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Duck, North Carolina
is a small town that is big on attractions. This beautiful resort town located on North Carolina’s Outer Banks offers activities galore. Choose from beach activities, fishing, boating, surfing, tennis or golf. A bike path runs the entire length of the village and is perfect for an early morning jog, inline skating and walking. The soundside area of Duck offers kayak rentals, parasailing, jet skiing, sailing and windsurfing. The center of town is lined with boutiques, unique shops, cafes and restaurants – perfect for those who enjoy strolling through the village, window shopping and stopping for a drink at an outdoor café. Other attractions near Duck include America’s oldest outdoor drama, “The Lost Colony, “ and the North Carolina State Aquarium. Art galleries and museums abound in the area, including the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum and the Wright Brothers National Memorial. Jockey’s Ridge State Park is a 267-acre state park that contains the highest sand dune on the East Coast. Visit historic Corolla Village and The Elizabethan Gardens, a beautiful garden modeled after a 16th century English Garden. The Elizabeth II is a full-size reproduction of a 16th century sailing ship and is named for one of the seven vessels that sailed from England to the New World in 1584. It is docked at the Roanoke Island Festival Park. Duck is just a short drive to four of the region’s most impressive lighthouses. Descriptions of the lighthouses are listed below:
The Currituck Beach Lighthouse – built in 1874. Its’ imported Fresnel lens and whale-oil lamp reached ships as far as 25 miles offshore.
Bodie Island Lighthouse – built in 1872, the original lighthouse was destroyed during the Civil War and was situated south of the inlet.
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse – This is America’s tallest lighthouse (208 feet) and one of the most easily recognizable lighthouses in the U.S. Built in 1870, it was moved to its’ current location in 1999. This historic move brought international attention to the Outer Banks.
Ocracoke Lighthouse – Built in 1823, this is the Outer Banks’ oldest and shortest lighthouse, situated on the southwestern corner of Ocracoke Village.
Many of the other nearby beachside communities offer their own attractions for visitors. The pretty town of Corolla (pronounced cor-AH-la) is home to the Old Corolla Village, located just north of the Currituck Beach Lighthouse. This historic region tells of a once-isolated community with dusty, unpaved roads, a one-room schoolhouse, restored homes and the Corolla Chapel. North of the town of Corolla is the famous four-wheel-drive area where wild horses still roam, feeding on beach grass. It’s an amazing experience to watch these beautiful animals in their native habitat. Duck is just a short drive to Nags Head, home to Jockey’s Ridge, the East Coast’s tallest sand dune. Other towns to explore include Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head and Roanoak Island.
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