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See for yourself the beauty of Corolla, check out our video of the area.
At the northern end of the barrier islands that make up North Carolina's Outer Banks, Corolla has evolved into a vacation destination unto itself. The area's history dates back to the late 1600s and, amazingly, Corolla remained a sleepy little village well into the 1970s. Recent decades have brought roads and growth allowing this once remote stretch of land to flourish. Today the area offers such variety in recreation, dining, shopping and accommodations – not to mention the beautiful wide beaches and tranquil sound waters – that many vacationers arrive in Corolla and don't head south again until the end of their stay!
Locals pronounce Corolla 'Kuh-RAH-luh' like the botanic name for the petals of a flower; not like that other Corolla made by Toyota. Early settlers to the Corolla area, also known as Whalehead or Currituck Beach, made their living from fishing, shipwreck salvaging and serving as hunting guides. Today, Corolla is known for its well-planned communities, from the largest and most luxurious retreats in beautifully-maintained developments to more moderately-sized classic Outer Banks style vacation homes in traditional subdivisions. Whether you're looking for a polished place where there's plenty to do all within a private gated community, or you want a more laid-back locale with a casual feeling, Corolla's got it!
So what's there to do in Corolla besides the beach? Golfers will enjoy the challenging 18-hole course at The Currituck Club. After suiting up for surfing lessons or hitting the fitness center and tennis courts, you can pamper yourself with an afternoon at the spa. Take the kids on a kayaking tour, go crabbing or rent a skiff and head out for a little fishing on the sound. When you're ready to browse Corolla's unique shops, make it an outing for the whole family as most of the shopping complexes offer great activities like water sports, climbing walls, go-carts, putt-putt, movies and even a skatepark!
Nature lovers can set out for a sunrise walk along a 2.5-mile soundside hiking trail through the Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary or see the sunset from the end of a beautiful boardwalk on the Currituck Banks National Estuarine Research Reserve Access Trail. Thinking a bit more extreme? Go for an off-road adventure with a guided four-wheel-drive tour along the 10 miles of beach and rugged terrain beyond where Highway 12 ends – you may even catch a glimpse of the protected Corolla wild horses that have freely roamed this area for four centuries.
Visitors to Currituck Heritage Park in Corolla Village will enjoy touring the Whalehead Club, a beautifully restored waterfowl hunting lodge originally built in the 1920's, doing a workshop at the Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education, and climbing the 214-step staircase inside Currituck Lighthouse to see panoramic ocean to sound views.
This ideal seaside resort area tucked away from the rest of the Outer Banks is a truly upscale retreat in a wondrous natural setting just waiting to be discovered.
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