Let the Media Choose Your Vacation

Years ago we had just the six o’clock news on three different channels.  There was only so much news that could be packed into that hour.  That meant that there was a lot that went on in the world that didn’t spread like wildfire across our collective consciousness.

Today, we live in the era of the 24 hour news cycle. I counted ten different news channels and I’m sure I missed several.  Add to that the various websites of not only the already established news organizations (TV news channels, Network News, Newspapers), but also millions of blogs (some more responsible than others).

Each of those news portals have to find something to talk about 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. They’re all looking for the new, hot story.  They’re all trying to “scoop” each other.  If they are reporting a story that another portal has already reported, they’ll try to make it more sensational than the last one.

What does this mean for your vacation?  Sometimes vacation destinations get caught in the cross fire.

As I write this, I’m in Gulf Shores, Alabama.  Gulf Shores is located on the Gulf of Mexico right where Florida, Alabama and Mississippi come together.  My mother in-law owns a beach house down here and we’ve come here periodically for over 20 years.  My in-laws have been coming much longer than that.

During our visits, we sit in the living room and watch porpoises swim by in the morning. We sit out on the screen porch and have long conversations. We sit out on the beach and watch the sun set.

This year is different.  This year there is almost no one on the beach.  This year there is no wait at the restaurants (the restaurants that are still open for business, anyway).  This year we didn’t have to work our visit in amongst the people who rent this house for their own summer vacations, because there weren’t any renters.  This year we overhear the locals talk about which business aren’t going to be here next year.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you already know why.  It’s the Deepwater Horizon oil spill out in the Gulf.  To hear the press talk about it, you would think that a walk on the beach would be a slippery, slimy mess.  At least here in Gulf Shores, that couldn’t be farther than the truth.  The beaches are every bit as beautiful as they’ve always been.  We’ve seen more porpoises and more seashells.

I do know that there have been areas that have been affected.  It breaks my heart, though, to think of so many people who cancelled what would have been fabulous vacations for no reason.  It breaks my heart to think of the rental properties that will go into foreclosure because the renters didn’t come this year.  It breaks my heart to think of the small business owners who won’t make it through the off-season this year because the on-season never happened.

I’m starting to think it may be a good idea to let the media dictate where we vacation.  Yes, that’s right, I said I think it’s a GOOD idea.  I think that from now on, wherever is getting beat up in the media, that’s where I’m going to vacation.

Just think about it.  It won’t be crowded. I’ll get the best prices.  I’ll have my pick of the best places. I’ll be assured of the best vacations ever.

You should try it too.