Whole Story

Traveling on vacation this summer?  Don’t forget that many of our stores are around the corner from some of your favorite summer destinations! Does a summer breeze make YOU feel fine? (If you’ve got a certain early 70’s soft rock song stuck in your head now, we’re on the same wavelength!) The salty summer breeze from coastal waters is enough to make anyone feel great. Here are some cities by the coast that make us want to sing! How can you make sure to hit the coast with the most awesome snacks, drinks and supplies? Check out this list of Whole Foods Markets to see which of our stores are en route!

Portland, ME

Located on a peninsula that juts out into Casco Bay, Portland has the best of Maine’s forest-covered mountains and its gorgeous rugged coast. If it’s trolleys you love, take a short drive to Kennebunkport’s Seashore Trolley Museum to see over 250 transit vehicles from all over North America. Visiting Maine for succulent lobster and stately lighthouses? Try going on a food tour (by foot or by trolley; choose tours centered around sampling foods, the farmer’s market or even chocolate!) or take a lighthouse cruise around Casco Bay’s harbor and inner islands for views of lighthouses, forts, lobster boats and seals. Portland is also part of a business corridor between New York and Atlantic Canada; you can see the history behind this economic hub by taking a walking tour along the Old Port. Local Whole Foods Market: Portland

Santa Cruz, CA

A beautiful city by the beach! Just off of California’s legendary Highway 1 (known for running along the stunning coastline), Santa Cruz has plenty of activities that showcase the scenery. Find opportunities for shopping, dining and fun on the Santa Cruz Wharf or find amusement park thrills on the Santa Cruz Boardwalk, which used to be known as “The Coney Island of the West.” Visit Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, a federally protected marine area known as “The Serengeti of the Sea” for its diverse marine ecosystems. You’ll stand a good chance of spotting seals, sea otters and more! Local Whole Foods Market: Santa Cruz

Monterey, CA

Another gorgeous California city, Monterey also offers great opportunities for sealife-spotting! Inspiring conservation of the oceans, the Monterey Bay Aquarium features open ocean exhibits, adventures and even performances. (And did you know that we partner with the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch for some of our seafood sustainability ratings?) You can also learn to surf on Carmel Beach, shop on the historic waterfront of Cannery Row, kayak amidst frolicking sea lions, or stop by Point Pinos Lighthouse in nearby Pacific Grove to see the oldest continuously operating lighthouse on the West Coast. Local Whole Foods Market: Monterey

Houston, TX

Parts of Texas are often referred to as the Third Coast, the heart of which is Houston (and nearby Galveston). For a taste of space and beyond, visit Space Center Houston for behind-the-scenes tours of NASA’s Johnson Space Center. Find island fun at Moody Gardens, a destination where you can explore pyramids of knowledge (there’s a Rainforest Pyramid, a Discovery Pyramid and an Aquarium Pyramid) or take a dinner cruise on a replica of an 1800’s style Paddlewheeler in Offats Bayou. Feel like getting out of the heat and finding beauty in the indoors? Try visiting some museums in Houston’s Museum District like The Menil Collection, a privately assembled collection that includes tribal, Byzantine and 20^th century art (including the Cy Twombly Gallery and Rothko Chapel). Local Whole Foods Markets: Montrose, Bellaire, Kirby, Woodway, Wilcrest What are your favorite cities by the coast? Let us know so we can get our summer breeze on!