An escape to the secluded village of Merritt, North Carolina.

There’s a certain joy in escaping with my beautiful bride, my sweet daughter, and our Ivy girl to the quiet, tranquil community of Merritt, North Carolina—a place where time seems to slow down and life feels simpler. The best moments come in the early morning, when the world is still hushed and we’re gathered with cups of coffee, watching the horizon bloom with color. Just offshore, a pod of dolphins break the glassy surface of the water, a stunning reminder of the beauty and magic tucked into these peaceful shores. It’s in those sunrise hours, with my family close and nature unfolding before us, that everything feels perfectly whole and life couldn’t get any sweeter. Life is so good.