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Overview
Overview
Stretching for 130 miles along the Atlantic coast, North Carolina's Outer Banks are a skinny strip of barrier islands whose hallmark high, sandy dunes front frothy surf on 1 side and a gentle sound on the other. The area's slogan is "A secret worth keeping" and while the droves of tourists who head here in summer are a hint that the secret's out, some areas have managed to keep their claim on quaint and quiet longer than others. Perhaps none more so than Duck, an upscale residential rental community along the northern reaches of the Outer Banks.
Development of Duck -- which owes its name to the hordes of fowl who stop here during migration -- didn't begin until the 1970s. And it has since stuck faithfully to residential construction, with just a few small commercial strips to provide the necessities -- a last-minute bikini buy, sandwiches for the kids or even a candlelit dinner for 2. Duck's relative solitude and its vast array of neatly constructed rental homes make it ideal for families. There are no hotels or motels in Duck proper, so to stay here you'll have to either rent a vacation home, snag a spot at the one B&B or head to a nearby town for lodging.
Still, while we admit Duck would never make the list for top spring break party spots, boredom is hardly a threat here. After all, the beach is the main attraction and Duck's wide swaths of sand are nothing to scoff at. Oceanside, respectable surf is ideal for boogie boarding, body surfing and swimming, while the sound offers up a perfect playground for nature lovers and sports enthusiasts who require calmer waters. And if you tire of all that, there are lots of attractions within a short drive. Just don't tell anyone where you came from. It's a secret.
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