beachLIFE Magazine 2022

2022

ISSUE SIXTEEN

inspiration + discovery from the emerald coast and beyond

C OAVDE R YOLO Board, LLC

Issue Sixteen 2022

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Service Beyond the Sale

table of CO NTENTS

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letter from the publisher introduction

rise of vacation home rentals travel

discover cape san blas travel

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the story of sand nature

Emerald emerald Coast coast Vacation vacation Guide guide local travel experiences

Emerald emerald Coast coast Maps maps local travel experiences

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the turtle lady: sharon maxwell local spotlight

explore the under water art museum local experiences

intracoastal intracoastal + gulf + gulf waterways waterways nature

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the magical moments of travel feature

distillery 98 Martin martin Migration migration sip+savor

history of the Sonder sonder project the last word

b eachLI FE 2 0 2 2 : Trave l as an an tidote

L

ast year, in early February, there was a distinct note of optimism in the air, especially within the sphere of travel. COVID-19 cases were collapsing and travel restrictions were being lifted. Though the road ahead was far from certain, the conventional wisdom had it that the worst of was behind us. The conventional wisdom, it turns out, was a bit off. Maybe more than a bit.

Optimism sometimes requires some effort. That is, you have to seek out the good in times of difficulty. So let me do that now.

LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER

F RO M T H E PU B L I S H E R

If it’s possible to identify an upside to the pandemic, it’s this: The past two years have prompted vast numbers of Americans to look up from their lives and contemplate what really matters to them. I would argue that travel is one of those things.

COVID-19 has delivered an abundance of isolation. It has also delivered plenty of exhaustion that comes with excessive routine—of going through today, just as we did yesterday, just as we will in the day that lies ahead.

What many have realized—or rediscovered—is that travel is a natural antidote to all of the above. Travel requires us to abandon our familiar environment knowing that we will be introduced to the unfamiliar. We will pass through distant landscapes, come to know strangers, and lie down at night on a bed we’ve never slept in before. We do this with the unspoken promise that, when we return home, we might experience a new clarity of what our lives are all about. We may even welcome a return to our old routine—at least for a while. If you agree, keep reading, keep browsing. This issue was written, designed and published with you in mind.

We begin with the rise of vacation home rental popularity throughout the pandemic, then head off to Cape San Blas, a new destination for 360 Blue. Next, we take an up-close look at the flour-soft and stunningly white Emerald Coast sand and catch up with Santa Rosa Beach local Sharon Maxwell, founder of the South Walton Turtle Watch. Next, we’re off on an extraordinary snorkel and scuba diving excursion at the Underwater Museum of Art before exploring the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, which connects Choctawhatchee Bay and St. Andrew Bay. While there, we take a detour up the Choctawhatchee Watershed. beachLIFE

As we all know, travel is one of the most memory-rich experiences we have—and there’s a reason these memories last a lifetime. Our Magical Moments of Travel article unravels the emotional and psychological impact traveling has on us. Next, we move on to a local distillery in Santa Rosa Beach—Distillery 98—before rounding out the issue with a Brief History of the Sonder Project. This remarkable nonprofit has done extraordinary work where aid is desperately needed.

With that we welcome a new season of travel that, with any luck, will take us to the ends of the Earth. So here’s to you. Here’s to us. And here’s to the open road.

nathan henris Pu bl i s her

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C R E D I TS A 360 Blue, LLC Publication Publisher + Vice President of Marketing: NATHAN HENRIS Design Director: JORDYN McLEOD Designer: MARY MOORE

Senior Copy writer: DWIGHT WILLIAMS Contributing Writers: SUSAN VALLEE SARAH MURPHY ROBERTSON Photographer: BRITTANY SPIVEY Editor: DEBBY DUNN

Email Us to Advertise: Info@Beachlifemagazine.com

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THE

vacation home rental

Last year, a record number of American travelers experimented with

their lodging options. They fell in love with one in particular…

T R AV E L

R I S E O F VACATI O N H OM E R E NTAL S

RISE OF

T R AV E L :

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R I S E O F T H E VAC AT I O N R E N TA L H O M E

“In the last two-plus years, millions of Americans have tried them for the first time—and they’ve fallen in love with the experience.”

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— Chris Holden, CEO of Natural Retreats

R I S E O F VACATI O N H OM E R E NTAL S

T

he vacation home rental market. Not only is it the newest player in the lodging space, it’s also widely recognized as the most dynamic and innovative. And since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in the spring of 2020, it has enjoyed an unexpected surge in popularity.

Its appeal?

The incredible variety of homes, say many industry observers. Also, their inherent safety in an age of pandemic.

This surge in demand, however, isn’t exclusive to the Emerald Coast. Natural Retreats, which manages luxury properties in 17 destinations throughout the United States, has felt the love nationwide.

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“Vacation home rentals are finding a whole new audience these days as folks shy away from crowded spaces,” says Chris Holden, CEO of Natural Retreats, the parent company of 360 Blue. “In the last two-plus years, millions of Americans have tried them for the first time—and they’ve fallen in love with the experience.”

The first vacation rental listings appeared in American newspapers in the 1950s. What followed was the slow, organic growth of an everevolving lodging category. Most of these vacation homes were looked after by professional property

beachLIFE

“Two years ago guests really wanted to vacation alone with trusted friends and families,” says Mike Perkins, Senior Vice President of Operations for 360 Blue. “They also wanted to have control over who they came in contact with. The vacation home rental checked both of those boxes. Now their eyes have been opened to what the VR experience is all about.”

The vacation home rental concept stretches back centuries to a time when extended stays were common among the affluent and their preferred lodging was a home over a hotel. Availability and rates were disseminated by word-of-mouth, newspaper adverts and mail service, and an agreement was arrived at between guests and the owner. The arrangement worked for both parties.

The homeowners enjoyed additional revenue while their guests experienced a destination in a far more intimate way than any hotel could offer.

T R AV E L

“It’s been a remarkable turn of events,” says Jake McClendon, Senior Vice President of Growth and Client Services for 360 Blue. “The phenomenon that initially threatened the entire travel industry became a huge driver of demand in the vacation rental space.”

WHAT’S OLD IS NEW AGAIN

R I S E O F VACATI O N H OM E R E NTAL S T R AV E L beachLIFE

managers charged with overseeing not only the care, but the marketing of the homes in their portfolio. Some, however, were managed by the owners who would maintain and clean them between stays and market them in various newspapers.

homeowners with guests. Home listings included photos and detailed property information, along with availability and rates.

The trend industry-wide, however, has always been toward the “professionalization” of the vacation rental space, with property management companies delivering evermore sophisticated levels of services to both homeowners and guests.

Perhaps the most creative example of this was a company called Couchsurfing International which connected travelers looking for a brief stay with homeowners who were willing to let them camp out on their sofa for a few nights. The homeowner got to meet out-of-towners. The traveler got to connect with an actual local who could offer them the thing they prized above all else—local knowledge. The homeowner knew the best pub, the public transit schedule, the must-see stops that didn’t show up in guidebooks.

The trend would help yield solid, steady growth over the years. It would also position the industry up for what came next. In the mid-1990s, along came the internet. From that moment forward, the vacation rental market would never again be the same.

A BRAVE NEW WORLD This new era would introduce the world to the online travel agency, or OTA. Vacation Rental by Owner (VRBO) launched in 1995 and is widely considered the first platform of its kind in the vacation rental space that electronically connected

Since then, innovation and authenticity have been the industry’s watchwords.

Couchsurfing aside, mainstream companies would be the change agents throughout the broader industry. And dizzying change was on the way.

The year 2005 saw the launch of HomeAway, an OTA formed through the merger of several vacation rental sites that would acquire VRBO the

“Our guests were looking for a vacation experience they could customize to the needs of their family—from specialty services to rental equipment delivered prior to arrival.”

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— Trisha Severs. Project Manager, 360 Blue

R I S E O F VACATI O N H OM E R E NTAL S

“ T H E I N V E N T O RY O F VA C AT I O N R E N TA L H O M E S E X PA N D E D WO R L DW I D E ”

T R AV E L

Meanwhile, the inventory of vacation rental homes was expanding worldwide.

“Today’s vacation rental home market offers homes with every feature and amenity you can imagine,” says Trisha Severs, Project Manager for 360 Blue. “And they offer them in nearly every destination on the planet, giving travelers access to accommodations that truly resonate with them— whether they’re traveling for business, a traditional family vacation, or a special occasion.”

ALONG CAME COVID-19 In the spring of 2020, commercial airline flights were being canceled by the thousands and cruise ships were called back to port, some even mothballed. Many hotels remained open but mostly empty as bookings dried up. On March 16, 2020, Disney World closed. Meanwhile, travel bans between states proved a near-death experience for many in the travel space—including the vacation home rental market.

Domestic travel restrictions had eased by late spring, however, and Americans were primed to hit the road. But they were planning a very different vacation than they had in the past—though few in the industry recognized the nature and scope of what was happening.

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Yet the vacation rental market was but a small fraction of the size of the hotel market. However, its

popularity was about to skyrocket under the most challenging circumstances imaginable. beachLIFE

following year. In 2008, a small San Francisco startup called Airbnb launched to little fanfare.

Seven years later, in 2015, Expedia purchased HomeAway, the parent company of VRBO, further setting the stage for the mainstreaming of the vacation rental sector.

w e r e l o o k i n g f o r a v a c a t i o n e x p e r i e n c e the y c o u l d

c u s t o m i z e t o the n ee d s o f the i r f a m i l y ”

T R AV E L

R I S E O F VACATI O N H OM E R E NTAL S

“guests

beachLIFE

Travelers were no longer interested in just the traditional week away. Instead, they were experimenting with what was possible under a set of radically different circumstances.

And technology offered a whole new world of possibilities. Teleconferencing, for instance, was now commonplace and trusted. For many families, it was an ah-ha moment.

“People were booking vacations well into the fall of 2020 because they could suddenly work from home,” says Aliza Fogarty, Director of Guest Services at 360 Blue. “They could take their families with them because their children were taking classes online.”

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Guests were discovering that they now had the ability to book a home that had everything they needed for an extended time away—for a “flexcation” or a “staycation.” Teleconferencing paired with the vacation home rental made the extended hybrid vacation not only doable but incredibly safe. And the variety of expansive vacation homes available made it comfortable and attractive to an entire family.

“Since the onset of the pandemic, we’ve seen a significant increase in interest from people looking

for safe, remote, and exciting rental properties,” says Jerry Hefner, VP of Marketing for Natural Retreats. “These have not only included short-term vacation rentals for our families and friends but also long-term rentals for those looking for a change of pace while working remotely or attending virtual education programs.”

“Our guests were looking for a vacation experience they could customize to the needs of their family— from specialty services to rental equipment delivered prior to arrival,” says Severs. “They also want to know the details—which homes have the best porches, the best views, and kitchens.”

By the spring of 2021 the surge in travel hadn’t let up. If anything, it had only increased with recordbreaking summer bookings. The appeal also seemed to be diversifying.

“Across the industry we saw guests choose vacation home rentals in the summer of 2020 for safety considerations,” says Nathan Henris, Vice President of Marketing for 360 Blue. “But for those that were previously new to vacation rentals, the appeal has since expanded to lifestyle preferences such as inhome amenities and location. Guests know the

Meanwhile, property managers and homeowners continue to adapt and innovate to meet the moment.

“It’s been amazing to see the reaction from our homeowners to accommodate working remotely,” says Douglas Burns, COO/CFO of Natural Retreats. “They understand the benefits to them and our guests of investing in workspaces and reliable internet that allow people to have a dedicated, professional—yet comfortable—place to connect.”

R I S E O F VACATI O N H OM E R E NTAL S

once: taking advantage of the current surge while preparing for a potential return to normalcy.”

Many see the pandemic as a gateway event that will continue to define travel habits long after the COVID-19 threat has subsided. One key change: They will continue to prefer vacation home rentals for everything they offer.

The sustained demand was something of a surprise for several reasons, not least of which was the fact that the pandemic wasn’t really “over.” The Delta variant would make this all too clear, infecting millions of Americans in the late summer and early fall of 2021. Then came the Omicron variant.

Through it all—after the endless highs and lows— the vacation home rental would emerge as the lodging option of choice for millions of travelers.

So what does the future look like for the vacation home rental space? Does the recent surge in demand have staying power?

beachLIFE

THE ROAD AHEAD

T R AV E L

safety advantages of vacation homes and enjoy the feeling of being ‘at home.’ And we’ve adjusted our messaging to reflect this change in awareness.”

“The pandemic introduced a lot of Americans to the vacation home rental concept,” says Perkins.

“Did we do enough as a company and as an industry to keep them coming back? Did we do enough to make them repeat guests? I think we absolutely crushed it.”

“Our thinking is that the pendulum will likely swing back somewhat,” says McClendon. “Not necessarily to pre-pandemic levels of demand, but back to something more in line with historical trends. With this in mind, we’re doing two things at

“It’s been amazing to see the reaction from our homeowners to accommodate working remotely, they understand the benefits to them and our guests...”

— Douglas Burns, COO/CFO of Natural Retreats 21

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D E S T I N AT I O N C A P E S A N B L A S T R AV E L

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CAPE SAN BLAS

DESTINATI O N: CAPE SAN BL AS C O M E F O R T H E S E R E N I T Y. S T A Y F O R

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THE ADVENTURE…

D E S T I N AT I O N C A P E S A N B L A S

I

t’s a salty realm.

At the far eastern edge of the Emerald Coast, a slender arm of sand extends into the Gulf of Mexico, forming both a peninsula and a bay. Just to the south, at the elbow, there’s a cape—Cape San Blas.

There is no destination quite like it in all of Florida.

With the Bay on one side and the Gulf on the other, the peninsula is tailormade for the salty set— from sportfishing to scalloping to scuba diving and snorkeling.

“If you’ve ever wondered what 30A was like 30 years ago, it was a lot like this: pristine beaches that stretch for miles...”

HISTORY Being somewhat off the beaten path, the Cape’s history is largely defined by the sea. Archaeologists determined Native Americans of the Weeden Island Northwest Culture lived, worshipped, and fished along these whitesand beaches in pre-Columbian times. Spanish explorers, pirates, and settlers with visions of a thriving cotton seaport would sail these waters in the years to follow.

Leading up to the Civil War, there was little more than a solitary lighthouse on the Cape to warn seafarers away from the shoals that extend for miles into the Gulf of Mexico. An untold number of ships have run aground here over the centuries. The first lighthouse was built in 1847, only to be destroyed in a storm a few years later. A second went up in its place and was promptly leveled by a hurricane.

A third went up, only to die the slow death of erosion. Finally, a fourth was built in 1883, this one constructed with an iron frame.

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A saltworks run by the Confederacy was located on the Cape during the Civil War. The operation combined a process of evaporation with seawater

beachLIFE

One of the Cape’s most distinctive traits is the strong Old Florida vibe that runs through it. If you’ve ever wondered what 30A was like 30 years ago, it was a lot like this: pristine beaches that stretch for miles, thoroughly original restaurants that have been around for years, and a genuine down-at-heel spirit among the locals. A walk on the northern end of St. Joseph Peninsula offers a feature that you will find almost nowhere else in Florida: A footpath that begins where the road ends. As you make your way north, the seashells become ever-larger and more abundant due to the scarcity of humans who would take them home for keepsakes. What lies

ahead is a miracle, something you simply no longer see: miles and miles of uninhabited and undeveloped Florida coastline.

T R AV E L

The area is for the outdoorsy in general, offering land-based activities that are hard to find in a day and age of beachfront condo towers and the crush of beachgoers. Ever wanted to explore a deserted beach on horseback? There’s an outfitter on Cape San Blas who can make that happen. If a long walk on a deserted beach is your thing, well, you can do that, too.

D E S T I N AT I O N C A P E S A N B L A S

which yielded 150 bushels of sea salt a day. Then, in 1862, the Union Navy arrived—and the saltworks was no more. Fast-forward 120-plus years to the 1980s when the first vacation homes appeared on the Cape—nearly all built upon pilings to accommodate the heavy surf from the inevitable cyclones that rolled through. Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Michael both left their marks, ravaging the coastline. Since then, the area has set itself apart as a sought-after destination that, like its history, is all about the water.

beachLIFE

T R AV E L

A N A N G LE R ’ S PA R A D I S E Fishing on the Cape is a year-round affair, with local inshore, offshore and inland waters offering the full array of the Northwest Florida angler’s checklist: flounder, redfish, cobia, pompano, Spanish mackerel, black drum, tarpon—you name it. The two nearest towns—Port St. Joe to the north and Apalachicola to the west—serve as home ports to the area’s charter fleet, while the bays and rivers deliver spectacular fishing options.

The area, however, has a best-kept secret: scalloping on St. Joseph Bay. Rent a boat or bring your own during the scalloping season, which runs from mid-August to late September. All you need is a saltwater fishing license (which can be purchased locally), snorkeling gear, and a net to gather your catch as you make your way through the shallows and seagrass in pursuit of tasty bivalve mollusks. Some of the most abundant scalloping grounds are found in the shallows along the southern end of St. Joseph Bay near Black’s Island.

“It’s like an aquatic Easter egg hunt,” says visitor Evelyn Carter of Hattiesburg, Mississippi. “There’s nothing like it.”

W H E R E TO E AT

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Restaurant options include LongBill’s, a oneof-a-kind, Gulf-to-table, fresh-as-can-be seafood restaurant offering all your favorites from fish tacos to seafood pasta to oysters to shrimp to burgers and pizza.

Just to the east, on your way to Apalachicola, you’ll find the Indian Pass Raw Bar, a roadside treasure that’s been around for decades. On October 10, 2018, the establishment was badly damaged when Hurricane Michael made landfall just to the west.

But now it’s back, along with the come-as-you-are atmosphere that made it famous. Grab a beer from the cooler, order a basket of shrimp and a plate of oysters. Then sit back, relax, and make new friends.

W H AT TO S E E Apalachicola is a must-see destination all by itself.

The oyster industry has been effectively shut down due to a lack of fresh water entering Apalachicola Bay, but the shrimp here are incredible. So too are the restaurants—especially those featuring local seafood—along with the artisan shops. The streets come alive at sundown, so be sure to take your time wandering from one to the next. Of course, there’s the Apalachicola Maritime Museum and the town’s crown jewel—the Dixie Theater—an intimate performing arts venue dating back to 1915.

D E S T I N AT I O N C A P E S A N B L A S T R AV E L

cigar to go with your rum and O.J.? They’ve got all that. “If we don’t have it,” as they say, “you probably don’t need it.”

3 6 0 B LU E

beachLIFE

Further down the road, you’ll find Tate’s Hell State Forest, a 212,000-acre park that offers visitors a rare glimpse of what this part of Florida was like before the arrival of Europeans. Part swampland, part forest, part floodplain, part prairie, this ecological treasure is home to all manner of regional wildlife, including Florida black bear, bald eagles, gopher tortoise, and the red-cockaded woodpecker. There are 35 miles of rivers, streams, and creeks navigable by a shallow-draft boat such as a canoe or johnboat. An onsite boat launch offers easy access to waterways.

360 Blue now offers over 50 of the finest vacation home rentals on Cape San Blas. Selected for their charm and proximity to the water, these homes are all about gathering with those you love in a destination like no other.

Browse away at 360Blue.com

P ROV I S I O N S O N CA P E SA N B L A S

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For groceries, fishing supplies and sundries, there’s the family-owned and operated Cape Tradin’ Post. It even includes a nicely stocked liquor store will keep your party in good spirits. Looking for a

EXPERIENCE Upscale shopping, sophisticated dining options and South Walton’s premier events and entertainment await you Along the Boulevard.

DINE

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Another Broken Egg Café

Altar’d State

The Bistro

Anthropologie

(Located in Courtyard by Marriott Sandestin at Grand Boulevard)

Black Bear Bread Co. (Now Open) Cantina Laredo Modern Mexican The Craft Bar

Arhaus (Now Open) Arula Billabong Bluemercury Hemline

Emeril’s Coastal

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everkrisp Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar

J.McLaughlin The Jewel

Grimaldi’s Coal Brick-Oven Pizzeria

La Luna

Kilwins

lululemon (Now Open)

PF Chang’s China Bistro

Ophelia Swimwear

Starbucks

Orvis

Tommy Bahama Restaurant & Bar

Peter Millar

Vin’tij Food & Wine

Lilly Pulitzer

Pottery Barn Rose & Co (Now Open)

The Wine Bar

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Residence Inn by Marriott Sandestin at Grand Boulevard

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Emerald Coast Theatre Company

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T H E B E AU F O RT B O N N E T CO M PA N Y NOW OPEN

THE STORY OF SAND beachLIFE

The Story of the Emerald Coast’s White Sand

N AT U R E

F ROM T H E M O U N TA I N S TO THE B E AC H

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THE STORY OF SAND N AT U R E

T

he sand. Flour-soft and, on sunny days, blindingly white. It’s a defining presence on Florida’s Emerald Coast, changing everything it touches—from the water itself to those who visit the coastline it forms.

This soft powder is actually rock—nearly 100% quartz mixed with finely ground seashells. Together they form a seabed that stretches miles out into the Gulf of Mexico. Wave action on the Gulf slowly develops submerged sandbars that run along the length of the coastline. In the shallows, the water appears to glow as though lit from within—the effect of refracted sunlight reflecting off the seafloor. This combination of sun, sea, and sand creates stunning gradations of color from white to aquamarine to cobalt blue.

A casual walk on an Emerald Coast beach is a sensory experience. The sand is so pure that it squeaks underfoot. Listerine-colored waters are paired with the tactile sense of impossibly soft and utterly homogenous sand. The wetted portions form a slurry that is at once soft and abrasive, something to be played in or shaped into sculpture. It’s this perfect maritime world that stretches on for miles and miles in either direction.

There are other beaches further to the east and west, but nothing approaches the otherworldly allure of the Emerald Coast.

ORIGINS

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beachLIFE

So, where does the sand come from? And why does every other beach in the world pale in comparison?

The beaches of the Emerald Coast are made from the stuff of mountains—specifically the Appalachians.

The story begins 12,000 years ago in the final centuries of the last ice age when the planet was warming, and the miles-deep North American ice sheet was in full retreat. Along the spine of the Appalachians, the ice and rock beneath it formed what can only be described as a massive crucible that pulverized the quartz into a fine talc-like powder (under a microscope, the individual grains are finely worn into ovals—like tiny identical bits of sea glass). The melting ice became a torrent, sending a slurry down various waterways all the way to the Gulf of Mexico, much of it delivered by what we now know as the Apalachicola River.

THE STORY OF SAND N AT U R E

"It’s this perfect maritime world that stretches on for miles and miles in either direction."

The Emerald Coast also owes a debt of gratitude to the Mississippi River. The river’s outflow is situated about 100 miles southeast of New Orleans. It comes rushing through southern Louisiana, heading southeast before making a hard turn to the westsouthwest. It makes this turn just before it spills into the Gulf, sending its cargo of sediment, mud, and runoff away from Florida. There are no major river

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Why are the waters of the Emerald Coast so luminous and clear? The short answer: The absence of pollution—especially when compared to the coastal waters west of the Mississippi. There are reasons for this. First, Florida is the only Gulf state that doesn’t allow offshore drilling, an industry that comes with the accompanying infrastructure of rigs, refiners, and pipelines. The absence of this

River. Upon arrival at the coast, tides and currents sent the powdered quartz in every direction—but mostly eastward. As the millennia came and went, a wholly unique coastline formed.

beachLIFE

CLARITY

infrastructure means far less oily sludge finding its way to Florida beaches. A continuing 10-year moratorium, renewed in September of 2020, is presently in place and enjoys overwhelming support among Floridians, many of whom depend on tourism for their livelihood. In 2019, Florida welcomed 145.4 million out-of-state visitors who spent $98.8 billion, supporting 1.6 million jobs.

One of the biggest draws for those visitors is the pristine beaches and coastal waters.

THE STORY OF SAND N AT U R E

N AT U R E :

beachLIFE

STORY OF THE SAND

outflows east of the Mississippi, and therefore far less sediment in the northeastern Gulf.

The white sand beaches of northwest Florida extend westward as far as Cape San Blas and as far east as Pensacola near the Alabama/Florida border.

Some of the sand, however, has migrated to the southeast, finding its way to the beaches between St. Petersburg and Marco Island.

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ONGOING PHENOMENA The story of our soft, white sand, and the beaches that bring millions of visitors to the Emerald Coast each year, is still in the making. The Appalachian Mountains, worn by the constant flow of water, continue to release its buried veins of quartz. And in every moment of every day, the Apalachicola River delivers that small, precious cargo to the sea.

Another ongoing phenomenon: The protection of Florida’s beaches and coastal waters. The current offshore drilling moratorium is temporary. It expires in 2030. Which begs the question: How durable is the will to protect the destination we love?

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A

Atmosphere

Voted Best Atmosphere Outdoor and indoor waterfront dining overlooking Eastern Lake and the Gulf Gulf-to-table seafood | Award-winning sushi Live music nightly, including dueling pianos most Thursdays through Sundays Happy Hour Daily 11:00am-5:00pm

33 HERON’S WATCH WAY | SANTA ROSA BEACH | 850-534-3045

RESERVATIONS ACCEPTED AT OLDFLORIDAFISHHOUSE.COM

VAC AT I O N G U I D E

T h e E m e ra l d C o a s t

VACATION

GUIDE

40

beachLIFE

T R AV E L

W h e r e To S h o p + D i n e

S o Mu c h To S e e + D o VAC AT I O N G U I D E

You’ve arrived at a one-of-a-kind destination with so much to see and do, and 360 Blue is here to show you the way. We’ve highlighted a number of amazing Experiences for you to take in and a run-down of some of our favorite local shops and restaurants. From standup paddleboards to beach chairs to surfboards, we have the rental gear you’re looking for. Explore local trails on bike, order a custom charcuterie board with champagne, or host a s’mores beach party with loved ones. Have your own ideas for an adventure? Reach out, and we’ll help make it happen!

I n - h o u s e C o n c i e rge

Cu sto m Ex p e r i e n c e s

T R AV E L

One of the great benefits of living and working on the Emerald Coast is the opportunity it affords locals to come to know such a unique area so intimately—especially the can’t-miss places. Our in-house concierge team has taken advantage. A dedicated agent will help you build your itinerary, offering local knowledge and insight into all of the Experiences to be enjoyed throughout the seasons!

We’re here to help plan every aspect of your 360 Blue Experience!

Each excursion begins with a slate of options and ends with the adventure of a lifetime. Explore local communities by bicycle or take in a kayaking fishing charter. Later, unwind with a spa day getaway or an in-home massage. There’s nothing quite like an evening beach bonfire surrounded by friends and family.

Whether you’re planning a day at the beach or an all-new adventure on Choctawhatchee Bay, we’ve got you covered! Our kayak and standup paddleboard rentals are the perfect way to experience life on the water. Feel like exploring 30A? Discover local beaches, shops, and restaurants via our rental bikes and street-legal golf carts. We’ll help you find the gear you need and have it delivered right to your door!

beachLIFE

Eq u i p m e n t Re n ta l s

how to book:

Visit 360blue.com or call us at 844-374-2203

41

VAC AT I O N G U I D E T R AV E L

A LYS B E A C H eat + drink

play + shop

CALIZA 23 Nonesuch Way 850-213-5700

NEAT 11 North Castle Harbour Dr 850-213-5711

ALYS SHOPPE 30 Mark Twain Ln 850-213-5550

CHARLIE'S DONUT TRUCK 63 Somerset St 850-547-2960

PIPER’S KITCHEN 58 Castle Harbour Dr 850-213-5595

MAST 11 North Castle Harbour Dr 850-909-0406

GEORGE’S 30 Castle Harbour Dr 850-641-0017

RAW & JUICY 147 West La Garza Ln 850-909-0230

B L U E M O U N TA I N B E A C H eat + drink

play + shop

BLUE MABEL SMOKEHOUSE 2260 W Co Hwy 30A 850-744-0040

GROWLER GARAGE 4368 W Co Hwy 30A 850-660-1965

JUSTIN GAFFREY GALLERY 21 Blue Gulf Dr 850-267-2022

BLUE MOUNTAIN BAKERY 2217 W Co Hwy 30A 850-267-0400

MCTIGHE’S IRISH PUB 2298 W Co Hwy 30A 850-267-0101

LOLA’S ON 30A 3788 W Co Hwy 30A 850-660-1662

CAFE TANGO 14 Vicki St 850-267-0054

LOCAL CATCH 3711 W Co Hwy 30A 850-622-2022

42

beachLIFE

VA C AT I O N G U I D E

D EST I N eat + drink

play + shop

BOSHAMPS 414 Harbor Blvd 850-424-7406

LOUISIANA LAGNIAPPE 775 Gulf Shore Dr 850-837-0881

DESTIN COMMONS 4100 Legendary Dr 850-337-8700

HARBOR DOCKS 538 Harbor Blvd 850-837-2506

MARLIN GRILL 9100 Baytowne Wharf Blvd 850-351-1990

HARBORWALK VILLAGE 34 Harbor Blvd 850-424-0600

LULU’S DESTIN 4607 Legendary Marina Dr 850-710-5858

THE BACK PORCH 1740 Scenic Hwy 98 850-837-2022

eat + drink

play + shop

PECAN JACKS ICE CREAM 4368 W Co Hwy 30A 850-622-0011

SHUNK GULLEY 1875 S Co Hwy 393 850-622-2733

AFFINITY BOUTIQUE 56 Spires Ln Unit 17a 850-622-6221

PERFECT PIG 7 Town Center Loop C11 850-660-1591

STINKY’S FISH CAMP 5960 W Co Hwy 30A 850-267-3053

THE 30A STORE 95 Laura Hamilton Blvd, Unit C-6

PIZZA BY THE SEA 95 Laura Hamilton Blvd 850-267-2202

SUNRISE COFFEE 45 Town Center Loop 850-499-8103

YOLO BOARD + BIKE 95 Laura Hamilton Blvd Suite C-3 850-267-0602

VAC AT I O N G U I D E

DUNE ALLEN

G R AY TO N B E A C H play + shop GRAYTON BEER BREWPUB 170 E Co Hwy 30A 850-213-4000

THE ZOO GALLERY 89 Hotz Ave 850-231-0777

CHANTICLEER EATERY 55 Clayton Ln 850-213-9065

HURRICANE OYSTER BAR 37 Logan Ln #4 850-231-0787

TRIBE KELLEY SURF POST 99 Hotz Ave 850-533-4019

CHIRINGO 63 Hotz Ave 850-534-4449

THE RED BAR 70 Hotz Ave 850-231-1008

BLACK BEAR BAKERY 26 Logan Ln Unit G 850-213-4528

VA C AT I O N G U I D E

eat + drink

play + shop

AMIGOS 30A MEXICAN KITCHEN 12805 US-98 t101 850-909-0444

CUVEE 12805 U.S. 98 D101 850-909-0111

30AVENUE 12805 US-98 E 850-231-1127

AMICI 30A ITALIAN KITCHEN 12805 U.S. 98, Suite R101 850-909-0555

DONUT HOLE 12983 U.S. 98 E 850-213-3127

CAMP HELEN STATE PARK 23937 Panama City Beach Pkwy 850-233-5059

BIG BAD BREAKFAST 10711 E Co Hwy 30A 850-532-6952

SHADES BAR & GRILL 10952 E Co Hwy 30A 850-231-9410

beachLIFE

INLET BEACH

T R AV E L

eat + drink

43

VAC AT I O N G U I D E T R AV E L

MIRAMAR BEACH eat + drink

play + shop

2 BIRDS COFFEE & CAFE 80 Seascape Dr 850-279-3375

POMPANO JOE’S 2237 Scenic Gulf Dr 850-837-2224

SILVER SANDS PREMIUM OUTLETS 10562 Emerald Coast Pkwy W 850-654-9771

ACME OYSTER HOUSE 90 Seascape Dr 850-460-7773

TEQUILA’S SPORTS BAR & GRILL 11225 US-98 W 850-279-6402

THE MARKET SHOPS 9375 Emerald Coast Pkwy 850-837-3077

BIJOUX 9375 Emerald Coast Pkwy #22 850-622-0760

WHALE’S TAIL BEACH BAR & GRILL 1373 Scenic Gulf Dr 850-650-4377

PA N A M A C I T Y B E A C H eat + drink SHARKY’S RESTAURANT 15201 Front Beach Rd 850-235-2420

GULF WORLD 15412 Front Beach Rd 850-234-5271

HOOK’D PIER BAR & GRILL 16201 Front Beach Rd Suite C 850-233-8232

SHRIMP BASKET 12390 Front Beach Rd 850-563-7836

PIER PARK 600 Pier Park Dr 850-236-9979

SALTWATER GRILL 11040 Hutchison Blvd 850-230-2739

TOOTSIE’S ORCHID LOUNGE 700 S Pier Park Dr 850-236-3459

beachLIFE

DEE’S HANG OUT 529 N Richard Jackson Blvd 850-249-4264

44

play + shop

VA C AT I O N G U I D E

RO S E M A RY B E A C H eat + drink

play + shop

EDWARDS 66 Main St 850-231-0550

PARADIS 82 S Barrett Sq 850-534-0400

GIGI’S 62 Main St 850-231-0110

HAVANA 63 Main St 850-588-2882

PESCADO 74 Town Hall Rd Suite 4B 850-213-4600

ROSEMARY BEACH TRADING CO 34 N Barrett Square #1c

LA CREMA 38 Main St 850-534-3004

SUMMER KITCHEN 78 Main St 850-213-0521

WILLOW BOUTIQUE 32461, 5 Main St

eat + drink

play + shop

CRABBY STEVE’S 10254 E Co Hwy 30A 850-231-0999

LOLA COASTAL ITALIAN 10343 E Co Hwy 30A 850-541-9440

GRITS & GRIND 10343 E Co Hwy 30A #119 850-231-4021

PIZZA BY THE SEA 10343 E Co Hwy 30A #114 850-534-0044

LA COCINA 10343 E Co Hwy 30A 850-231-4021

SEACREST SUNDRIES 10343 E Co Hwy 30A F108 850-588-4860

PEDDLERS 30A 10343 E Co Hwy 30A #115 850-213-0040

VAC AT I O N G U I D E

S E A C R EST B E A C H

S E A G RO V E B E A C H play + shop

ANGELINA’S PIZZERIA & PASTA 4005 E Co Hwy 30A 850-231-2500

SEAGROVE VILLAGE MARKET 2976 S County Hwy 395 #6302 850-231-5736

CAFE THIRTY-A 3899 E Co Hwy 30A 850-231-2166

SURFING DEER 2743 E Co Hwy 30A 850-213-4200

SEAGROVE PLAZA 3723 E Co Hwy 30A

VA C AT I O N G U I D E

T R AV E L

eat + drink

OLD FLORIDA FISH HOUSE 33 Heron’s Watch Wy 850-534-3045

eat + drink

play + shop

AMAVIDA COFFEE ROASTERS 25 Central Sq 850-213-1965

GREAT SOUTHERN CAFE 83 Central Sq 850-231-7327

SUNDOG BOOKS 89 Central Sq 850-231-5481

BAREFOOT BARBEQUE 2235 E Co Hwy 30A 850-534-0313

MODICA MARKET 109 Central Sq 850-231-1214

THE ART OF SIMPLE 25 Central Sq 850-231-6748

BUD & ALLEY’S 2236 E Co Hwy 30A 850-231-5900

PICKLE’S BURGER & SHAKE 2236 E Co Hwy 30A #34 850-231-5686

THE REPERTORY THEATRE 216 Quincy Cir 850-231-0733

beachLIFE

SEASIDE

45

EMERALD COAST MAPS

T h e E m e ra l d C o a s t

MAPS

46

beachLIFE

T R AV E L

D e s t i n – 3 0 A – Pa n a m a C i t y B e a c h

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Bea

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beachLIFE

By S u s a n Va l l e e

LOCAL PROFILE

THE TURTLE LADY: SHARON MAXWELL

THE TURTLE LADY: SHARON MAXWELL LOCAL PROFILE

SHARON MAXWELL “MY L EGS G OT O LD, B U T TH E EXPERIEN C ES NEV E R D ID.” beachLIFE

Sharon Maxwell is not the type of woman to take no for an answer. And thank goodness for that. After 25 years scouring the sand for signs of a nesting sea turtle, she officially retired from the organization she created—South Walton Turtle Watch. While it wasn’t an easy decision to step back, she knew the timing was right.

59

THE TURTLE LADY: SHARON MAXWELL LOCAL PROFILE beachLIFE 60

“Finding a crawl and knowing a mama sea turtle laid a nest that night…I loved every minute of it.”

“When I started there was no one but me! There’s not a stretch of beach I didn’t walk,” she said. “My legs got old, but the experiences never did. There is nothing like seeing a hatchling go into the water.

Or seeing those little heads pop up out of the sand.

There is no other feeling like that.”

Looking back, she can’t help but laugh at how she began her quest to become the official “Turtle Lady” of Walton County.

Even though she lived on the north side of the Bay, she’d always loved a good walk on the beach.

On several occasions she came across sea turtle nests that had either been dug up by an animal, or a curious beachgoer. After learning no one was protecting the nests along Walton County’s beaches, (or documenting them) she attended a presentation given by US Fish and Wildlife Biologist Lorna Patrick. Inspired by her work throughout the state to document and protect nesting sea turtles, she left

her phone number with Lorna in case someone who lived closer to the beach needed help monitoring sea turtle nests.

And then she waited for a phone call. And waited.

And waited. And thought about making the 30+ mile drive in darkness each morning for six months straight. Finally, she got tired of waiting for someone else to do what needed to be done and she did it herself.

She began walking every day after sunrise. Seven days a week. In rain, chilly weather, and sun she walked Walton County’s 26 miles of beach. After a few weeks she got a call from Al Murphy, who had been given her name by Fish and Wildlife.

Together, the pair divided up the beach and diligently recorded and counted nests and false crawls when they found them.

“We went to this end of the year meeting in Panama City and all these people who held official

In 1995 South Walton Turtle Watch became a 501c3 non-profit organization. With a lot of perseverance SWTW became the official turtle monitoring organization for Walton County, and then the organization became an official Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Marine Permit holder.

Sea turtles are protected by the Endangered Species Act.

•

Loggerhead and Green Sea Turtles typically nest on our beaches.

•

Nesting season is May 1–Oct. 31.

•

Hatchlings are guided to the Gulf by the moon. White lights confuse them.

•

The temperature of the sand determines the sex of the hatchlings.

•

Sea turtles return to the beach where they were born to lay their eggs.

•

Mama sea turtles lay about 100 eggs in a nest and tend to lay 3–5 nests.

•

In 2021, 624 hatchlings made it to the Gulf in Walton County.

The lesson? “Keep up with what you believe in,” said Sharon.

“We have grown so much! The educational budget has grown too,” she said.

SWTW volunteers often give sea turtle talks to students and gift flashlights with red lightbulbs, amber flashlight covers, and laminated photos of crawl marks to empower students to identify a possible nesting.

She sees the educational component of SWTW as the key to its long-term success.

•

Fill holes you dig on the beach!

•

Don’t leave chairs, tents, or anything on the beach!

•

Use red or amber outdoor lightbulbs in Gulf-front homes and shut curtains and blinds at night.

•

Use red covers or flashlights with red bulbs when on the beach at night.

•

Respect marked nests and keep your distance.

•

Call *FWC or 850-865-4503 if you see a sea turtle.

61

“Teaching is a grand opportunity because you can’t care about something unless you are in tune with it. Finding a crawl and knowing a mama sea turtle laid a nest that night…I loved every minute of it.”

HOW YOU CAN HELP beachLIFE

South Walton Turtle Watch now manages and coordinates a small army of dedicated volunteers who walk Walton County beaches daily from May 1–Oct. 31 in search of a crawl mark or signs of a nest. The organization also educates the community about ways to help sea turtles.

LOCAL PROFILE

state permits were there,” Sharon said. “We had no authority; we were just doing this. But we wanted to report that we’d found 25 nests in Walton County.

Do you know what they did? They laughed at us!”

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THE TURTLE LADY: SHARON MAXWELL

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U N D E R WAT E R A R T M U S E U M

EXPERIENCING THE EMERALD COAST

EXPERIENCES

in a whole new way Snorkel and Scuba in South Walton …

BY SAR AH MURPHY ROBERTSON

V beachLIFE

isitors to South Walton generally come to soak up the sun on a pristine Emerald Coast beach. But just offshore—a few feet beneath the surface—lies an extraordinary world offering a very different kind of experience.

The South Walton Reef Association (SWARA) has established more than a dozen artificial reef sites for diving and snorkeling along 30A. These habitats are constructed from steel, limestone, and concrete to provide marine ecosystems for some of South Walton’s most fascinating “locals.”

Exploring an undersea world

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The reefs are peppered along the shores of Walton County from Inlet Beach to Miramar Beach. One of the most popular is a turtle-shaped reef off of Grayton Beach State Park—an ideal but littleknown venue for those seeking an underwater adventure. Snorkeling or scuba diving the artificial reef structures offer views of corals, plants, and various sea life.

Walt Hartley of Dive 30A grew up in Walton County and fell in love with the Gulf of Mexico at a young age. He’s an avid diver, spearfisherman,

and underwater videographer who shares his passion for the water through snorkeling and diving tours. His shop is in the heart of Grayton Beach.

His motto: “Explore beyond the shore.”

In early 2017, Hartley began running familyfriendly guided snorkel tours. Two years later, his company was permitted to launch directly from Grayton Beach as South Walton’s first full-service dive operator. Their guides can answer all your questions about snorkeling, scuba diving, and the reefs themselves. The entire process is turnkey: Dive 30A provides masks, snorkels, fins, and vests in a range of sizes, as well as incidentals such as sunscreen and drinking water.

U N D E R WAT E R A R T M U S E U M

Explore beyond the shore!

EXPERIENCES

These marine-life-shaped reefs can be reached by kayak or paddleboard and are ideal for snorkeling.

underwater museum of art

Entering its fourth year of sculpture deployments, UMA selects a variety of works from local, regional, and global artisans.

Inaugural UMA artist and 30-year certified scuba diver Vince Tatum says the museum is a diver’s dream. He has seen his piece, the SWARA Skull, attract species rarely spotted along the Gulf Coast.

“Incredibly, last time I dove UMA, I spotted two French angelfish. I have only ever seen those while diving in the Caymans,” he shared.

You must be an open-water certified scuba diver to visit UMA. Anna Schmitz and her brother, Tom, are owners of Emerald Coast Scuba and have been in

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Another extraordinary experience found only along 30A is the Underwater Museum of Art (UMA). Form meets function here, as art pieces also serve as protective marine habitats. UMA’s sculptures welcome many local visitors, including schools of baitfish and large gamefish. UMA was

established via a partnership of the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County (CAA), the South Walton Artificial Reef Association (SWARA), and Visit South Walton.

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An artificial reef tour can also be booked through 360 Blue.

If you’re looking for a true one-of-a-kind experience, this excursion is ideal for those eight years and older. A tour of the reefs provides a glimpse of any number of saltwater fish, as well as stingrays, barracuda, and sea turtles.

U N D E R WAT E R A R T M U S E U M EXPERIENCES beachLIFE

business in Destin since 1992. They offer a threestep streamlined scuba certification process that requires less of a time commitment than many think.

“The first step is an e-learning component,” Schmitz says, “and most finish this before their planned trip to the area. The next two steps can be completed in four days—two days practicing at their onsite pool and two days diving in the open water.”

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The guidelines for participation are also reasonable.

“You should simply be in overall good health, comfortable in the water, and have a desire to achieve your certification,” Schmitz says. From the beginner level to dive instructor programming, Emerald Coast Scuba offers classes and training year-round. Their dive certification can be used for the rest of your life, anywhere in the world.

CAA board member and UMA co-founder Allison Wickey created Anamorphous Octopus—an eight-foot by eight-foot octopus sculpture comprised of 16 metal bars. Eager to visit her piece in person, she used Emerald Coast Scuba for her dive certification.

An avid water enthusiast, Wickey speaks highly of the program.

“I felt really safe and supported while getting certified with the dive masters at Emerald Coast Scuba,” she says. Fostering a close-knit working partnership with UMA, Emerald Coast Scuba has also dedicated itself to keeping the museum clean of debris and fishing lines.

It’s important to remember that no matter which adventure you pursue—snorkeling reefs or scuba diving an underwater museum—taking time to explore the depths of the Emerald Coast is sure to be an experience you will never forget.

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WAT E R WAY S O F T H E PA N H A N D L E EXPERIENCES beachLIFE 74

waterways

O F T H E PANHAND LE Join us as we explore the waterways of eastern Choctawhatchee Bay. While in the neighborhood, we wander off on a couple of detours—the first into the spectacular Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, the second up the little-known waters of the Choctawhatchee Watershed.

Intracoastal Waterway

EXPERIENCES

Gulf of Mexico

WAT E R WAY S O F T H E PA N H A N D L E

Choctawhatchee Bay

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WAT E R WAY S O F T H E PA N H A N D L E EXPERIENCES beachLIFE 76

Entering the lower Choctawhatchee River.

The watershed here is tidal and subject to surges in depth—often enhanced by heavy rainfall anywhere within the basin. The nutrient-rich brackish waters are teeming with an eclectic blend of saltwater and freshwater marine life.

Swamplands are often flooded at high tide and exposed at low tide. Stands of slash pine, scrub oak and white cedar are home to swallow-tailed kite, bald eagle, merlin, small mammals, and a variety of hawks that feed on fish.

I

CHOCTAW H ATCHEE WATERSHED t’s a watery realm few ever see, a largely untouched network of rivers and creeks where little has changed over the decades.

The headwaters of the Choctawhatchee watershed begin in southern Alabama where small streams pick up a cargo of sediment on a journey toward the Gulf of Mexico.

They quickly become a lattice of tributaries that slowly swell and as they wind their way southward, ultimately forming a delta in the southern-most reaches.

Near Choctawhatchee Bay, the network of creeks is knitted together by sloughs, ponds and untouched swampland. Here you can find yellow water lilies, pickerelweed, arrow grass, bullrush and even wild rice. The seemingly primordial alligator gar can be seen sunning themselves on the surface of brackish water while below you’ll find entire populations of gamefish, including Southern flounder, striped mullet, sturgeon, tarpon and the occasional bull shark.

The last few miles of the watershed become increasingly influenced by the tide, alternately swelling and draining the swamplands with each cycle. The streams also become brackish, with freshwater species giving way to saltwater species. Finally, the streams and rivers meet the Bay.

WAT E R WAY S O F T H E PA N H A N D L E EXPERIENCES

Surrounding forest and a sandy riverbed make the Choctawhatchee watershed a suitable tropical storm and hurricane anchorage. In the distance, a sailing ketch is moored among a stand of pines.

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Spanish moss, a close relative of the pineapple, drifts in the coastal breeze. Both are “air plants,” or epiphytes, that draw moisture from the atmosphere. Various creatures use it as cover to hide from predators and as nesting material.

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Cruising out of the Choctawhatchee River and into the Bay. The mouth of the watershed lies northeast of the 331 Bridge (the Clyde B. Wells Bridge). An excellent launch point for exploring the eastern Bay is the new Pilcher Park located directly under the bridge. Opened in 2017, the park features a 380-foot fishing pier, six boat docks, four boat ramps, and parking for boat trailers. The Choctawhatchee watershed and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway are just a few miles to the northeast and the east, respectively.

WAT E R WAY S O F T H E PA N H A N D L E

GULF INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY

W

ork on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway began in fits and starts in the 1920s.

Its purpose was both commercial and military: to create a contiguous stretch of protected waters for shipping along the northern Gulf Coast.

When completed, it would extend 1,300 miles from Brownsville, Texas to Carabelle, Florida on Apalachee Bay. But the most challenging and expensive section would be saved for last.

section that would be, by far, the most difficult of this incredibly challenging cut—an area called “The Little Grand Canyon.” This part of the cut begins just a few miles into the canal from the Choctawhatchee Bay side.

The canal was the last of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway to be undertaken and wouldn’t be completed until 1938. Today it is open to navigation for commercial traffic—mainly barges—and recreational boats.

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EXPERIENCES

This final section was the 26-mile canal that had to be cut between Choctawhatchee Bay and St. Andrew Bay. Within this stretch was an eight-mile

The Gulf Intracoastal Waterway between Choctawhatchee Bay and St. Andrew Bay is maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Two dredging operations worked toward one another—one moving from east to west, the other from west to east. After years of work, the two dredging operations finally met just a few miles east of Choctawhatchee Bay, forever joining the two bays.

The canal is a key waterway for barge traffic along the Gulf Coast, allowing for the transport of millions of tons of cargo annually. In 1944, at the peak of the Second World War, over 3.5 million tons passed through the canal. Today it also serves as a popular waterway for local fishermen and recreational boaters. Its protected waters, bluffs and sandy bottom make it a suitable “hurricane hole” for vessels during cyclone season.

WAT E R WAY S O F T H E PA N H A N D L E

Light chop on the open Choctawhatchee Bay near the 331 Bridge.

EXPERIENCES beachLIFE 79

The most challenging stretch of the entire Gulf Intracoastal Waterway—the “Little Grand Canyon”—which marks the highest point in elevation between the bays. The massive volume of sand and clay that had to be dredged and relocated created 40-foot bluffs on either side of the canal. The cut was first opened to navigation in 1938 but was closed for a time due to the erosion of the bluffs that eventually returned much of the sediment to the canal. Today the Little Grand Canyon is a popular stopping point for recreational boaters.

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Obtain the Property Report required by Federal law and read it before signing anything. No Federal agency has judged the merits or value, if any, of this property. WARNING: THE CALIFORNIA BUREAU OF REAL ESTATE HAS NOT INSPECTED, EXAMINED, OR QUALIFIED THE OFFERINGS. Latitude Margaritaville Kentucky Registration Number R-201. For NY Residents: THE COMPLETE OFFERING TERMS FOR THE SALE OF LOTS ARE IN THE CPS-12 APPLICATION AVAILABLE FROM SPONSOR, LMWS, LLC. FILE NO. CP20-0062. Pennsylvania Registration Number OL001182. Latitude Margaritaville Watersound is registered with the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salesmen, 1000 Washington Street, Suite 710, Boston, MA 02118 and with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 1700 G Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20552. This material shall not constitute a valid offer in any state where prior registration is required and has not been completed. The facilities and amenities described are proposed but not yet constructed. Photographs are for illustrative purposes only and are merely representative of current development plans. Development plans, amenities, facilities, dimensions, specifications, prices and features depicted by artists renderings or otherwise described herein are approximate and subject to change without notice. ©Minto Communities, LLC 2021. All rights reserved. Content may not be reproduced, copied, altered, distributed, stored, or transferred in any form or by any means without express written permission. Latitude Margaritaville and the Latitude Margaritaville logo are trademarks of Margaritaville Enterprises, LLC and are used under license. Minto and the Minto logo are trademarks of Minto Communities, LLC and/or its affiliates. St. Joe and the St. Joe logo are trademarks of The St. Joe Company and are used under license. CGC 1519880/CGC 120919. 2022

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F E AT U R E

M A G I C A L M O M E N T S O F T R AV E L

MAGICAL MOMENTS OF TRAVEL

By S u s a n Va l l e e

lasta lifetime

M A G I C A L M O M E N T S O F T R AV E L

W h a t a re we, i f n ot a c o l l e ct i o n o f o u r m e m o r i e s ?

Think about it for a moment—all the reasons you are who you and caregivers treated you, the relationship with siblings, grandparents, and friends. The impacts teachers, coaches, or club leaders made in your life. Places you visited, where you

F E AT U R E

are is based on moments throughout your life. How parents

attended school, a first love, a first hurt. These experiences, this vast cumulation of prismatic flashes, have traveled like branching lightning bolts through the neural connections in your brain, creating long-term memories. And those memories have shaped who you are.

Now, let’s try an experiment: What’s the earliest memory you have of the beach? Is it the sound of seagulls? The sensation of sand pulling away from beneath your feet as you stand at the water’s edge? Jumping waves?

you feel it? Could you hear the sounds associated with the memory? Why, out of all the immeasurable experiences stored in your brain, were you able to recall visiting the beach?

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When you recalled the moment that was special for you, did

Now, if you’re a parent, or have young kids in your life, think about the moments kids talk about. Chances are, it wasn’t the elaborate beach bonfire with professional musicians hired for the last night at the beach. Nope, it was when they took a halfmelted marshmallow and tore tiny pieces off to feed to the ghost crabs skittering along the shore. Or when they chased crabs with flashlights and tried to scoop them up in long-handled nets.

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LIFELONG MEMORY.

F E AT U R E

M A G I C A L M O M E N T S O F T R AV E L

TRAVEL + SURPRISE + FUN + SENSORY-RICH =

together. This sudden, flashing moment, triggered by the new experience, may be how our brains “encode” these moments. That’s the branching lightning bolt, firing off in your brain, forming memory connections!

We all know travel is associated with a host of new experiences that often lead to surprises. New landscapes, different architecture, food, language, beachLIFE

and even dramatic temperature changes can be Those little, unexpected moments that happen on vacation are magical. And, it turns out, researchers are finally beginning to understand why. The short version? Travel + surprise + fun + sensory-rich = lifelong memory. It turns out there’s meaning

about snow skiing? Have you ever been? If so, do you remember the rush of fear and excitement as you faced your first bunny slope? The crunching sound the snow made underneath the ski boots?

and value in spending time together, discovering

But why bother, since young children aren’t going

something new.

to remember these new experiences? Well, it’s a

The longer version?

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experienced, depending on the destination. What

bit more complicated than that. Researchers say children categorize and form memories differently

Researchers in neurobiology at Harvard Medical

than adults. They use the term “childhood

School studied the hippocampus (located in the

amnesia” to explain why children (and adults) can’t

bottom middle portion of the human brain) and

typically recall events from before the age of 2.

learned new experiences activate sparse groups of

Nora Newcombe, PhD., a psychology professor at

neurons and interneurons, allowing them to link

Temple University, explained memory falls into two

M A G I C A L M O M E N T S O F T R AV E L F E AT U R E

groups for children: explicit memory and implicit

In her study, “Two rooms, two representations:

memory. Explicit memory usually involves a time

Episodic-like memory in toddlers and preschoolers,”

and place (stopping for an ice cream cone after

she found that children couldn’t recall the location

church on Sunday). While implicit memory is the

of a toy (with a visual prompt) until the age of 2.

emotional connection to the memory (seeing Rocky

It wasn’t until age 5 that children mastered the

Road ice cream at the grocery store brings back

task. While explaining the results of her study

happy memories of eating ice cream after church

to the University’s Temple Now publication, she

on Sunday).

said, “Episodic memory is important for social interaction. It’s also important for parents and and preschoolers don’t remember that field trip to the zoo, they have still learned from the experience of seeing the animals.”

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teachers to understand that even if their toddlers

And thanks to implicit memory, any sensory-rich experience—freshly baked bread at grandma’s house, the smell of hay from the zoo—are intrinsically linked to memory for two reasons, according to Kei M. Igarashi, an anatomy and neurobiology assistant professor at the University of California, Irvine.

Reason one: our hippocampus sorts information based on the five senses (taste, smell, sight, touch, 89

and hearing). Reason two: dopamine helps form

M A G I C A L M O M E N T S O F T R AV E L F E AT U R E

“These moments—these sights and sounds and smells— become woven into the fabric of our family.” memories. So, if smelling that delicious bread

the magic of memory. These moments—these sights

made you happy when you were little, chances are

and sounds and smells—become woven into the

the scent of freshly baked bread will bring back

fabric of our family. And then become intertwined

memories of grandma years later.

with all the other events that shape who we are.

And even if your child is too young to remember

By trying new things together and embracing little

catching fireflies in a mason jar while vacationing in

adventures (no matter how small!), we set the stage

the Smoky Mountains, you will. And you can share

for kids (and ourselves) to feel safe, loved, and cared

stories about it with them. How you remember

for. And that is magical.

how they held the jar ever-so-gently or how they laid down in the grass to study the brilliant light show right in front of their eyes. How you eased the top off the jar, and the two of you laughed and clapped as the fireflies disappeared into the woods around you.

Even if your 3-year-old daughter doesn’t remember pelting her dad in the face with a snowball, the family might still be sharing that story and laughing

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©The Watersound Company, LLC a subsidiary of The St. Joe Company 2022 All Rights Reserved. “JOE®”, “St. Joe®”, “St. Joe (and the Taking Flight design)®” and the “Taking Flight” design® are registered service

® ® and amenities depicted herein are of The St.Company, Joe Company its affiliates.of“Watersound ” and “Origins ” areReserved. service marks St. Joe affiliates.

The materials and features upon current ©Themarks Watersound LLC ora subsidiary The St. JoeOrigins Company 2022 All Rights “JOEof®The ”, “St. JoeCompany ”, “St. orJoeits(and the Taking Flight design) ” and the “Taking Flight” design® based are registered service plans, which subject to change withoutOrigins notice.®This material shall®”notareconstitute valid offer any Joe jurisdiction where prioraffiliates. registration required and not been where herein prohibited law. upon Equal current marks of development The St. Joe Company or are its affiliates.

“Watersound ” and “Origins service amarks of Thein St. Company or its Theismaterials andhas features andcompleted. amenitiesVoid depicted are bybased Housing Opportunity. The St. Joe Company does not guarantee the obligations of, nor provide any warranties for unaffiliated parties who build homes or offer services in the Watersound Origins™ community. Access to and use of development plans, which are subject to change without notice. This material shall not constitute a valid offer in any jurisdiction where prior registration is required and has not been completed. Void where prohibited by law. Equal the facilities and amenities described herein is not included in the purchase of property. The right to access and use any of the facilities identified in this publication is or may be subject to the payment of additional fees and such Housing Opportunity.

Theand St.condition Joe Company not guarantee obligations of, nor provide warranties#R-171. for unaffiliated parties who build homes or offer services in the Watersound Origins™ community. Access to and use of additional terms as maydoes be established by thethe owner of such facilities.

KentuckyanyRegistration the facilities and amenities described herein is not included in the purchase of property. The right to access and use any of the facilities identified in this publication is or may be subject to the payment of additional fees and such thecondition Property Report requiredbybytheFederal readKentucky it beforeRegistration signing anything. additionalObtain terms and as may be established owner ofLaw suchand facilities. #R-171. No federal agency has judged the merits or value, if any, of this property. ®

®

Obtain the Property Report required by Federal Law and read it before signing anything. No federal agency has judged the merits or value, if any, of this property.

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DISTILLERY 98 S I P + S AV O R beachLIFE 100

sip +savor

distillery 98’s martin migr ation

DISTILLERY 98 S I P + S AV O R

B

efore you whip up that next batch of cocktails, why not add a dash of South Walton flavor with Distillery 98’s “Martin Migration”? This smooth, small-batch vodka is infused with orange and lemon peel, hibiscus, and blackberry flavors and contains a tiny golden treasure of Tupelo honeycomb within each bottle.

Harrison Holditch, Distillery 98’s CEO, said the Martin Migration name is a nod to the long flight of the Purple Martin.

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“Each year, this little bird flies all the way from South America to Florida. It made me think about all the families and visitors who travel here each year. The name Martin Migration is our way of acknowledging the effort that goes into making those annual trips.”

Incorporating local flavors into Martin Migration was a no-brainer for Holditch, who founded Distillery 98 with a mission to craft homegrown vodka in a sustainable micro-brewery. Inside the distillery, visitors can see a 250-gallon copper pot still and an 18-distillation plate column that makes

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DISTILLERY 98 S I P + S AV O R beachLIFE

up to 75,000 gallons of vodka each year. A tasting room offers “grain-to-glass” cocktails and a space to host events or enjoy live music.

Never heard the phrase “grain-to-glass” before?

It’s like the farm-to-table fresh, locally sourced food movement, but with the added kick of grain alcohol.

He’s such a big believer in the grain-to-glass concept that he designed the micro-distillery around it. All corn used to produce vodka at Distillery 98 is locally grown non-GMO Florida corn. Whole Florida oysters help filter the vodka (and lower the PH level), and all spent grain is donated to local farms to feed cows and chickens.

The 2 ounces of honeycomb floating within each bottle of Martin Migration comes from Freeport beekeepers Register Family Farms, located north of the Choctawhatchee Bay. This family-owned, veteran-owned and operated honeybee farm has grown into a 1,200-colony bee farm that sells wildflower and Tupelo honey and products made with beeswax. The family cares for an additional 1,500 hives along the Apalachicola and Choctawhatchee riverbanks, where the elusive white Tupelo tree grows and blooms for a few weeks each Spring.

We met with bartenders from the tasting room to discover their most popular cocktail recipes.

They shared four, two use Martin Migration, and two use Dune Laker vodka, another popular vodka made at the distillery.

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Holditch recommends making these in batches, but the recipes below are for individual cocktails.

DISTILLERY 98

S I P + S AV O R

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DISTILLERY 98 S I P + S AV O R beachLIFE

CL AS SIC OLD FASHIONED – 1 ounce Dune Laker – ¾ ounce Demerara syrup – Splash of bitters Classics never go out of style for a reason. Great after a day spent on the golf course or out riding bikes.

K AP ’ S REVEN G E – – – –

1½ ounces Martin Migration ½ cup jalapeño juice (see below) A dash of grapefruit juice Lime to garnish

This spicy but sweet cocktail is perfect for an evening outdoors around a fire pit.

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For the spicy-sweet jalapeño, chop a fresh jalapeño and soak it in a mixture of grapefruit juice and simple syrup beforehand. Strain juice into a cocktail glass. Add vodka and grapefruit juice to fill. Lime to garnish.

DISTILLERY 98 S I P + S AV O R

THE EMER ALD COAST

or ¾ ounce Blue CuraÇao

– 2 ounces muddled kiwi (½ a kiwi fruit and 1 tsp simple syrup)

– Crushed ice for serving Guests will love the mix of blue and green hues in this drink. It’s a great cocktail to toast sunsets.

Is anything better than an icy pink drink on a hot summer day?

Add ingredients to a blender and give it a whirl. Pour into a glass and enjoy!

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To make the muddled kiwi, skin and slice the kiwi and mix and mash with 1 tsp of simple syrup. Add 1 ounce of Martin Migration to the mash and strain into a cocktail glass over ice. Slowly pour in 2 ounces of Blue Hawaiian Punch or ¾ oz of Blue CuraÇoa (your preference).

– 1 ounce Dune Laker vodka – 1 can of Hey Mama Rosé – Ice

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– 1 ounce Martin Migration – 2 ounces Blue Hawaiian Punch

FROZÉ

Celebrate the joy of living, eating and drinking well.

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THE LAST WORD THE SONDER PROJECT

A Brief History of The Sonder Project

THE LITTLE-KNOWN STORY OF AN EXTRAORDINARY NONPROFIT…

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t began as an idea. In early 2015, the 360 Blue executive team of Ashley Horsley, Jason Sprenkle, and Jeremy Sprenkle were looking to embark on a project that would channel the company’s resources in an effort to help those most in need. The concept: A nonprofit that delivered the greatest impact at the lowest cost, with the company paying all administration expenses. This meant that 100 percent of every donation would go directly to providing aid. The vision was as simple and profound as that. And so, The Sonder Project was born.

No one, however, could have anticipated where it would all lead.

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LITTLE SEEDS

During their short time in Burkina Faso, the group also grew close to Ahmed and Martin. Shortly after their return to the States, they flew them both to Santa Rosa Beach to keep the ball rolling on a new slate of projects that included the construction of another school and the drilling of clean-water wells in various villages throughout the country.

By day Ahmed and Martin took up surfing and swimming, and by night they set to work on plans.

A few weeks later, Ahmed and Martin were back in Burkina Faso. With momentum building, a second trip was planned for Santa Rosa Beach volunteers to begin construction on the next school in late January of 2016.

One of the nonprofit’s first moves would be to partner with buildOn, an international nonprofit that constructed schools in remote corners of the world. Within a few months, a group of volunteers— many were 360 Blue employees—traveled from Santa Rosa Beach to Burkina Faso in western Africa to do just that.

JANUARY 15, 2016

It was here, in this impoverished sub-Saharan country, that they first met with Ahmed Kere, the in-country trip coordinator for buildOn, and Martin Nansia, the project’s Burkinabe translator.

This initial overseas foray would set the tone for what was to come. The volunteers were awed by the Burkinabe culture and the gratitude of the people.

They were also stunned by the country’s scarcity of food and clean water.

It isn’t every day that events in Burkina Faso make international headlines. But there would be nothing normal about January 15, 2016. That evening, some 8,000 miles from Santa Rosa Beach, Ahmed and Martin were at a restaurant in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, having dinner with another group of buildOn volunteers and employees.

During the meal, gunfire broke out, with gunmen indiscriminately shooting into the crowd.

But that trip would never happen.

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The news arrived in Santa Rosa Beach days before The Sonder Project was scheduled to leave for Africa. While the trip was canceled, the attack would deepen The Sonder Project’s commitment to its mission in Burkina Faso.

To demonstrate that commitment, they hired Martin as Sonder’s in-country project manager to directly oversee the impact of The Sonder Projects’ future efforts. They would also raise the $11,000 necessary to drill a clean water well in Ahmed’s home village of Loanga. In February of 2017, The Sonder Project would establish its first field office in Burkina Faso.

Over the next few weeks, the 360 Blue offices were transformed into a major staging facility for relief efforts, with over $611,000 in donations coming in from local communities. Sonder would facilitate over 6,600 volunteer hours, serve over 2,600 meals, and impact 233 households. Sonder volunteers brought electricity to homes, cleared debris, tarped and replaced roofs, and rebuilt three homes.

A RETURN TO THE ORIGINAL MISSION The following year, The Sonder Project would transition its focus back to Africa, where the organization could make the greatest impact at the most efficient cost through high-impact, sustainable development.

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And so The Sonder Project’s work continued— sometimes in ways, no one could have imagined.

In October of 2018, the nonprofit’s attention would be drawn to a tragedy unfolding just a few miles from home. Although never conceived as a hurricane recovery agency, The Sonder Project was about to become one—at least temporarily. On October 10, Hurricane Michael made landfall in Panama City as a Category 5 hurricane, devastating the city and neighboring communities. The storm killed 59 people and caused over $25 billion in damage in the U.S. alone.

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Meanwhile, a standoff with government security forces ensued as the restaurant was engulfed in flames. The surviving buildOn crew managed to escape, but the casualty count was horrific, with 29 people killed and more than 120 wounded. Ahmed was one of the 29.

HURRICANE MICHAEL

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Most of the buildOn volunteers and employees managed to take cover in one of the restrooms.

Ahmed, however, was one of the exceptions. In an attempt to appeal to the attackers, he stood up and tried to talk to them.

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“There are plenty of causes worth supporting,” says Chad Zibelman, CEO of The Sonder Project. “But research shows that if you want to make the greatest impact, touching the most lives, then your donation is best spent in the developing world.”

In 2020, The Sonder Project expanded its operations to Malawi in southeastern Africa. The following year, Sonder introduced a Student Sponsorship Program where donors in the U.S. can sponsor a student at one of Sonder’s schools for as little as $225 per year or $19 per month. These Sonder students are identified by teachers and community leaders and interviewed by Sonder staff. Once selected, they receive all necessary school and exam fees, a uniform, and school supplies. Sonder staff then continue to offer support throughout the year.

“We take a holistic approach,” Zibelman says.

“Can a student really benefit from an education if they keep missing school because they are sick from the local water source? Can they concentrate if they only have one meal a day? The answer to these questions is no, and so we focus on all three—education, clean water, and food security.”

Among its accomplishments over the past seven years, Sonder has drilled 31 wells, providing access to clean drinking water for 49,910 people, and built 13 schools, allowing 3,629 students to attend class every day.

The nonprofit has also developed a community farm.

As mentioned, 360 Blue pays all administration costs for The Sonder Project. This means that every donated dollar goes directly to the organization’s programs on the ground. Want to get involved? Learn more at thesonderproject.org.

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