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Insider Today: Florida’s Hamptons
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Insider Today: Florida’s Hamptons

Welcome back to our Saturday edition, a roundup of our best lifestyle reading. Mothers always figure it out. That was the case for Suzanne Hayes, who moved her family of three to a hotel because it was cheaper than renting and had amenities.

But first: In Florida, summer never ends.


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This week’s shipment


Sunrise over the ocean and beachfront homes in Inlet Beach, Florida

View of Inlet Beach, Florida, one of the communities that make up “30A”

Thanks to the Blankenship Group



Meet the “Hamptons of the South”

A 26-mile stretch of highway in Florida has been a closely guarded secret for years. Now the secret has been revealed.

Known as 30A, it has become one of the most popular luxury travel destinations thanks to its crystal blue waters — sourced from the Gulf of Mexico — and white-sand beaches. Located between popular spring break spots Destin and Panama City Beach, 30A Beaches consists of a few towns: Rosemary, Santa Rosa Beach, and Seaside.

People looking for a vacation home, or even a holiday rental, are drawn to the area’s reputation as “quiet, family-friendly destinations that are slightly off the beaten path,” writes Business Insider real estate reporter Dan Latu.

Since 2019, vacation rental sites have seen a surge in bookings, with hosts able to list at higher rates, ranging from $450 to $530 per night. Those looking to stay a little longer may have noticed that median home sales have also seen a boost, according to Redfin, from $1.1 million in July 2019 to $3 million by July 2024.

Despite the increased interest and visitors, Kemp Stewart, a luxury rental property owner who has seen 30A skyrocket in popularity, says the resort’s appeal has remained the same.

“It’s been consistent,” Kemp told BI. “This is a place for families to vacation and connect in one of the most beautiful settings in the world.”

Read the whole story.



Cameras focused on Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez kissing.

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez at the premiere of her movie “This Is Me… Now.”

Monica Schipper/Getty Images



Bennifer’s Downfall

This week, Jennifer Lopez filed for divorce from Ben Affleck after two years of marriage. The news came six months after the release of her documentary, “The Greatest Love Story Never Told.”

In the documentary, Affleck expresses his reluctance and concern about the inner workings of their relationship being made public. It could be the first glimpse into the couple’s downfall.

What the documentary predicted.

Also read:


Photo illustration of a woman with a glucose meter.

Getty Images; Jenny Chang-Rodriguez/BI



Controversial new health trend

Continuous glucose monitors, traditionally used by people with diabetes, have become a popular new trick for fitness enthusiasts, even those who don’t have the condition.

Proponents say the monitors can help people make proactive choices about their health. On the other hand, research isn’t clear on what specific blood sugar levels mean, so users may be operating in a scientific gray area.

Pros and cons of glucose meters.

Also read:


A view of Boquete, Panama.

Monica Humphries/Business Insider



Boquete is blooming

Boquete, Panama, used to be a quiet town known for its coffee plantations and annual flower festival. For years, the town was a popular destination for Panamanians looking for a weekend getaway. Then came the retirees.

American baby boomers have flocked to Boquete in recent years, citing the high cost of retirement and the divided political climate in the U.S. It is one of the most popular places to retire, but it has also changed dramatically.

Within the evolution of Boquete.

Also read:


Finger hovers over three business outfit options

Getty Images; iStock photos; Natalie Ammari/BI



Calling all “office sirens”

Generation Z embraces elements of business attire, but doesn’t wear it to the office.

Thanks to the “office siren” trend, Gen Z women are taking tailored pieces and prints like pinstripes out to the streets, brunches, and clubs. The trend’s virality is a way of claiming adulthood and highlighting how blurred our personal and professional lives have become.

Fashion in the age of working anywhere.

Also read:


A TV screen showing "Horizon"

Warner Bros., BI



What we’re watching this weekend

  • “Horizon: An American Saga”: The first chapter of Kevin Costner’s western drama trilogy is released two months after the film flopped at the box office.
  • “Untold: The Murder of Air McNair”: The latest episode of the Netflix docuseries focuses on the career of NFL quarterback Steve McNair and his shocking death in 2009.
  • “Pachinko”: The critically acclaimed Apple TV+ drama returns for a second season.

View the full list.



A red shopping bag with 100 dollar bills around it.

iStock; Rebecca Zisser/BI



Deals we love

More top articles from this week:

The Insider Today team: Jordan Parker Erb, editor, in New York. Dan DeFrancesco, deputy editor and anchor, in New York City. Lisa Ryan, executive editor, in New York. Amanda Yen, fellow, in New York.