Out and about on the Outer Banks: Duck, NC

Last visited: 11/ 2022

We stayed at Barrier Island Station

https://www.rci.com/pre-rci/us/en/resort-directory/resortdetails?resortCode=1008

We spent Thanksgiving this year at Duck, NC staying at one of our timeshare affiliates, Barrier Island Station, through RCI. Historically, it was a bit rustic, but I think that it may have been purchased and the new owners are doing some major upgrades. Find more information here: https://barrierislandstationresort.com/

The really nice thing about Duck is the small town feel to it all. There are walking/biking paths the length of this section of the barrier island, and it is also a very dog friendly place to vacation and live. There are great little shops to browse with beautiful things to buy and small goody shops to get some snacks as you shop. They have it beautifully decorated at Christmas time, but it is fun to visit all year long. Find more information here: https://www.waterfrontshopsduck.com/

Have a nice breakfast next to Currituck Sound

A dock off the walkway at Duck

The area is still very natural even though it is a tourist destination

Up and down the barrier island you will find horse statues that were bought and decorated to help fund the wild horses of Currituck

Because the barrier island is so thin, you will get excellent views of both sunrises and sunsets depending on whether you are on the ocean or the sound side

Sunset over the sound

Sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean

The beach is still somewhat wild, and we have found skates washed up on shore, puffer fish, crabs galore when it's warmer, many horseshoe crab shells from when they molt, and on and on. But, it will vary depending on what time you visit, and if there has been a good storm lately. We don't swim in the ocean, but people do. There are no lifeguards at any of these beaches, and riptides are common.

NOW...the bad part. Something so great MUST have a bad part. Because it is such a popular destination, you will find traffic during the summer months horrendous. There is only one road in and one road out of the upper part of the island, and it is two lanes the whole way. So, either travel off season, like we do, or make sure that you leave early or plan for enough time to sit in traffic. Either way, don't let it distract you from visiting this lovely place.