heart of southern life, the

Dear Friend,

Pam and I like to take late-afternoon walks with our dogs around the neighborhood. While I think exercise is our justification, the walks are really about a lot more than that. We always stop and visit with neighbors, enjoy the environment of our small town, and take time to admire the neat things folks are doing in their gardens and around their homes. So, as you read our "Healthy Living" special section starting on page 97, we hope that you will both enjoy and benefit from our editors' health and lifestyle suggestions. When you read the stories, you'll see that Southern Living believes that healthy living is more than getting regular exercise, controlling weight, and maintaining good health practices. We realize all of this is important, but we aim to make a healthy lifestyle one you'll enjoy. We know, too, that caring, sharing, and building a sense of community are also components of wellness.

I don't think that in all my years as editor that we've ever had a writer turn down a beach-based story. Whether it's on the Atlantic Ocean or along the Gulf of Mexico, the magic lure of salt and sea always means we get plenty of volunteers wanting to do the story. This month three editors take you to different spots around the coastal South. Travel Editor Les Thomas visits the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, while Associate Travel Editor Annette Thompson heads to South Carolina, just across the river from Charleston, to tour Mount Pleasant, Isle of Palms, and Sullivan's Island. The third writer, Valerie Luesse, has developed a special section focusing on the iconic haunts along the Gulf Coast. In it, she explores the great things there are to see and do along the shores of Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Called "Gulf Coast State of Mind," the section begins on page 57.

Also this month we present the plans for our three Idea Houses, which will be open for you to visit by mid-June. So, if you are traveling near hot Springs, Arkansas; between Panama City and Destin, Florida; or on 1-20 between Atlanta and Augusta near Lake Oconee, please take time to tour one of our new homes. For complete directions, see pages 166-170.

While this issue features many more people and places across the South, I hope I have at least "wet" your appetite (pun intended) to enjoy our magazine. Happy Reading.

Best regards,

John Alex Floyd, Jr., Editor

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Jun 2007
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