FROM THE PUBLISHER BEACHLIFE 2021 : THE RESTORATIVE POWER OF TRAVEL
In early 2020 , just weeks before the world would change forever , the travel industry ’ s headline stories included episodes of bad behavior by airline passengers . There were stories about whether or not airline seats should be able to recline . The Disney Skyliner , a gondola transportation system in Disney Parks , shut down for a week after a malfunction , leaving a number of guests stranded . On the upside , Saudi Arabia finally opened its doors to international tourism .
Looking back on these stories is like digging up a time capsule and rummaging through the contents — and it was only last year . In retrospect , the stories of inconvenience can seem a bit self-indulgent , especially in light of what we ’ ve become accustomed to since then . The real travel story of the year , of course , was just around the corner . It turned out to be COVID-19 . To be honest , I regret even having to mention the name here . We are weary of it — all of us .
2020 was , to put it mildly , a difficult year . And yet , as I write this , millions of Americans are being vaccinated and infection rates are collapsing — a trend that is generating cautious optimism worldwide . It feels like the dawn of a new day with all of us cheering on the sun as it rises . Nevertheless , COVID ’ s effect on the travel industry has been , and will continue to be , profound . With any luck , 2021 will be a year of reflection and recovery , and I ’ d like to think that travel itself will be a key player in both . And that ’ s what this issue of beachLIFE is all about : The restorative power of this thing we call travel .
We begin close to home with our parent company , 360 Blue . Based on interviews with key players , we get an insider ’ s view of how the leading travel company on the Emerald Coast successfully navigated the year that was 2020 . From here we move on to one of 30A ’ s newest and finest boutique resorts — The Pointe on 30A . Stylish , casual and fun , this amenity-rich destination next door to Rosemary Beach has become a favorite among the young at heart .
Our writers then take on Santa Rosa Beach ’ s Longleaf Greenway Trail . Is mountain biking in coastal Florida a thing ? It absolutely is . From here we head further inland for a series of Emerald Coast day trips that will make you fall in love with the area all over again . The staycation is the new trend that has travelers staying and working for extended periods at their favorite vacation destinations — especially destinations that are closer to home . And the trend could be here to stay . Then we introduce you to Claude Baudin , a Santa Rosa Beach local who has fashioned a bayfront home that ’ s as unique as his collection of Moto Guzi motorcycles .
We then hit the road with Natural Retreats , taking in the highlights of the seventeen destinations this premier travel company offers — from Palm Springs to Big Sky to the Sea Islands of South Carolina . Upon our return , we check in with local chef , Paula Emery , who shares her favorite cocktail recipes . Finally , we drop by Grayton Beach to see how everyone ’ s favorite beach town is doing .
It ’ s been a year , so let ’ s raise a glass . Here ’ s to you . Here ’ s to us . And here ’ s to the open road .
samantha sapp
PUBLISHER beachLIFE 11