Duck Scavenger Hunt

There’s something about entering the Town of Duck that moves your mind from autopilot to attentive. Perhaps the shift of scenery acts like eye-candy: the tree-lined corridor of N.C. Highway 12 getting replaced by the utterly charming strip of boutiques, galleries, salons, parks and restaurants that make up the town’s commercial center. Bits of the Currituck Sound peek out between buildings, too, where parasailers and boaters play on the water.

Not only does the town awaken your eyes, but it also soothes your spirit. Am I the only person whose heartrate relaxes the minute I drive under the canopy of live oaks on the road into town? I think not. 

The compact nature of this charming town makes it so much better suited to exploring on foot, not whizzing by in the car. The slower pace and freedom to meander on and off the beaten path reveal the charms and hidden gems that give Duck its European-village-meets-beach-town vibe. A multiuse sidewalk and boardwalk run through the town, bordering the road and sound respectively, leading pedestrians through the near mile-long stretch of cottage-style shops, markets, parks and restaurants. 

Seeking out Duck’s distinctive characteristics make exploring town almost like a scavenger hunt – there’s the town Pegasus! The historic post office! So, ditch the car, lace up your sneakers and get ready for a promenade that can fill an hour or day with sightseeing.

Winged Horses

A crop of Pegasus (or winged horse) statues dot the Outer Banks. Each horse is decorated to reflect the spirit of its town or organization. Two members of the herd reside in Duck. If you walk the sidewalk through town, you’ll see one posed in front of Duck Town Park (don’t miss its festive garb during Halloween or Christmas). The other Pegasus resides at the north end of the boardwalk at the Waterfront Shops. It overlooks the Currituck Sound as though awaiting the next show-stopping sunset. 

End-of-the-Road Views

Don’t turn back when you reach the north end of the boardwalk or sidewalk. Press on past Tommy’s Natural Foods Market to the open stretch between the old Resort Realty building and Sunset Grille & Raw Bar (easily accessible by the sidewalk and crosswalk). This expanse of undeveloped land offers unspoiled views of the Currituck Sound and provides an excellent locale for family photos. 

Off-the-Path Trails

You won’t see the dirt walking paths that wind through Duck Town Park from the road. But if you park at Town Hall or the park’s playground (just past the Pegasus), you find yourself enveloped by a tunnel of wax myrtles and oak trees. The chirping songbirds, lizards darting between plants and leaves rustling in the wind make the paths feel more like remote nature trails and not just a step away from the small town’s bustle. 

Wings Jumbo Chair

You can’t miss the fire-engine red, supersized Adirondack chair on the boardwalk. Posed behind Wings, this chair provides an attractive setup to snap a photo with the Currituck Sound in the background. The chair’s generous seat holds multiple people at a time, so prepare to gather the family or friends together to capture the moment. 

Spiritual Oasis

Pockets of peaceful spots are hidden throughout the town of Duck. They provide much needed places away from the busy road for a quiet moment spent enjoying the water views or a break in the shade. The outdoor sanctuary behind Duck Methodist Church resonates with spiritual vibes in particular. This collection of pews underneath the canopy of live oaks overlooks the boardwalk and sound. They welcome passersby to pause for a minute to take in the views and revel in a bit of quietude. 

Duck’s Duck Pond

Venture off the boardwalk or sidewalk at the Waterfront Shoppes to see the minute pond beside Duck’s Cottage Coffee & Books. It draws a host of ducks, geese and turtles. Parents can pause for a coffee or water break at the chairs and picnic tables surrounding the pond while the young ones look for turtles peeking up by the water’s edge. 

Historic Gravestones

Walk along the sidewalk in Duck and you’ll encounter a handful of gravestones beside the Town Park. It’s not some long-forgotten Halloween decoration but an actual grave site that dates back to the early 1900s – when Duck was little more than miles of unspoiled hunting grounds. 

Little Free Library

Along the dirt nature paths in Duck Town Park, you’ll spot a small hutch on the perimeter of the public parking space. This Little Free Library holds a treasure trove of used books previous owners want passed along to new readers. At any time, the collection might include illustrated children’s books, romance novels, how-to guides or works by local authors, so you never know what you’ll discover each time you check inside. Donate or peruse as you wish!

Mamie Post Office

A quaint, bungalow-style building sits beside Twiddy & Company’s Duck offices. This eye-catching building came to Duck from the Currituck mainland where it operated as Mamie’s Post Office from 1904 to 1972. When it came to Duck in 1989, the building was used as a retail space before the realty company moved it to its current location and restored it as a private office space.

Caffey’s Inlet Lifesaving Station

Stroll up the sidewalks to the Sanderling Resort, and you’ll find one of seven stations the United States Life-Saving Service established in 1874 to help ships navigate the Outer Banks’ treacherous Graveyard of the Atlantic. Founded as Caffey’s Inlet Lifesaving Station, the restored building now houses the resort’s restaurant, the Lifesaving Station.

This scavenger hunt only touches on the wealth of attractions and spots to see in Duck. Unconfined to a car, you can explore the less-traveled paths, parks and tucked-away shopping plazas wherever they catch your eye. 

townofduck.com