Where do you go on the Outer Banks for world-class cuisine, marathon shopping trips, luxurious spa treatments, fantastic attractions and activities galore? Nobody would’ve believed it 25 years ago, but today the answer is the northern Outer Banks.
Just 25 years ago, the communities of Duck and Corolla were sparsely populated and barely on the map, yet today they are bursting with modern amenities that, together with undisturbed beaches, natural beauty and recreational opportunities, make the northern Outer Banks a top vacation destination on the East Coast.
The northern beaches offer a vast selection of vacation accommodations. The area boasts first-class inns, a couple of cozy bed and breakfasts, an oceanfront hotel and vacation homes to suit every need. Large luxurious estates offering the latest in opulence and indulgences can be found oceanfront as well as soundside, while a small family can still rent a comfortable and reasonable three- or four-bedroom cottage without as many bells, whistles and gadgets. The recreation-minded will opt to stay in a community with its own tennis courts, pool and fitness center. But even if you’re not staying in Duck or Corolla, take the time to make a trip up that way and you won’t be disappointed.
A drive up N.C. Highway 12 first takes you to the Town of Duck. More like a village, Duck was the most recent Outer Banks municipality to incorporate. After beach cottages began springing up in the 1980s, Duck became a favorite vacation spot because of its unspoiled beaches, small-town atmosphere and increasing variety of dining and shopping opportunities, in a setting nestled between the ocean and sound.
The best thing to do in Duck Village is to park the car and walk. A nice biking/walking path runs right through the village center, offering walkers access to several shopping centers. Wooded and waterfront shopping niches have been created in concert with the natural landscape and offer shoppers endless possibilities for shopping around. The shops in Duck are all locally owned, so you won’t see all of the same stuff you see back home in the malls. Each little boutique, gallery and shop is infused with the personality of its owner, and oftentimes you’ll find the owner greeting you at the door.
Take the time to browse through the shops in Duck and we guarantee you will not leave empty handed. If you have kids in tow, be sure to check out the Waterfront Shops, where you can have an ice cream cone and watch the ducks and geese swimming in the sound.
After walking around the village, you’ll be glad you’ve worked up an appetite. Eating is one of the best things to do in Duck. You’ll find waterfront restaurants, outdoor cafes, delightful coffee shops, wine-oriented fine dining and much more. All the restaurants are locally owned, and because there is so much healthy competition, even the sandwich shops and pizza joints are outstanding.
A delightful addition to Duck is Duck Town Park, found soundside in the heart of the village amidst 10 acres of maritime forest. The park, which is the site of concerts, performances, picnics, free exercise classes and other activities, includes walking paths, a playground, picnic tables, benches, a picnic shelter, a gazebo, a pavilion and a spectacular waterfront boardwalk that includes a kayak launch and observation decks for viewing wildlife. Check the Town of Duck Web site, www.townofduck.com, for any upcoming events or call the Events Hotline at (252) 255-1286.
The only real landmark on the beach in Duck is the “Research Pier.” The 1,840-foot structure, known formally as the Field Research Facility, is operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This observatory lives up to its motto, “advancing coastal knowledge through research,” by collecting and analyzing scientific data about ocean dynamics including tides, currents, wind and wave activity. Guided tours are given weekdays at 10am mid-June through mid-August. Call (252) 261-3511 for additional information.
In between Duck and Corolla is the incomparable Sanderling Inn, Resort and Spa. It’s a fabulous choice as a place to stay, but even if you’re not staying there you can enjoy the two fine restaurants and the spa.
Keep going up N.C. Highway 12 and you’ll reach Currituck County and the stretch of Outer Banks that’s known as the Currituck Outer Banks. On the way to Corolla, you’ll marvel at some of the mammoth vacation homes in this neck of the woods, and you’ll pass one of the best golf courses on the Outer Banks, The Currituck Club. You’ll know you’ve reached the resort area of Corolla when you start to see the commercial centers full of shopping and dining opportunities and activities.
Like Duck, Corolla’s shops and restaurants are locally owned and full of character. The stores are fun to browse, and the restaurants offer a wide range of fare to suit everyone’s tastes. TimBuck II Shopping Village in Corolla is a sprawling complex with shops, restaurants and activities, and you could easily spend a day there especially if you combine that with a trip to Monteray Plaza. Be sure to visit Historic Corolla Village, an eclectic mixture of shops in renovated historic buildings, and the Corolla Light Town Center across the street.
Corolla is home to three of the Outer Banks’ top attractions, which are centered on a beautiful soundside park known as Currituck Heritage Park. The park’s spacious grounds are the perfect location for a picnic, crabbing in the sound, a short hike or just relaxing on the nice green lawn. If you are vacationing in Corolla, think about cycling over; bike racks are provided.
Rising 162 feet from the sandy ground is the red brick Currituck Beach Lighthouse, which stands guard over the village of Corolla. The beacon was the final seacoast light built along the North Carolina coast, and can be distinguished at sea by its distinctive flash pattern on 3 seconds and off 17. The site is now owned and maintained by the preservation group Outer Banks Conservationists.
The lighthouse grounds feature the lovingly restored double keeper’s quarters (not open for tours) and a smaller keeper’s house that has been converted into a delightful museum shop. The site is open from Easter through Thanksgiving. Visitors can venture to the top of the structure for spectacular views of the ocean and sound. Admission is charged to climb the spire. To learn more visit www.currituckbeachlight.com.
Along with the Currituck Beach Lighthouse, The Whalehead Club and the Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education make up Currituck Heritage Park.
The Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education, administered by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, is a sleek facility with displays that interpret the natural history and heritage of Currituck County, the Outer Banks and surrounding region. The likenesses of waterfowl found on the Currituck Sound – canvasback, redheads, widgeons, snow geese, coot, and whistling swans – are found in the exhibit of more than 250 locally carved decoys. Additional interactive and traditional exhibits invite the curious to learn about the Atlantic Flyway, former gun clubs in the area, local watercraft, bird banding, conservation, the dynamics of a barrier island and much more. The Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education is very child-friendly. Youngsters particularly enjoy the 8,000-gallon freshwater aquarium underneath the life-size wetland display with mounts of indigenous animals such as deer, river otters, and raccoons peering through marsh grasses.
Contact the center to learn about free educational programming offered during your stay. Classes for all ages are offered, such as Nature Photography Basics, Kayaking, Maritime Forest Walk, Beach Exploration and Decoy Carving, but you must register in advance. Remember to take time to look around the NC Wild Store. The center is open daily 9am to 5pm with the exception of holidays. Call (252) 453-0221 for additional information or to register for a program.
Opposite the Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education is the elegant Whalehead Club, built between 1922 and 1925 by northern industrialist Edward Knight and his wife Marie. The couple enjoyed waterfowl hunting and used their home, which they called Corolla Island, as a winter residence to not only hunt, but to entertain family and friends.
The Knights were very much involved with the construction of the 21,000-square-foot home, which is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and is a definitive example of Art Nouveau architecture popular at that time. Over the years, the property changed hands and fell into a state of disrepair, and in 1992 was acquired by Currituck County. Through the creation of the Whalehead Preservation Trust, the building has been restored so that visitors might experience its original elegance.
Guided tours of the Whalehead Club answer all the questions you’ll have about this house museum and its history. There is a small museum shop offering an intriguing assortment of upscale treasures, including jewelry and gardenware made from the clubhouse’s original copper roof. The Whalehead Club is open for daily tours year-round 9am to 5pm. Admission is charged. The Whalehead Club also hosts concerts, art shows, wine festivals and other events. Check www.whaleheadclub.com to learn more.
Just down the road from Currituck Heritage Park is Historic Corolla Village and the Corolla Wild Horse Museum, which is located in Corolla’s historic schoolhouse. The museum offers informative exhibits about the wild horses that roam north of Corolla, and they have weekly activities in the summer. See www.corollawildhorses.com for information.
Although the northern beaches have experienced steady development in the past 25 years, one of the great treasures of the area is the combination of federal, state and private land that ensure that the natural integrity and beauty of the Currituck Banks are preserved. Just north of Corolla the paved state road N.C. 12 ends. Travel to the northernmost communities of Swan Beach and Carova is by foot or four-wheel-drive vehicle only.
The National Audubon Society, North Carolina Nature Conservancy, U.S Fish and Wildlife Service and North Carolina Division of Coastal Management all administer tracts of land on the Currituck Banks that encompass thousands of acres. This guarantees the protection of the unique environment made up of beaches, dunes, freshwater and brackish marshes, inter-dunal flats, shrub thickets and maritime forests, and provides an undisturbed habitat for native species such as white tail deer, grey fox, raccoon, possum, several reptiles, amphibians, and a host of birds. The area is also critical for migratory waterfowl.
The region north of Corolla is also home to the area’s famed wild horses, thought to be descendents of Spanish Mustangs left by early explorers. These stout and rugged banker horses live on beach grasses, marsh plants and rain water. They roamed freely throughout Corolla for years, but now, for their safety, they are contained on the northernmost Currituck beaches by two sound-to-sea fences.
One way to explore the land beyond the paved road is to take an excursion to see the wild horses. Tour guides knowledgeable of the area’s history and terrain take adventurers into the four-wheel-drive country to see native flora and fauna as well as some of the old lifesaving stations. It’s a great way to learn about the past as well as experience the beauty of the undisturbed northern beaches. Imagine rolling vegetated dunes, enchanting forests of Spanish moss-draped live oaks, sandy trails meandering through fields of marsh grasses and free-roaming wild horses. Opportunities for nature photography are exceptional.
In order to protect the habitat of the banker ponies, a wild horse sanctuary was created as a conservation easement held in perpetuity by the Corolla Wild Horse Fund. Please enjoy the horses, but remember they are wild animals and respect them. Drive slowly in areas where horses are known to frequent. Never feed a wild horse and make sure to stay a safe distance from them.
Outdoor and water sports enthusiasts will find an assortment of activities to keep them busy during their entire vacation. Opportunities to surf, body board, fish, kayak, jet ski, sail, parasail, wind surf or rent a pontoon boat are available in Corolla and Duck. Tackle and surf shops can help fill you in on where the active spots are, and outfitters are available to rent equipment or lead an array of tours or fishing and crabbing expeditions. If you’re a beginner, take a surfing or sailing lesson or a class in surf casting.
Two quaint, yet very active churches are found on the northern beaches. Duck United Methodist Church, first organized in 1914, holds traditional services at 8am and 10am in the sanctuary, and a contemporary service at 11:30am in the fellowship hall. Corolla Chapel, built in 1885, is an interdenominational church. The original building was moved in order that it might be expanded to continue its mission. Much of the original interior has been retained. Services are at 10am with an additional service at 8:30am during the summer months.
With so much to offer, it’s easy to see why Duck and Corolla are favorite destinations for Outer Banks vacationers. Along with all the activities and attractions, make sure you don’t forget to relax and rejuvenate. The setting is a perfect spot to savor precious time with family and friends, enjoy the beautiful beaches, or revel in the splendor of a sunset over the sound in this little slice of paradise. |
