Back To The Beach

Back to the beach: Life is simply more pleasurable in Seaside Florida town

What is it about the beach that makes everything more pleasurable? Here, I read more; food tastes better; dreams are more vivid; going barefoot was invented at the beach! Come to think of it, to borrow a phrase from Coke . . . everything goes better with beach.

I knew this when I was a kid combing the beach on Bolivar peninsula every summer. There, regardless of what the weather was like, every morning felt like Christmas. Instead of running to a tree, my siblings and I made a beeline to the beach. It was sheer bliss.

Taking a long walk on the beach the other day, I stupidly asked a fellow beachcomber for the time. “Beach time,” she smiled. “Exactly,” I answered, “Thank you.”

But, if Bolivar was bliss, I would find nirvana along the Florida panhandle later . . . in Seaside, Florida.

I came here 18 years ago and been hooked ever since. I’ll try to explain why, but as it goes with the beach, words and photographs fall short. I love this.

I could say the draw is the white sand and green-blue water; the sunsets; the birding; the turtles and behind all this, the people who run Seaside’s small businesses. (Modica Market, Sundog Books, the Seaside Farmers Market to mention a few). Folks, who not only make this southern community feel like one, they’re friends.

Best of all, present time rules here. I think that’s what people mean when they say beach mode. Taking a long walk on the beach the other day, I stupidly asked a fellow beachcomber for the time. “Beach time,” she smiled. “Exactly,” I answered, “Thank you.”

Whether at Seaside or on other beaches, I’ve felt connected to the Gulf of Mexico for as long as I can remember. John Fitzgerald Kennedy understood this perfectly: "We have salt in our blood, in our sweat, in our tears. We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch it, we are going back from whence we came."

Seaside Farmers Market

Everyone feels good at a Farmers Market, but put a Farmers Market along the Florida panhandle, and you’ve got heaven.

Tabletops are full to the gills. There’s produce straight from the garden tumbling out of baskets; rows of relishes and jams you’ve never heard of; pastries; popsicles; hot sauces that’ll take your mouth on a thrill ride; breads lined up like bowling balls and a variety of dog treats . . . all natural of course . . . to mention a few. And that’s just what’s on the tables.

You’ll find visiting with the people who work behind them just as pleasurable. These folks are connected to their work like no others. You won’t find braggadocio or arrogance here . . . only kind, humble and conscientious caretakers who bring their labor of love to the table for lucky us to enjoy.

I've grown to love every one of em’, but I have to admit, I got a favorite. Paul Johnson, originally from Dothan, Alabama, has a smile bigger than Texas and a neighborly nature to go with. Paul and his wife, Marsha, don’t grow the produce themselves. They select produce from a variety of farmers. They represent the buyers at the farm so to speak, and, in turn, present the farm to the buyers.

Paul puts it this way, “We’re your arm to the farm.” Thus, their name, Paul’s Pick of the Crop. Let me tell you folks, they are! The mate’rs as Mama used to say, the mate’rs alone are worth going for. These will take your mouth on a sweet ride.

I promise you’ll leave with your basket and your heart . . . both full.

Editor’s Note: Seaside will be featured in “10 Towns that Changed America.” The program will run on PBS stations in early 2016.

What is it about the beach that makes everything more pleasurable?

Photo by Katie Oxford

What is it about the beach that makes everything more pleasurable?

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all routes lead to rome

New nonstop flight connects Houston with Rome for the first time

Photo courtest of Houston Airports

Houston Mayor John Whitmire listens as Jim Szczesniak, Director of Aviation for Houston Airports, discusses the addition of ITA Airways at IAH.

Thinking of a Roman holiday? The good news for Houstonians is that George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) will begin offering direct, nonstop flights to Rome starting next spring. It will be the first time IAH and Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) in Fiumicino, Italy have connected nonstop.

“We welcome ITA Airways to Houston, as it reflects our city's prominence on the global stage," said Houston Mayor John Whitmire in a press conference held on Tuesday, December 2. "The first ever route between Houston and Rome will strengthen our business, diplomatic, and cultural ties with Italy. It will also bring more visitors to experience Houston's vibrant culture, world-class healthcare, and diverse industries."

Starting May 1, 2026, ITA Airways will offer three flights a week between Houston and Rome, expanding to five flights a week beginning June 1. Houston is ITA's ninth North American destination.

“Nonstop service to Rome is a defining moment for Houston and a direct result of the strength and credibility of our airport system. This route will bring new visitors, new investment, and new business opportunities into our region,” said Jim Szczesniak, director of aviation for Houston Airports. “It expands Houston’s presence in Europe and proves that disciplined, strategic growth at Houston Airports delivers measurable economic impact. Strong airports don’t just move people. They shape markets, expand opportunity and help define a city’s place in the world.”

Flights will be made via a Airbus A330-900. The model is renowned for its comfort on long flights, including ergonomic seats, ample personal space, and a quiet cabin. Appropriately, many of the interior cabin components are made in Italy and reflect an elegant European design.

Houston billionaire Tilman Fertitta, currently serving as America's ambassador to Italy, also welcomed the new route that connects his hometown with his current job.

“As a Texan and as the U.S. Ambassador to Italy, I’m thrilled by ITA’s new direct route between Houston and Rome," Fertitta said. "It strengthens the economic links that drive mutual understanding and shared prosperity. It was great working with ITA Airways CEO Joerg Eberhart, Mayor John Whitmire, and all the partners that helped make this possible.”

The new route to Rome continues the international expansion that has been happening at IAH over the last several years. Last year, the airport announced new non-stop flights to recent vacation hotspot, Puerto Escondido, Mexico. It was part of Houston Airports' goal of making Houston the gateway to America ahead of the FIFA 2026 World Cup. Now, it looks like IAH will be welcoming Italian soccer fans, as the routes open up just in time for the sports event next summer.

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