Unincorporated Hatteras Island and Ocracoke Island are home to a variety of unique beach communities including Rodanthe, Buxton, Waves, Salvo, Avon and Cape Hatteras. Visitors to these destinations crave the unregulated experience, where shopping and fine dining take a back seat to individual adventure and quiet exploration.

The southern most portion of the “mainland” before crossing over to Hatteras Island and the National Seashore, Nags Head reportedly gets its name from land pirates who tied lanterns around the necks of mules or horses to trick offshore merchant ships into thinking the lights were from safely anchored boats. As those lured vessels became trapped on sandbars, the land pirates would row out and pillage the cargo.

One of two Outer Banks towns that allegedly traces its name heritage to treasure plucked from the sea, Kill Devil Hills is a nickname that was given to the sand dunes where locals would hide pillaged barrels of rum from shipwrecks that were common in the area during Colonial times. Because the rum was said to be strong enough to kill the devil himself, the dunes earned the name Kill Devil Hills.

The first contact point for visitors crossing the bridge from the north, Kitty Hawk serves as the ambassador for all of the Outer Banks. Originally established as Chickahawk in the early 1700s, the etymology of the name to its current state is still up for debate amongst locals.

Established in 1979, Southern Shores is known as “A Town of Volunteers” because it is primarily a residential community. As such, when you find a beach home to buy or rent here, you become immersed in the town and are immediately embraced as a neighbor. In addition to an amazing beach and all the oceanfront has to offer, Southern Shores is a community for people who enjoy active lifestyles. A well-maintained system of paths is perfect for joggers or biking. Most subdivisions offer fresh-water pools, tennis and basketball courts. And there is an extensive grid of canals that offer boaters easy access to the sound.

Pronounced Kuh-RAH-Luh, this unincorporated community took its name in 1895 when the post office opened a branch on the island. The name refers to the botanical term used to describe the collective petals of a flower, presumably to describe the beauty of the location. Officially, the community is made up of a number of subdivisions and planned communities that are part of the Currituck Outer Banks, but since everyone gets their mail from the same post office, it’s easiest just to refer to the overall area as Corolla.

Named for the numerous ducks and waterfowl in the area, Duck is all about water sports. Whether you’re interested in spending the day along the seven miles of sensational beaches, or taking advantage of the town’s location on Currituck Sound for windsurfing, canoeing or sailing, Duck lives up to it’s aquatic name in every sense of the word.