Just Beachy

Port Aransas reopens vacation hot spot Cinnamon Shore to visitors

Cinnamon Shore Port Aransas travel beach

Missing the beach? Head to the Gulf.

Galveston recently reopened all its beaches, and now another popular Gulf Coast location has followed suit. Cinnamon Shore, the master-planned community near Corpus Christi and Padre Island in Port Aransas, opened its city and beaches of Mustang Island to visitors on May 1.

"We're thrilled to welcome guests back to Cinnamon Shore, with the right changes in place to ensure everyone has a great time and remains socially distant in our little beachside town," says Jeff Lamkin, CEO of Sea Oats Group, the developer of Cinnamon Shore.

New protocols and procedures have been promised, including in-car check-in/check-out procedures for the short-term vacation rentals and signage around the property to remind guests of social distancing.

There's also more frequent sanitizing of public areas, including elevators and stairwell railings, outdoor seating, and play areas, as well as the cleaning of guest rooms with industry-leading sanitizing protocols, including attention to high-touch items such as remote controls and light switches.

Indoor social activities and some select outdoor activities have been discontinued. The development's Dune Pool, Kiera's Pool, and Stillwater Pool remain closed, and on-site restaurants Lisabella's Bistro and Dylan's Coal Oven Pizzeria are open only for to-go orders.

"People are looking for alternatives to air travel for vacation time with family, and they're looking closer to home," Lamkin says. "With a full roster of family-friendly activities for Mother's Day weekend, Memorial Day, and into the summer, Cinnamon Shore is ready for more families to discover its charms. We can't wait to welcome everyone here."

For more about the community and its current procedures and processes, visit cinnamonshore.com.

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Airport News

Low-cost Avelo Air begins flights out of Dallas-Fort Worth Airport

Avelo Airlines

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A new airline is launching service at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport: Avelo Airlines, a low-priced carrier based in Houston, will begin direct flights between DFW and Tweed-New Haven Airport in Connecticut.

According to a release, the service will run twice a week, on Mondays and Fridays. They'll be nonstop flights, with ticket prices starting at $89. Service will begin on March 7.

“This service makes visiting Southern Connecticut, and everything the greater New England and New York regions have to offer, easier than ever. We also look forward to making DFW’s thriving culinary scene, sports mecca and vibrant nightlife a fast and seamless journey for Connecticut travelers,” says Avelo founder and CEO Andrew Levy in a statement.

The new service is one of five that the airline will add in 2025 to beef up its presence in Connecticut, which includes four new nonstop routes from Southern Connecticut’s Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN) and a third international destination from Hartford’s Bradley International Airport (BDL).

In addition to DFW Airport, other nonstop service from HVN will go to Jacksonville, Florida, Detroit, and Portland, Maine. The addition of these five new destinations will bring Avelo to 39 routes from Connecticut — 31 routes from HVN and 8 routes from BDL. Low introductory one-way fares start at $39.

Avelo was founded in 2018 and began flying in 2021. They currently fly to 54 cities in 24 states and Puerto Rico, as well as three international destinations to Jamaica, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic. They focus on flying unserved routes between under-served communities, primarily out of smaller airports. Although DFW Airport is by no means a smaller airport.

They made their service debut in Texas in spring 2024 with flights out of Houston's Hobby Airport.

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