Top Places to Visit in Duck
Duck Soundside Boardwalk
The Duck boardwalk has to be experienced to be truly appreciated. From the Waterfront Shops on its north end to Aqua Restaurant and Spa at its south end, the boardwalk is about a mile long.
Paralleling the shoreline, it offers unobstructed views across Currituck Sound. There are also piers designed as kayak launch sites and crabbing and fishing piers.
For anyone who is use to the gaudy commercial ventures of boardwalks in resort cities, what Duck has to offer may come as a shock. There are a number of restaurants where al fresco meals can be enjoyed, and some of the shops have entrances on the boardwalk.
The overall feel, though, is this is a boardwalk designed for pedestrian traffic to be enjoyed at a leisurely, perhaps, romantic pace.
Duck Town Park
The Duck Town Park has become a focus of Outer Banks outdoor entertainment over the past few years. With trails wandering through manicured lawns and flowers, bordered by mature native trees, the park features two outdoor venues for live performances.
The Duck Pavilion sits at the base of a wide expanse of a gently sloping grassy knoll. It is an outstanding venue for live outdoor music and is the showpiece for the annual Duck Jazz Festival that is held over Columbus Day Weekend every year.
A very short stroll to the south brings visitors to the Amphitheater. Shaded by towering pine trees with bench seating, the Amphitheater features a small stage. Puppet shows for children, small theater productions and live music are featured here. It also serves as a second stage for the Duck Jazz Festival.
Live Outdoor Music and Duck
There is something wonderful about sitting with friends or someone special beneath the stars and listening to live music. The Duck Amphitheater and Pavilion are just two of the venues serving up outdoor entertainment in the town.
At the south end of the Boardwalk, Aqua features local musicians playing on their deck throughout the summer. Watching the sunset over Currituck Sound while listening to live music is a moment to be treasured.
On the east side of NC12 there are two venues for outdoor music.
The Tap Shack is behind Coastal Cravings. Don’t be fooled by the gas station and convenience store out front; it’s a great place for live music, with an outdoor bar and protected areas in case it begins to rain.
Roadside, behind Roadside Bar and Grill is a little smaller, but offers a wonderful venue as well. Parking can be tight at the Roadside, so getting there a little early may be a good idea.
The food is excellent at both locations.
Duck—The Shopping Experience
Of all the Outer Banks towns, Duck has done the best job of integrating shopping areas and green space with interconnected paths. Wide sidewalks parallel the highway. A bike path between the sidewalk and road keeps most bicycles off the sidewalk making it perfect for a family outing.
The main shopping area of the town is roughly the same length as the boardwalk and is on both sides of the main road.
Art galleries, boutiques, bookstores, coffee shops, bars and restaurants are all included in a compact area that calls out to be explored on foot.
Army Corps of Engineers Field Research Facility - Duck Pier
About 200 yards north of the business district of Duck there are some fenced in dunes with scrub growth and signs warning “DANGER Unexploded munitions area.” About a quarter mile further on, there is a road on the east side of the highway with a gate.
That is the entrance to the Field Research Facility in Duck, a world renowned wave research facility.
Founded in 1974, the Duck Pier, as it is often called, has been at the forefront of much of the knowledge that we now take for granted. Storm surge predictions, riptide occurrence, wave height and wave energy—all of it has been studied extensively at this facility and scientists working there have contributed directly to the worldwide understanding of waves.
The signs hearken back to WWII. The area between Duck Village and Corolla Village was so deserted at that time that it was used as a bombing range by the US Navy. So yes, there may still be live munitions in the ground.
At one time, tours were offered at the facility. Hopefully they will again be allowed.