Travel Guide: Corolla, NC — WHAT THE CLIQUE

Corolla is located in the northernmost part of the 175-mile stretch of picturesque barrier islands that make up the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Home to expansive beaches, renowned restaurants, and even wild horses, it’s not difficult to see why the charming town of Corolla is a highly sought-after vacation destination. Corolla is also a popular wedding destination and has an extra special place in my heart because it’s where I got both engaged and married.

The peak time to visit Corolla is between Memorial Day to Labor Day every year. This is truly the best time to experience the most of what Corolla has to offer. The town is bustling with activity and everything is open. Forwarned, visiting on-season also comes with crazy traffic! For us, Corolla is the perfect getaway because it is nearly a straight shot down I-95 to 1-64 from Northern Virginia. If timed correctly to avoid traffic, the drive for us is only a little over four hours.

If you don’t mind a slower pace, October and early November are great times to visit because the town is less crowded, the weather is still in the 60s and the majority of the restaurants are still open. Don’t forget this is also hurricane season, so the tradeoff for less traffic and activity on the island is potentially a few rainy days here and there. Personally, the fall is my favorite time to visit.

Where to Eat:

Steamers | Steamers was our wedding catering and absolutely blew us out of the water, so I am a tad biased in saying this is one of my top restaurants in Corolla. You can expect to enjoy local seafood, fresh ingredients beautifully paired and an extensive cocktail menu. I highly recommend a pitcher of the Red Wine Sangria and the Honey Bourbon Salmon.

NC Coast Grill and Bar | NC Coast Grill and Bar has some of the best Shrimp and Grits I’ve ever had, hands down. Finished with a pico de gallo, I crave this delicious dish all the time! Pro tip: go at lunchtime right when they open and request to sit outside along the waterfront.

Duck Donuts | While the original Duck Donuts is technically down the road in Duck, it is still a must-visit while in town. The delicious, made-to-order donuts are the perfect treat to enjoy after a morning stroll on the beach. There is also a Duck Donuts in Corolla, however, it is only open during peak season, whereas the Duck location is open year-round.

La Dolce Vita |La Dolce Vita is an incredibly cozy trattoria with hand-tossed gourmet pizza and other classic Italian favorites. The last time we visited in the fall, they had a delicious seasonal menu with a Blackberry + Brie Bruschetta with crispy pancetta that was absolutely incredible.

Wild Goose Wine Bar | A new addition to the Timbuck II Shopping Village in Corolla is the Wild Goose Wine Bar. We happened upon the wine bar accidentally after having dinner at La Dolce Vita and are so glad that we did. The wine bar offers a unique experience of self-serve, wine-tasting on tap. You’re given a card that you use at the self-serve machine to select wine and taste at your leisure. Once you’re done tasting, you simply take up your card and close out your tab.

Where to Stay:

The majority of the coastline in Corolla, both beach-front and sound-side, consists of upscale vacation homes, the majority available to rent on VRBO or Airbnb. For this reason, there are only three hotels in Corolla: Hampton Inn and Suites, Inn at Corolla and Sanderling Resort. While I’ve stayed at the Hampton Inn and Suites and had a good experience, I haven’t stayed at the Inn at Corolla or Sanderling Resort. We were debating staying at the Sanderling Resort for our one-year anniversary trip, but after seeing mixed reviews it didn’t seem worth it to us. However, when we got engaged, we stayed at this adorable, one-bedroom guest house we found on Airbnb. If you’re looking for a quick getaway, this place was great and a short walk to beach access.