Duck, the Northernmost Outer Banks Beach Town

Duck is the northernmost town on the Outer Banks, and its name goes back to the turn of the 20th century, when duck hunting in the Currituck and Albemarle Sounds helped define the area. In that era, when ladies' hats were in fashion, Duck briefly became known as one of the largest sources of colorful duck feathers used for those hats — another reason the name fits so well. Hunters still come to the marshes and low islands in the Sounds, and Outer Banks guides can take visitors out for a day of bird hunting. Today, though, most people come to Duck for its calm, residential beach-town atmosphere. Its seven-mile shoreline is reserved for residents and guests staying in local rental homes and hotels. Here, simple is part of the charm.

The standout place to stay is the Sanderling Resort, a luxury oceanfront property offering rooms and suites with ocean and sound views, strong on-site dining, and plenty of space to relax through the day. The resort’s spa is well known across the Outer Banks, and guests who like to stay active will find a gym, tennis courts, and a mixed-use path for biking and walking that runs right by the property.

Although the Outer Banks are especially narrow through much of Duck — from the top floor of the Sanderling, the ocean and the Sound are both visible without even turning your head — the town offers more than many longtime Outer Banks travelers expect. Some still remember when the paved road stopped in Duck, and going beyond town hall meant driving on firm sand tracks.

Duck maintains a one-mile boardwalk along the Sound, linking shopping areas and restaurants while creating many spots to pause and take in the view. Visitors can step off the boardwalk for a bit of shopping, slip into a restaurant for food or a drink, enjoy the scenery, and watch the flow of people passing through town.

Restaurants in Duck run from polished fine dining to relaxed, easygoing meals. Kimball’s Kitchen, at the Sanderling Resort, and Aqua Restaurant are both excellent fine-dining choices, with menus built around the freshest seafood and produce available and dishes designed to impress. Blue Point brings inventive preparations to local seafood and serves them in a beautiful setting. Duck also has several strong pizza options, so anyone looking for a slice or a whole pie — or two — for the group has plenty to choose from. Coffee shops, bakeries, and breakfast spots are easy to find, along with casual favorites such as Cookshack Fried Chicken and Coastal Cantina.

One food stop in Duck stands above the rest: Duck Donuts. Duck Donuts locations can be found throughout the Outer Banks and in many inland places, but the original is here. Duck Donuts serves vanilla cake donuts that are made-to-order, custom-topped, hot, and extremely fresh. Toppings such as crumbled Oreo cookies, cinnamon and sugar, graham crackers, and even bacon make every donut a little different — and it is not hard to eat two or three or even four.

Shopping in Duck avoids the big-box beach-store feel and keeps things local. There are plenty of t-shirts and souvenirs, of course, along with beach-day essentials. Beyond that, visitors will find bookstores with carefully chosen local-interest titles and bestsellers, boutiques stocked with everything from yoga gear to resortwear, gift shops and galleries filled with work from local artists and artisans, and several excellent fish markets.

Guests staying in Duck will probably want to head to Kitty Hawk or Kill Devil Hills for the first big grocery trip, since the stores there are larger and offer a broader selection. For snacks or the things that slipped off the shopping list, Duck has a few convenient places to pick up what is needed.

Spending time in Duck feels closer to living on the Outer Banks than simply visiting, even if the stay lasts a week or less. For anyone thinking about moving from wherever they are now to this part of the coast, staying in Duck and getting to know a few locals can offer a clear sense of what life might feel like when the new address ends in OBX.

Discover More in Duck

Places To Stay

Whether the trip calls for luxury resorts or peaceful beach cottages, Duck gives vacationing families and carefree couples a range of places to settle in.

Restaurants

The food scene across the Outer Banks is strengthened by the many people who help shape it. Travelers have been coming here for years, and Duck adds its own memorable dining options to that coastal mix.