The Magic of Returning
Why the Outer Banks is the Heart of our Travels
There’s a certain thrill in discovering someplace new—unfamiliar streets, scents, and flavors that remind us the world is endlessly vast. As seekers, we chase those horizons. Yet, woven just as deeply into the fabric of meaningful travel is the opposite pull: the return. The ritual of visiting the same place, year after year, until it feels like a part of your soul.
For my family, that place is the Outer Banks, North Carolina.
It started decades ago. My parents spent their honeymoon walking barefoot on those windswept dunes, the Atlantic rolling at their feet. A few years later, they brought me as a toddler, still in diapers, to play in the same sand. Since then, I’ve marked life’s passages against the rhythm of the waves there: summers of childhood wonder, teenage heartaches consoled by a sunset over the sound, a visit just weeks before my wedding, and now, the laughter of my own three kids echoing along the shore.
What makes returning so powerful isn’t just nostalgia—it’s tradition. Over time, you don’t just know a place; you belong to it. You know which shop serves the freshest catch, which stretch of beach glows brightest at sunset, and exactly how the sand feels under your feet at dawn. The joy lies in repeating those rituals, not because they’re routine, but because they root you.
For my children, the Outer Banks is now more than just a destination. It’s the canvas for their own stories. They bury us in the sand, just as I once did with my parents. They chase sand crabs under moonlight, wide-eyed with delight. They wade into the surf, hoping to catch sight of dolphins that dance in the waves, the same way I once dared. Through their laughter, I see the continuum of memory—my childhood relived and renewed through their lens.
We travel widely as a family. From ancient ruins to far-flung islands, the world beckons with endless newness. And yet, every year, our hearts circle back to those barrier islands. Because while novelty excites, it’s tradition that nourishes. The Outer Banks is our touchstone—a place where past, present, and future meet in the salty air and shifting tides.
There’s a joy in knowing a place so well that its rhythms become your own. And there’s a soul-deep comfort in gifting your children the same traditions you were once given, knowing they too will carry those memories forward.
In the end, the seeker’s journey isn’t only about discovering new horizons. Sometimes, it’s about honoring the ones we return to, year after year—the places that become part of who we are. Not everyone’s tradition will be the Outer Banks. For some, it’s a cabin in the mountains, a lakeside camp, or a seaside town halfway around the world. The destination itself matters less than the meaning you weave into it. Here’s our tips to bleading tradition with discovery:
Choose an Anchor Place – Find a destination that speaks to your heart, one worth revisiting not for what’s new, but for how it connects you.
Create Rituals – Whether it’s walking the same stretch of sand, ordering from the same seafood shack, or watching the same sunset spot, let these traditions weave memory into place.
Layer Generations – Bring children, grandparents and close friends into the tradition. The magic grows when stories overlap across time.
Balance with Exploration – Returning doesn’t mean standing still. Each year, sprinkle in something new—a local hike, a hidden café, or a new way of experiencing a familiar landscape.
At Avandra, we believe the Seeker’s journey isn’t only about chasing new horizons. It’s about honoring the ones we return to, year after year—the places that call us home even as we wander. For my family, that place will always be the Outer Banks.
And wherever your journey takes you—whether it’s the comfort of an annual tradition or the thrill of someplace brand new—Avandra is here to walk beside you, guiding your travels near or far, familiar or undiscovered.