The smell of salty ocean water, the sound of the waves crashing, the feel of soft squishy sand, the taste of shrimp, and the sight of a beautiful sunset in the distance.

This is what I imagine when I think of the Outer Banks.

I've always thought that family vacations are the best kind of trip, because it's the one time you all get to have fun and relax together without the everyday stress of work, school and sports. Family vacations create memories that will last a lifetime; especially since parents take way too many pictures to make sure nobody will forget a moment.

Starting my 8^th grade summer, my parents, little sisters, and extended family including--two sets of aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents--decided to spend a week together by renting a beach house in the Outer Banks. It is so cool to be around my cousins who I rarely see but still reconnecting with them as if I saw them yesterday.

We have gone every year since and it has turned into my favorite summer tradition. Twenty-two people fitting into one beach house can produce many adventures, hilarious pictures, and some great memories. From cooking, surfing, tennis, movie marathons in the theatre room, pool table competitions, morning runs, game nights, puzzles, laying out, country music, and much more…the Outer Banks will always hold a special meaning and place in my heart that no one besides my family can quite understand.

The week seems to speed by, much faster than any of us want it to, and that last day is always the hardest. One of our best traditions is after dinner, we play a question game where we go around the table and each person shares their favorite part about the week. We leave with a weeks worth of laughs, tanner skin, and something to look forward to for next year.

Everyone has places like this, places that mean the world to them because of the wonderful experiences that have occurred there. Places that feel like a home away from home. They could be anywhere; from the most peaceful of beaches to the busiest of cities, everyone has their own meaning behind places they love.

Personally I've realized that it's not necessarily about where I am or what I'm doing, but more about who I'm with that makes these places so great. When I step back and think about why I love the memories that the Outer Banks holds, it's not really about the popsicles or the hot tub. It's actually about the conversation, the laughter, and more importantly, the feeling of connection to something bigger than yourself, a feeling of belonging and blessing.

The purpose of family trips like these are to capture the precious memories that are so fleeting--perhaps as kids go off to college, and families grow in the passing of time. This special week during the summer with some of the people most precious in my life makes me realize how lucky I am to have them, it is a time I will never take for granted, and one that I hope will remain a tradition for years to come.