Chelsea Levi, left, Megan Brantley, Shellie Street and Elizabeth Howell walk along the beach in Gulf Shores, Ala., Sunday, July 4, 2010. The University of Alabama students had traveled 4 1/2 hours to the beach on a vacation from Tuscaloosa, Ala. Brantley said that oil periodically hitting the shores made her appreciate the beach more. Howell added, “The people are really resilient. The spirit of the beach is still here, you still feel free.”