Corolla, Sanderling, Duck, Southern Shores
Not too many years ago, the road to the communities of Duck, Sanderling, Southern Shores, and Corolla on the northern Outer Banks was hard sand covered by a mix of gravel and shells. This part of the Outer Banks was definitely off the beaten path.
Today, that’s not the case, as the steady stream of cars clearly shows. Yet the area, for all its heavy development, has not lost all of its charm. You’ll find a lighthouse, shopping, beaches (of course), and a museum. Plus, if you pack your bicycle, you can easily work around the traffic by pedaling the greenway path from Duck to Sanderling, a distance of about six miles. Not too shabby! You can get a daily dose of exercise and enjoy the ocean breeze simultaneously. And if you venture over to the Currituck peninsula, you can soak in the ambiance of several historic coastal towns.
Where to Stay
If the northernmost beaches of the Outer Banks call your name, don’t duck Duck. Stay at Advice 5¢, a bed and breakfast (800-238-4235 or 252-255-1050; www.advice5.com). Or you might try May’s Landing Bed and Breakfast (252-261-2300; www.mayslandingduck.com). Either way, you’ll be close to the shops and restaurants of Duck. If you crave a lavish spa weekend, the Sanderling Inn (800-701-4111; www.thesanderling.com) is the place to go.
Where to Eat
Don’t go looking for homey barbecue shacks and old-time fried-fish restaurants on the northern Outer Banks. More often than not, the upscale fare is far removed from the “I’ll have fries and hush puppies with that” meals so plentiful elsewhere along the Outer Banks. Carolina Blue in Southern Shores serves French-influenced cuisine, as does Elizabeth’s Café and Winery in Duck. Other spots for dinner include Herron’s and Fishbones Raw Bar and Restaurant, both in Duck. The Red Sky Café in Duck serves gourmet sandwiches that are anything but typical beach fare.
Ways to While Away the Day
Architecture
If you can tear yourself away from the beaches and shops, you might enjoy a drive up U.S. 158 West to visit the mainland coastal communities of Currituck, Moyock, and Coinjock. In Currituck, you’ll find North Carolina’s oldest jail, as well as the Currituck County Courthouse. In Moyock, you can enjoy walking Shingles Landing, a three-block area of historic homes. In Coinjock, you can see an old section of the Intracoastal Waterway that was once known as the Albemarle-Chesapeake Waterway, which opened in 1859 and was blockaded by Federal troops in 1862.
Crabbing
Maybe what you really want to do to put work stress behind you is to round up some fresh crabs for dinner. Currituck Sound is the place to go. Numerous public-access points will put you near the grassy, shallow water.
Tidbits
Currituck County was established around 1668. It was one of the colony’s original counties.
In the Algonquian Indian language, the word Currituck means “land of the wild goose.”
Coinjock has had several spellings, including Coenjock, Cornjack, and Cowenjock.
Golf
If you’ve come to the northern Outer Banks thinking of golf, visit the Currituck Club (888-453-9400 or 252-453-9400; www.thecurrituckclub.com) in Corolla; the Carolina Club (252-453-3588; www.thecarolinaclub.com) in Grandy; Goose Creek Golf and Country Club (252-453-4008) on U.S. 158; or Duck Woods Country Club (252-261-2744; www.duckwoodscc.com) in Southern Shores.
Heritage
Built as a private residence but later converted into a hunting and fishing lodge, the Whalehead Club in Corolla is now part of Currituck Heritage Park and is open for touring. After studying the details of the club, you’ll agree that this was one luxurious hunting lodge. The park is also home to the Currituck Beach Lighthouse (see page 3), picnic tables, and some of the most beautiful, gnarly live oak trees along the North Carolina coast. An admission fee is charged.
Lighthouses
The Currituck Beach Lighthouse, built in 1875, illuminates 40 miles of coastline. If you climb it—214 steps’ worth!—you’ll have an excellent view of the marshes and sounds of the northern Outer Banks. The lighthouse is open daily from 10 A.M. to 6 P.M. Easter through Thanksgiving. An admission fee is charged.
Outdoors
To see what the northern beaches were once like, visit Currituck Banks National Marine Estuarine Reserve. A maritime forest inhabited by a variety of native wildlife, the reserve is open for hiking and beach activities. It’s located off N.C. 12 in Corolla at the North Beach four-wheel-drive ramp. Access is limited to four-wheel-drive vehicles and those on foot. The reserve is open all year.
If you don’t mind a drive and a ferry ride, trek over to Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge. You’ll find a visitor center with a wildlife exhibit, as well as an array of trails varying in length from 0.3 mile to 6.5 miles. Although the refuge is open all year, parts of it have abbreviated hours from time to time, so call before you go (252-429-3100). The refuge is on N.C. 615 in the far northeastern corner of the state. To reach it, make your way to Currituck and catch the Knotts Island ferry.
Festivals/Events
| June | Whalehead Club Arts Festival |
| October | The Moyock Wild Goose Chase includes a 2K and a 5K walk/run. |
More Resources
For information, contact the Currituck County Chamber of Commerce by calling 252-453-9497 or visiting www.currituckchamber.org.
For other nearby activities, see the “Weekend with the Wright Brothers” and “Weekend with Virginia Dare” chapters.