3 Reasons to Have a Go-to Vacation Spot

Sunrise at the Seahawk in Atlantic Beach, NC

I am writing this post on a Monday morning from the top deck of the east villa at the Seahawk Inn and Villas in Atlantic Beach, North Carolina.

Not bad for a Monday morning.

Why I am here?

Partly because despite the romantic notion of the location independent entrepreneur, the whole working on the beach thing isn’t really a good idea.

Sand and laptops don’t mix well and you can’t see the screen because of the sun.

Oh, you didn’t mean why am I here on the deck, but why am I here at the Seahawk in Atlantic Beach?

We come to the Seahawk every year with Jennifer’s dad. We’ve been doing it for our entire marriage; Jennifer did it for her entire growing up.

Her dad did it for a good portion of his life, as did his parents. Before she died, Jennifer’s grandmother would come with us. She was here at the Seahawk with us just a few weeks before she passed away, and we have great memories of those days.

Now the Seahawk isn’t a bit fancy.

It’s rather like stepping backing into time – say the early 1960s. But, it’s what we do every year the week school gets out for the kids. It’s never gotten old, and we all look forward to it every year.

We tell all our clients and friends to do the same, have a go-to vacation spot, that you can return to year after year as a family tradition.

That spot can be anywhere – it doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive, and though we have other spots we love…Walt Disney World, Sandals Royal Caribbean…the Seahawk is just as special.

Pick that go-to spot – or better yet, pick several.

Why?

We have three great reasons.

1. You’ll get to know a place well

The Seahawk sits on the western edge of Atlantic Beach, close to the middle of what’s known as North Carolina’s Crystal Coast, also the home of one of our favorite places in the world, Beaufort. Carteret County has become our second home, and we get a great deal of joy from seeing the same places and the same faces visit after visit.

Being familiar with the place helps us relax and leads us to the second great reason to have a go-to vacation spot.

2. It reduces decision fatigue

One of the biggest challenges for modern families is the infinite number of choices we have in everything from travel, to groceries, to occupations.

We know we’re going to the Seahawk every June right after school gets out. We don’t have to worry about it, we don’t have to think about it, the decision is already made. We just go with it, and don’t look back – no fretting about what we could have done.

It’s easy and low maintenance.

It’s relaxing, and dare I say, leisurely.

3. You’ll get great family pictures.

Now this one might be our favorite reason for having a go-to vacation spot.

We’ve been staying in the same unit at the Seahawk for at least the last seven years, and each year we take photos of the kids in the same spot.

Here’s one from 2007:

Here’s a recreation of the same shot in 2013:

We have this progression of how they’ve grown, and Jennifer and I simply can’t help but smile and laugh every time we see those shots.

The kids even behave well while the pictures are being taken, and we’ll almost always get at least one good shot every year – and you parents out there will know how hard that can be!

There you go, three reasons to have a go-to vacation spot.

As I’m writing this, I’ve got five more days here at the Seahawk – and there are fish to be caught!