Hello - My husband and I want to go to the outer banks this summer for a week, we've never been. It will be just the 2 of us. Which areas are the best for great dining and shopping....and a beautiful beach of course Thank you so much!!

I think the most upscale place on the Banks is the Sanderling Inn. Somebody help me here.

The Corolla area is good for what you're looking for; you could either get a house (the most common way to visit OBX) or go to the Sanderling Inn as suewoo suggested. It's in Duck, a nice little town which also tends to have smaller homes than the ones further down.

I love the OBX--I'm usually not there for shopping, but there are a lot more stores there now than there were 15-20 years ago!

I know. I remember the Banks when there was no bypass. So to think of it as upscale is weird for me. Shopping occurs on a rainy day. We always just went for the beach.

If you can wait until September I would suggest going then. The weather will still be nice, house prices will be much lower and it will be less crowded. The summer months will find the Outer Banks swarming with families with young kids. Maybe that won't bother you but some couples prefer not to be surrounded by kids while on vacation. Corolla and Duck are the more upscale towns.

Corolla and Duck THINK they are upscale

Don't believe I have ever seen a request for "upscale OBX"!! LOL But I do believe I saw a few years ago (so it may not be true now) that the Sanderling was looking a little worn. Anyone?
And anywhere on the coast is better in September!!

I haven't seen anything in OBX that is like Santa Barbara, the Hamptons, St Michael's, Martha's Vineyard or Nantucket, all of which are upscale. This isn't meant to be snotty. I would love to be educated if there are, but most of the people I know go there to relax, fish, swim, eat fried fish and so forth.

Thanks all! I can always count on this site for the best feedback. September sounds like the time to go and Corolla or Duck seem like it would be the best spot for us. Also we love kids, just not on vacation.."upscale" was probably the wrong word, but you all provided the perfect info. thanks!