Things to do / Travel Guide
Address:Duck, North Carolina
Our Tourist Attractions Expert Says:
What better way to spend your vacation than to be surrounded by nature in a tiny town with plenty to keep you busy? The little town of Duck on North Carolina's Outer Banks stretches from the Currituck Sound to the Atlantic Ocean. Complete with dune-lined beaches, Duck offers plenty of water activities and great views, and its main part of town is known for great shopping. Duck also has some fantastic restaurants. Vacationers usually rent private beach houses. The best time to visit Duck is in the off-season after Labor Day when the drive isn't as backed up with traffic, and accommodation rates are cheaper.
Duck's beaches are spacious and accommodating so they're great for families or couples looking for a romantic interlude. See the beautiful dunes by riding one of several beach bike paths. Other activities on the Atlantic or Currituck Sound include pleasure boating, kayaking, wildlife observation, fishing, parasailing and windsurfing. Duck is known for having great windsurfing. Several outfitters in Duck supply all the goods and gear you need for these sports.
If you prefer indoor recreation, you will appreciate Duck's day spas and shops. The main draw in Duck is shopping. This town is full of shopping opportunities, including gift shops, art galleries, clothing boutiques, specialty shops, beach outfitters, book stores, kids' shops and more. There are many outside "malls", including Scarbough Lane and Scarborough Faire, a system of vendors connected by planked walkways styled to feel like piers and the Waterfront Shops. Although there are a couple of local chains, most are assorted stores with an array of offerings. There are many other stores, some stand alone, others in clusters. Try My Nuts is a shop specializing in gourmet concoctions with ingredients that include everything from peas to pretzels.
Duck is also a great place to eat, and restaurants range from pizza joints and delis to upscale restaurants, many with award-winning wine lists. Being a town on an island, seafood is the main attraction on almost every menu. At some places you can eat lunch or dinner outdoors. A few restaurants afford you a stunning water view with your meal. Fishbones, a local bar, is basically what you get in the way of nightlife. Duck doesn't tailor to commercial tourism the way the southern portion of the island does, so you will enjoy peace and quiet as you discover this town.
The beauty and serenity of Duck has a way of growing on people, so its good that rental homes and condominiums can be rented by the day, weekend or by the week. Most people, especially families, rent beach houses for easy access to the beach. Rates fall 10-50% after Labor Day when the weather gets cooler in Duck. If you are visiting between the months of June and December, check the weather before you visit, as North Carolina and the Outer Banks are affected by the Atlantic Hurricane Season.
The Outer Banks are easily accessible from Norfolk International Airport, Norfolk, VA (82 miles north in Norfolk, VA), or Raleigh Durham International Airport, located in Raleigh, NC (192 miles west of the Outer Banks). Rental car services can be found at each of these airports. Duck is situated on Highway 12, just 10 miles north of Kitty Hawk, between Southern Shores and Corolla. In the off-season Highway 12 south is empty instead of the usual 4-hour drive during the season.