Instead of exchanging gifts on Christmas, my family takes a vacation to a new location. This year, we packed our bags and headed to Turks and Caicos.

Our first night we arrived in Providenciales, we headed down to the strip for dinner before making an impromptu walk to the beach. There, we were just in time for a quick firework show. When we arrived back to our house, we decided to have family movie night out by the pool. The sky was clear, it was quiet, and the weather was perfect.

The next day, we met a local cafe owner from Canada who had moved down a few years prior. He pointed us in the direction of the beach, where we didn’t stay long. Instead, we took a tour guide up on his offer and headed to the water. We went snorkeling, enjoyed rum punch, a trip to an island filled with iguanas and watched him crack open some conch.

The next day we spent getting our land legs back. A tour of the island took us from high-end homes to the pier to areas still impacted by Hurricanes Irma and Maria. With some history behind the country such as the name, the different islands and local must-visit places, we headed back to the strip for our last night. We ended the night making friends, dancing and singing Christmas music to celebrate the holiday.

Visiting different places always helps me appreciate what I have and the people in my life. The few days we were there were quiet, peaceful and a true escape from the world. If you’re looking for a place to go to party, I can tell you this is not it. But if you’re looking for a place to clear your mind and reset, you’ll definitely want to book your flight.