Gulf Oil Spill: Update
Memorial Day 2010: Did the Oil Keep the Tourists Away?
Well, Memorial Day is officially here, capping off a weekend of travel for many and kicking off a summer of travel for many more. Though there are hundreds, even thousands, of popular United States destinations to choose from every year, traditionally the Panhandle of Florida is one of the most popular. From rental deals to drink specials, the sandy shores of the Gulf of Mexico have long been the place to be for many when Memorial Day weekend rolls around.
But, thanks to the massive oil spill that’s been threatening the Gulf waters and beaches since the leak began more than 40 days ago and last week’s revelation that the top kill efforts had failed, there has been much speculation about the prospects of empty beaches and lost rental income for the first major travel weekend of the summer. The big question has been, will folks still come to the Emerald Coast, or will they forfeit deposits, change plans and head instead to the Carolina Coast for their Memorial Day barbeques?
Over the weekend, some major news networks have aired images of deserted beaches and reported dying animals, gassy smells and an oily substance permeating the clear green water. Well, with all due respect, I beg to differ. I decided to check out this emtpy beach phenomenon for myself and was delighted to find business as usual on the prettiest beaches in the world, nary a dead animal or foul odor in sight. And the slimy residue? Suffice it to say that the only oily substance I saw came in a bottle with a Banana Boat label.
I guess I’m not the only one who was concerned – Florida Governor Charlie Crist was also in town on Saturday, staying in Sandestin with his wife. Governor Crist did his best to reassure concerned tourists and residents, citing the state’s recent efforts to spread the word, including the USA Today ads announcing “The Coast is Clear.” He also declared state-wide license-free fishing for the holiday weekend saying, “it’s teeming with life out there, it’s a great fishing weekend.”
As for the broacast images of empty beaches on Saturday morning? They appeared to be taken at about 7am. So yes, at 7am, the beaches are pretty clear. But what about two hours later when the rows of chairs and umbrellas in front of the Sandestin Beach Club were already seven deep? Well, I didn’t notice any news crews among the sunbathers then. Or while I waited on the sidewalk for my morning Starbucks, since the line had crept out the door. And when we fought bumper-to-bumper traffic on a shopping trip during Sunday’s sudden rain shower? You guessed it, no news crews their either.
Come to think of it, I’d like to know where exactly they found those deserted beaches along the Beaches of South Walton, because they looked like a nice peaceful respite from all these crowds.
Happy Memorial Day Scenic readers, don’t forget to pause at 3pm local time today for a moment of silence to remember those who have fallen to make this day possible.
UP NEXT: CYBER ROADTRIP HEADS TO CALIFORNIA
This entry was posted on Monday, May 31st, 2010 at 8:58 am and is filed under Florida, Holiday travel, Travel Tips, U.S. travel news, Vacation In Florida, We've Scene It!. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
One Response to “Gulf Oil Spill: Update”
Oil Spill in the Gulf | Vacation Rentals June 6th, 2010 at 3:38 pm
[...] untouched. Clean-up efforts are underway in affected areas and the summer vacation season is in full swing along other untouched beaches. As vacation rental owners and vacationers, the best we can do is [...]
