What a difference a year makes. Most people spent Memorial Day 2020 at home or in small groups. It was just the start of the vacation and the beaches of Baldwin County were already crowded on Friday, May 28, 2021. Tens of thousands of people are expected until Monday, the most optimistic for better days to come.

It was a postcard, a perfect day on the beaches of Gulf Shores. Thousands of people started the holiday weekend early and hit the sand. For many, this is the first time in over a year. This party last year was very different.

“It was more of a closed feeling, you know. Everyone was at home, ”recalls Dustin Watkins of North Carolina.

“Last year we were home,” said Vicki Smith of Muscle Shoals. “You know, I was working but everything was closed. People weren’t going anywhere.

Kentucky’s Jonathon Caron was home last year for a completely different reason.

“Around the same time last year, we had just had our daughter so we were staying away from anyone. You know, stay inside, ”Caron explained. “We’ve been inside for a long time and this is our first big trip, you know, since we’ve been vaccinated.

Caron was just one of many who were thrilled to make the trip to the gulf and put his toes in the sand. After quarantines, warrants and restrictions for so long, it was good to have a real vacation.

“Seeing all these people here, it’s very encouraging to see that people are coming out more,” said Kim Rouse from Birmingham.

“I can’t wait to spend a few days on the beach, relaxing and soaking up the atmosphere before I have to get back to work,” Smith added.

Everyone hoped that the unofficial start of summer would also signal much better times to come.