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Choosing an Outer Banks Community
If you are looking for a vacation home at the beach to
rent for a week, or if you want to invest for a lifetime,
it is helpful to know which area will suit your needs best.
This article gives you brief descriptions of the main communities
on the northern Outer Banks.
Corolla
Corolla is the Outer Banks’ northernmost community. The
village of Corolla has been around for decades, but most
of the development visitors see has been planned and built
within the last 25 years. Corolla is known for its wide
beaches, the Corolla Lighthouse, the historic Whalehead
Club, and the Currituck Club golf course. Many visitors
are attracted to Corolla because of the limited commercial
development and its upscale, quiet, “off the beaten trail,”
atmosphere. Corolla boasts some of the finest planned neighborhoods
on the Outer Banks including Pine Island, The Currituck
Club, Monteray Shores, Corolla Light and the Villages of
Ocean Hill. These neighborhoods all have valuable community
amenities and protective covenants. Home prices in Corolla
are starting in the $400’s.
Because Corolla is located at the northern end of the
Outer Banks, driving there on a summer check-in day sometimes
involves negotiating through slow moving traffic. Many Outer
Banks guests, owners and residents are proponents of a bridge
linking Corolla to the mainland which would significantly
reduce the drive time to this popular resort. Although options
for a bridge have been studied and debated for years, it
does not appear that a bridge is likely to be built in the
near future.
Duck
Duck Village is one of the Outer Banks’ quaintest and
most popular communities for visitors. Situated between
Corolla and Southern Shores, Duck features charming restaurants,
boutique shopping, beautiful beaches and limited commercial
development. Scarborough Faire, Scarborough Lane, and the
Waterfront Shops are known up and down the island by shoppers
for their unique stores. Four Seasons and Sanderling are
probably the most well known neighborhoods in Duck, although
all of its quiet neighborhoods are great places to spend
a relaxing week at the beach. Home prices in Duck start
in the $400’s.
Attractions in Duck include browsing through the shops,
enjoying a walk along the beach, touring the Army Corps
of Engineers research pier, or renting kayaks and sailboats
on the sound. Plans are underway to develop a sound-side
park in the center of town as well.
Southern Shores
Southern Shores is a favorite residential community for
year round residents and vacationers. As one of the Outer
Banks’ first planned communities, the town is known for
it’s tranquility. Quiet residential streets may provide
a canopy of trees or a view of the ocean.
Canals and streets are intertwined on the sound side
of town, while high dunes provide great views of the ocean
just a few steps to the east. Residents and guests enjoy
the private ocean and sound access areas, several small
marinas for boating on the sound, and a network of live
oak shaded trails that are perfect for a relaxing stroll.
Home Prices in Southern Shores start in the $350’s
Kitty Hawk and Kill Devil Hills
Heading south from the Wright Memorial Bridge, Kitty
Hawk and Kill Devil Hills are the first communities for
vacationers to explore. Most of the vacation homes are located
near the ocean on “the Beach Road,” NC 12. Restaurants,
shopping, and family attractions are plentiful along US
158, which is the main 5 lane thoroughfare connecting the
towns of Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills and Nags Head.
The Wright brothers stayed in Kitty Hawk and conducted
their famous flight in Kill Devil Hills. The national park
and monument that commemorates their achievement is a highlight
for many visitors. The visitor’s center hike to the monument
gives visitors a unique perspective on the history of the
Outer Banks. Other favorites in Kitty Hawk and Kill Devil
Hills include the Avalon Fishing Pier, miniature golf courses,
unique local shopping and great seafood at local restaurants.
Home Prices in this area start in the 200’s.
Nags Head
Vacationers have been enjoying the beaches of Nags Head
for over one hundred years. Located south of Kill Devil
Hills and just north of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore,
Nags Head offers vacationers a unique blend of beaches,
attractions, and history. Favorites include the Bodie Island
Light House, three fishing piers, the sand dunes of Jockey’s
Ridge State Park, the Oregon Inlet fishing center, and the
Villages of Nags Head golf course. The architecture of Nags
Head is highlighted in the Historic District directly across
from Jockey’s Ridge State Park.
Similar to the neighboring towns to the north, most of
the vacation homes in Nags head are close to the ocean.
Visitors enjoy relaxing days on the beach and the convenience
of nearby restaurants and shopping. Home prices in Nags
Head start in the $300’s.
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