So Where Did I Go For My First True Vacation In More Than 4 Years?

So you might have noticed that I was not around last week as I took my first real vacation in more than four years…a real vacations is one where you are not at home.  Along with 14 other family members we spent the week in Carolla, North Carolina…our fourth such trip to the well-known Outer Banks destination which depending on traffic and number of stops you make is around a 9-hour journey.

It was a terrific week due in large part to having great weather which allowed us to spend a good portion of every day on the beach except for our last one.  Our routine was to set up a tent and chairs early in the morning to secure a spot and then head to the beach by 10am and stay there for anywhere between 4-5 hours before returning to our 8-bedroom rental home where we would then hit the pool until getting ready for dinner.  Families took turns planning and cooking the nightly meals which worked well especially with four children 8 and under including a pair of two-year olds.

Speaking of routine.  I made the daily morning run to Dunkin Donuts which was in itself challenging.  Like right here at the Jersey Shore the Outer Banks is dealing with severe employment issues with many popular restaurants closed one or two days a week, limiting hours and even cancelling take out.  The Dunkin Donuts just a few miles from where we were staying opens at 7am and no matter what time I got there in the morning it was about a half-hour to get in and out as there was just not enough help.  For those that are familiar with Duck Donuts…well that was a nightmare.  We did make the commitment to go there one morning and arrived 20 minutes before they even opened but it was still almost an hour before we left…just crazy.

Carolla is really a wonderful destination especially if you do a family thing with a lot of people.  The vacation homes on or near the beach are simply amazing and as long as you all get along (and we did) you simply can’t beat it.  It was very relaxing as I read two Harlan Coben novels which will probably be the end of my summer reading as the high school football season is right around the corner and it’s time to get to work. It’s also time to us to plan our next summer vacation.