insideKENT Magazine Issue 99 - June / July 2020 | Page 11

KENTSTAYCATION
insideKENT Special Feature
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
2020 - THE YEAR OF THE
STAYCATION
BY JESS MARSHALL
JUNE IS NORMALLY THE START OF THE SUMMER HOLIDAY SEASON. THIS TIME LAST YEAR, INSTAGRAM FEEDS EVERYWHERE WERE FLOODED
WITH PICTURES OF POOLSIDE COCKTAILS AND TROPICAL SUNSETS. IN AN IDEAL WORLD, WE WOULD CURRENTLY BE SPENDING OUR TIME
TRYING TO CRAM ONE MORE BOTTLE OF SUNSCREEN INTO OUR SUITCASE, BELTING OUT OUR SIGNATURE SUMMER HOLIDAY SONG - MUCH
TO THE DISMAY OF OUR NEIGHBOURS - AND ENVISIONING THAT PERFECTLY ACCEPTABLE MORNING BEER AT THE AIRPORT THAT OFFICIALLY
MARKED THE BEGINNING OF OUR SUMMER HOLIDAYS. ALAS, 2020 HAS THROWN US QUITE THE CURVEBALL. AS LOCKDOWN BEGINS TO LIFT,
HOWEVER, WHO’S TO SAY WE CAN’T STILL ENJOY A VACATION? SUN, SEA AND LUXURY ARE MOST DEFINITELY STILL ON THE AGENDA. WE
CAN SALVAGE THE REST OF HOLIDAY PLANS BY MAKING THIS YEAR THE YEAR OF THE STAYCATION AS WE TAKE TIME TO REFLECT AND
REDISCOVER OUR LOVE OF THE GREAT BRITISH HOLIDAY. AND WHAT BETTER PLACE TO DO SO THAN IN THE GARDEN OF ENGLAND? SO PACK
THE CAR, STRAP YOURSELVES IN BECAUSE WE, MY KENTISH FRIENDS ARE GOING ON A SUMMER HOLIDAY AFTER ALL.
THE CLASSIC SEASIDE HOLIDAY
First up: the beautiful seaside town of Whitstable in
North Kent. Make sure to have your bikinis and
swimming trunks at the ready! This charming little
haven is the perfect British location to replace loud,
overcrowded resort holidays. The perfect mix of
shore-front luxury and small town charm, Whitstable
is the destination for a lazy, romantic holiday
consisting of long lie-ins, lounging in the sun with a
good book, and enjoying the hustle and bustle of the
local high street.
Where to Stay
In terms of accommodation, it is imperative that
you take advantage of the many seafront holiday
homes that back right onto the beach. Each house
is unique with their pastel coloured window frames
lining the harbor. Their individual exuberance makes
you want to stay in each and every one of them! As
an added bonus to having the beach right on your
doorstep, many of these houses have balconies to be
enjoyed with a cocktail or two and a bottle of
sunscreen as you catch the last rays of the day and
watch the incandescent sun disappear below the
rippling sea. The ultimate social-distancing luxury!
What to Do?
Benches are dotted at intervals along the seafront,
and are the perfect place to enjoy a fish and chip
lunch from some of the best chippies in England!
Let the salty air blow through your hair and enjoy
the sights of dogs frolicking on the beach, children
building sandcastles and happy couples wandering
hand-in-hand as you relax into your Kent Staycation.
Looking ahead to when the pubs and restaurants
re-open, Whitstable’s high-street is the perfect location
for a refined pub crawl. Bars line the streets and
specialise in everything from craft beer to wine. If
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