travel
The “Oily” Truth About Florida’s Beaches By Pam Walker
R
ing....Ring.......“I want to cancel my reservation because of the oil in the Gulf!” “What? There is no oil on the beaches in Florida?” “What? Well I am scared anyway. So please cancel my reservation!”
So goes one of the many calls that are coming into Florida hotels these days. Working in the tourism industry and being part of a tourism commission that is promoting beaches in Flagler County (just south of St. Augustine and a little north of Daytona), I can tell you that calls like those above are coming in on a regular basis all over the this state. Even in Orlando, a place where Mickey Mouse seldom sees a wave, people are canceling! Why are people listening to the talking heads on TV? When are these nightly reports on TV and radio going to stop sensationalizing what is happening and terrifying the general public to death? From the pictures they show, they would have us believe that if you stick your big toe in the ocean it will come out slimy and covered with goo! When are they going to show pictures of those wonderful white sugar beaches in the Ft. Walton or perhaps the beaches of the Keys or Daytona? I am continually amazed at the mass thought process of
the American public. You hear it on the news and it must be true. When is the average American going to stand up and see what is really around them? Don’t listen to the nightly gloom and doom nut jobs on TV. Don’t you realize that they get paid for “stirring the pot”? The more viewers they can get to watch them and their horrifying broadcasts, the more advertisers flock to their stations and ply them with money. Why is it that the average program is one hour long, but there is more commercial content than substance these days?
The beaches this year in Florida are wonderful, white and pristine as ever. In Flagler County, on the relaxed east coast of Florida, the beaches are a pretty pink, which comes from little colored coquina shells and reefs off the coast. The only oil we have ever seen is when some tanker or cargo ship has the bad taste to clean their bilge out at sea and the small pieces float to shore. Growing up in New
Jersey, I remember my grandmother with a small can of gasoline by the back door to clean our feet from the tar every time we came from the beach. Why are we fretting so much when the beaches are so beautiful? On the 4th of July we had a picnic on the beach here in Flagler. Nice friends, a warm breeze, surf rolling in with warm water, and a beautiful pink sand beach and fireworks to enjoy. I must admit that part of that beach came home in the car with me, .but I don’t mind. There was no tar, no oil, and no worry. Most all the beaches in Florida are free from oil and the famed tar balls. But the Federal Government and BP had to give the State of Florida $25,000 to fund new advertising, because everyone was listening to the talking heads and canceling their beach vacations. Don’t miss out on the best time of the year, and the best beaches in the world! Come and enjoy Flagler, Daytona, Miami, Key West, Naples, Panama City Beach, and Ft. Walton Beach. All are open to the public and waiting for you to have a wonderful time. Come on down! The water and the beaches are fine! Pam Walker is a Virtuoso travel consultant and can be reached at pliwalker@earthlink.net. You can follow her travels by visiting Pam’s blog at www.pamwalkers.
For appointments call, 770-617-3805 www.infocusphotographyonline.com
PAGE 30 PAGE 30
For Advertising information Call 770.222.2699 • ourtownmagazine@bellsouth.net For Advertising information Call 770.222.2699 l info@ourtownfamily.com l OurTownFamily.com
Our Town Our Town