Back East

When I was a kid we went to visit my mom's side of the family a few times "back east" in North Dakota and Minnesota. I know these are not really the east coast, but to us in California it was "back east". We went three times and it was such a big deal to me to go "back east". Now my dad is planning a trip to go "back east"... to visit ME!!!! I realize I live on the east coast and moved far away from my family, but I never though of it as "back east".