Nags Head Shopping

For a tasty treat, head to Big Buck’s Homemade Ice Cream. Choose from more than 50 flavors of made-from-scratch ice cream plus sorbet and soft serve. You can get any flavor made into a shake, split, sundae or float, even a brownie sundae – yum! Big Buck’s has an espresso bar and all the espresso-based coffee drinks you need to pick up your day. Handmade Belgian chocolate and fudge are made fresh daily, and they also accept custom orders for wedding favors, baby showers and other events. And don't forget the ice cream cake! They have a flavor for every occasion.

Celebrating more than 40 years as an Outer Banks shopping mecca, Birthday Suits is a favorite for swimwear – in fact, it’s been voted Best on the Beach for swimsuits for more than 10 years in local polls. Women's swimsuits are the specialty here – the latest styles for all ages, mix-and-match separates, bra-sized swimwear and mastectomy suits – but they also sell suits for kids and men. For kids there’s everything from swim diapers and toddler suits to board shorts and competition swimwear in sizes infant to preteen. Men will find surf trunks, board shorts and briefs from sizes 28 to 4X large. Don’t forget the sun-protective rash guards for kids and adults. Birthday Suits is a clothing store, too, with designer and California surf brands, sportswear, shoes and beach-inspired accessories like sunglasses, flip flops, hats, jewelry and purses. Love the OBX logo? You’ll find original OBX brand accessories and clothing here. The flagship store is on the Bypass in Kill Devil Hills.

The Cotton Gin has been a coastal shopping tradition for more than 50 years. With locations in Corolla, Duck and Nags Head, this beloved local store is a favorite shopping destination for both locals and visitors. You’ll find resort fashion for men and women from fine designers like Vineyard Vines, Southern Tide, Habitat and Simply Southern. Other top accessory designers include Pandora, Vera Bradley and Spartina 449. They also offer home fashions, candles, books, garden accessories and products for the gourmet kitchen. The Cotton Gin stores sell the wines of their sister business, Sanctuary Vineyards, which is based in Currituck County. In-store tastings of their many locally grown wine varieties are available.

Gulf Stream Gifts carries a wonderful selection of 14 karat gold, sterling silver and costume jewelry with a nautical flair. Featured designers are Charles Albert, Vera Wolf, Marahlago and Goddess Designs as well as North Carolina artists. Their jewelry features a variety of stones such as larimar, lab opals, amethyst, abalone and turquoise as well as Outer Banks sea glass. Gulf Stream also carries home decor such as mermaid prints by Robert Kline, metal art, sea glass pictures, books by local writer Suzanne Tate, Jim Shore figurines and more. The shop owners and staff have been serving Outer Banks shoppers for nearly 35 years. Their motto is "May all who enter as guests leave as friends." 

Don’t you hate it when people say that chocolate fudge is sinful? Sometimes it’s just a necessity. The Fudgery’s creamy concoctions can satisfy any sweet tooth. Your mind will be boggled at the variety of flavors from dark chocolate to peanut butter to rocky road, even New Orleans praline. The fudge is all theatrically prepared right in front of your eyes on marble slabs and served by the thick slice. Check out their Chiller Fudge – it’s the perfect way to enjoy the treat on a hot summer day. You choose from 20 flavors of ice cream then the fudge or other sweets to add to it, and they mix it right up in front of you.