Duck, North Carolina
Population: 1,447
Located in Dare County
The little resort village of Duck has a split personality. On one hand, it is a sleepy residential area for families craving a quiet beach vacation. Rental cottages and a few condominium complexes fill the village from sea to sound; there are no hotels and only one bed and breakfast inn. Just a handful of locals make Duck their home. Then there is the lively side of Duck. Cutting a swath through the heart of the village is a mile-long stretch of shopping heaven. Duck makes the most of its commercial area by packing as much as possible into one perfectly walkable area. Those staying elsewhere on the Outer Banks usually make a special daytrip to Duck to stroll, shop and eat when they've had enough fun in the sun. Duck's lively side also boasts activities galore. The soundside area on the north end features kayak rentals, parasailing, Jet Ski rentals, plus sailing and windsurfing outfitters. The bike path running the length of the village is well traveled with early morning exercisers, tots on trikes and inline skaters. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Duck Field Research Pier is an interesting attraction just north of Duck. The nationally renowned coastal research facility is open to the public for tours. Five miles north of Duck is Sanderling, an exclusive resort community with an amazingly upscale inn, restaurant and spa. To the south of Duck is the incorporated town of Southern Shores, which is predominantly residential and very similar in character to the quiet side of Duck. The Outer Banks has much to offer its residents as well as the 7 million visitors, which visit the area each year. We are America's Birthplace, home to four distinct lighthouses, the site of the Wright Brothers' first flight, the largest sand dunes on the East Coast - Jockeys Ridge State Park, the Graveyard of the Atlantic, the new Roanoke Island Festival Park, and a host of family activities including hang gliding, bird watching, museums, art galleries, drama, kayaking, fishing, windsurfing, and more! Most real estate on the Outer Banks is sold to out-of-town owners. Some Outer Banks buyers are simply looking to diversify their financial position while enjoying a favorite vacation spot; some want to secure a long-term vacation place for themselves and their families; and others intend to turn their investment into year-round homes at a later date. On the oceanfront you have to accept that your back yard the beach is not yours (in North Carolina, the beach belongs to the public). And, short of building a serious fence around your property, you will probably find folks wandering through what yard you do have more frequently than if you lived off the waterfront. If you're looking for a tranquil, out-of-the-way place to raise a family, then you need look no further than Duck, North Carolina!
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