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I would list Nags Head and Carolina Beach a bit down the list...they are very commercial and good towns, but rarely quiet.
Be aware that Duck does NOT have any public beach access. So, unless you own an oceanfront home or own a home in a development/community that has a community access it is extremely difficult to get onto the ocean beaches.
Last edited by stopgo; 10-04-2017 at 10:43 AM..
Reason: spelling correction
Just to clarify, all beaches in North Carolina are public. It's a matter of state law.
The town of Duck does not maintain any public walkways to the beach, though. There are private walkways from beach rentals and private neighborhoods, but the beaches they lead to are public. No private beaches.
Just to clarify, all beaches in North Carolina are public. It's a matter of state law.
The town of Duck does not maintain any public walkways to the beach, though. There are private walkways from beach rentals and private neighborhoods, but the beaches they lead to are public. No private beaches.
"The Town of Duck neither owns nor maintains any public beach access locations. The Town of Duck does not allow parking along state roads, and there are no public parking areas at beach accesses. Please check with the homeowners’ association for your vacation rental or with your rental company for beach access questions."
Getting onto the beach isn't really the problem, but parking is. The only option I can see is to park at the town park in Duck and walking all the way to the beach. Hardly seems worth it when there are public access areas in other Outer Banks towns. I mean, I love the beach in Duck, but we rent a house there. If we weren't renting a house then I'd go to one of the other beaches to walk with the dogs. Right now we are sitting in our motel room in Kill Devil Hills and move to the rental house in Duck tomorrow. The rain needs to stop, though. LOL
I assume the OP was asking about a destination she could rent a vacation home in, so she would have access to the beach. Duck is not a good beach for a day trip for many other reasons.
It would be relatively easy, especially now during the off-season, to fly into ILM in the morning on a Friday. Make the short one hour (maximum) drive up to see Topsail for the rest of the day and return to Wilmington for the night, then hit WB Saturday morning, CB in the afternoon and either spend the night or take the Ferry over to Southport for your remaining visit, hitting Oak Island as well and returning to ILM by Sunday evening for a departure flight.
It would be quick but you could cover quite a bit of coast in one long weekend, pray for sun and a light cool northeast breeze to cut the humidity and you'd be doing pretty well! just my opinion though-
*tbh having lived in Surf City for a year in 2013, and 3 months in 2011, Topsail doesn't have much to do for an entire day. I'd take a few hours there but leave more time to go out in downtown Wilmington on the Friday night you arrive. More life, more choices and more fun in town.
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