It’s no New York, but the Outer Banks has at least one decent destination for bagels. Lighthouse offers the obvious, plus bagel sandwiches stuffed with deli meat or salads. This place is a good option for an early breakfast or a post-bike ride lunch.

That saying about feeling like a kid in a candy store could easily have been coined by a regular at Big Buck’s. The local sweets shop serves over four dozen flavors of ice cream, ranging from traditional (chocolate, vanilla, rum raisin) to trendy (cookie dough, peanut butter cup, hazelnut capuccino). Still hungry? Try a nut-covered banana split, mango smoothie, coconut-chocolate chip cake, chocolate-dipped strawberries, or any of the other sugary treats offered within.

Located inside an expansive shopping center in Corolla, North Banks is kind of a hidden gem. Here, surf and turf, crab mac and cheese, fried oysters, and snow crab legs are on the menu; the setting is casual and nautically themed.

Inside, find one of Duck’s fancier dining destinations, serving eclectic dishes such as shrimp ramen bowls, grilled pork chops, and braised short ribs. But the outside Backbar is where the party’s at: find live music, a place to watch the sunset, and plenty of cocktails.

Most visitors to Outer Banks rent a house for their stay, so odds are they’re cooking some meals at home. A festive approach is to pick up a carryout seafood boil featuring crabs, corn, shrimp: the works. Seafood market Dockside N’ Duck offers these, along with plenty of other fish and shellfish items. Cravings, also in Duck, sells them as well.

Due to its massive expansion, Duck Donuts is now practically a household name on the East Coast these days. But it got its start in the Outer Banks, and morning crowds at the original have only grown, so show up early. Fried homemade doughnuts are topped with everything from sprinkles to flavored drizzles, with combinations like lemon-coconut and maple-bacon drawing in fans. There are some seasonal varieties, too.

This decade-old seafood market and wine bar prides itself on serving the freshest oysters available on the East Coast; its daily offerings include local oysters, as well as specimens secured from the Chesapeake Bay to Maine. The briny beauties are served raw or steamed — or buried in the bottom of a boozy oyster shooter.

This homegrown barbecue restaurant serves pulled pork that’s cooked over smoldering hickory logs, meaty ribs rubbed with tangy-sweet spice rub, juicy chicken (roasted or fried), and spice-crusted brisket. There’s also bean-studded Brunswick stew, assorted combo plates, family-style meals, and gooey chess pie for dessert — all of which is available for dine-in or carryout.

This local chain of daytime eateries has been squashing arguments about what’s for breakfast while at the beach for over 30 years. While it built its reputation as a pancake house, the restaurant now serves breakfast favorites ranging from Belgian waffles and Greek omelets layered with gyro meat to seasoned clams cooked with shredded potatoes and onions (clamhash, anyone?).

This award-winning local brewery typically features a dozen rotating drafts, mixing in its hoppy IPAs and distinctive oyster shell-spiked stouts with regional ciders and funky imports. Dining options range from hot pretzels to peel-and-eat shrimp. There’s also a jazz brunch on Sundays, and live music throughout the week.

This diner-esque destination serves fine fish sandwiches, beer can shrimp, a crispy fried chicken dinner, plus everything from Key lime pie to cheesesteak egg rolls (better than they sound). Service is friendly and familiar.

This family-run restaurant has provided local diners with a mix of regional seafood dishes and modern American cooking for over 70 years. House specialties include sauteed jumbo lump crab cakes; shrimp sauteed with peppers and onions and layered over mascarpone grits; and zesty, crawfish-packed gumbo.