous for its Wild Spanish Mustangs. They are usually spotted roaming freely on Corolla beach. Take a jeep tour with Wild Horse Adventure Tours to get the best viewing. They have exclusive access to the Wild Horse Sanctuary on Swan Beach and the experienced guides are very knowledgeable about the area and the horses.
Outdoor Recreation
Fishing is huge here, as it is all over the Outer Banks. It’s part of the history in the village and the Currituck Banks dating back to the original native tribes and first settlers. Everything you need from fishing equipment rentals and bait and tackle outlets to fishing charters in the ocean and sound are readily available.
Tip: If fishing is part of your plans, you’ll need a Freshwater Fishing License. Getting this license is super easy, as they are available at tackle shops, Wal-Mart, K-mart and at the Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education.
Another popular activity is going on a sea kayak outing to discover a different perspective of the area’s natural beauty. Corolla Watersports rents Waverunners, pontoon boats, standup paddleboards, sit-on-top and sit-in kayaks and two and four-seat pedal boats.
At the beach in Corolla, you don’t need a permit to drive your AWD vehicle on the beach. At the end of the paved road on NC12, drive down the unpaved path on the right to access the beach. Make sure to remove some air from the tires first and bring a shovel in case you get stuck!
Tip: There are designated lanes and low speed limits. The beaches are generally closed for driving in the peak season, so check the posted signage.
