Area attractions, small businesses, and beaches are awarded with prestigious recognition by travelers and industry experts.
Tourism on Florida’s Historic Coast thrives thanks to the region’s exceptional travel and leisure offerings. Numerous local businesses have received recognition for their unparalleled customer service and quality experiences.
“Florida’s Historic Coast has long been recognized as a desirable destination, offering quality experiences for all travelers,” says Susan Philips, President & CEO of St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches Visitors & Convention Bureau. “We’re proud to see many of our tourism businesses recognized for their excellent work. The quality of the experiences they offer makes Florida’s Historic Coast a must- see destination.”
St. Augustine was recently named the #1 “Most Idyllic Small Town in Florida” by World Atlas and listed fourth on USA Today 10 BEST Most Walkable City in the United States. The city also topped Southern Living’s list of the “10 Best Cities to Vacation in Florida.”
TripAdvisor recently announced its Travelers’ Choice Awards® for 2024, with St. Augustine and its businesses taking top awards.
- The City of St. Augustine is listed as the #19 Top Destination in the United States.
- St. Augustine Beach is listed as #17 on the Best Beaches in the United States.
- Collage Restaurant is listed as the #15 Best Date Night Restaurant in the U.S.
- Pizza Time of St. Augustine is listed as #15 on the Best Quick Bites Restaurants in the U.S.
- The Cedar House Inn Victorian Bed & Breakfast was listed as #2, and Bayfront Westcott House Bed & Breakfast Inn was listed as #7 on the Best B&Bs and Inns in the U.S.
- Spyglass Travel Walking History Tours of St. Augustine’s Historic District was listed #8 on the Cultural & Historic Tour in the U.S. list.
- St. Augustine Wine, Cocktail, and Food Experiences made #5 on the Food & Drink Tour.
- Additional tours and attractions recognized as 2024 Traveler’s Choice Award recipients include The Tasting Tours, Red Boat Tours, LLC, Seaside Adventures, Old Town Trolley Tours of America, Classic Car Museum of St. Augustine, St. Augustine Wild Reserve, and the Ximenez-Fatio House.
- The Top 20 St. Augustine Traveler’s Choice 2024 Lodging properties include Hyatt Place Vilano Beach, Marker 8 Hotel & Marina, Hemingway House Bed & Breakfast, Victorian House B&B, Bayfront Inn, Holiday Inn Express St. Augustine – Vilano Beach, St. George Inn, Edgewater Inn, Bayfront Marin House, The Collector Luxury Inn and Gardens, The Saint Augustine Beach House, Southern Oaks Inn, The Kenwood Inn, Carriage Way Inn, The Cedar House Inn, Embassy Suites by Hilton St. Augustine Beach Oceanfront Resort, Bayfront Westcott House Bed and Breakfast, Hilton Garden Inn St. Augustine-Historic District, Hilton St. Augustine Historic Bayfront, and DoubleTree by Hilton St. Augustine Historic District.
Five restaurants on Florida’s Historic Coast were recently recognized for excellence. In Ponte Vedra Beach Nineteen at TPC Sawgrass, The Seahorse Grille at Ponte Vedra Inn & Club, and in St. Augustine, Viva Hospitality’s trio of restaurants, Michael’s St. Augustine, La Nouvelle, and Pesca Vilano, were each awarded the 2024 Award of Excellence by Wine Spectator Magazine. Chef Barry Honan and his culinary staff at Lotus Noodle Bar were recently invited to cook at the world-renowned James Beard House.
In their recent mid-year report, Pollstar ranked the St. Augustine Amphitheatre the second most popular amphitheater in the country based on gross ticket sales.
Among the most prestigious recent hospitality recognition on Florida’s Historic Coast, Travel + Leisure Magazine Readers Choice Awards World’s 100 Best List included the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club and The Lodge and Club at Ponte Vedra. The Collector Luxury Inn and Gardens made the #10 spot on the magazine’s 15 Favorite Inns in the Continental United States.
Holiday Inn Express St. Augustine-Vilano Beach was recently awarded the IHG 2023 Spirit of True Hospitality, for achieving the Elite Level of Excellence.
Congratulations to these businesses that have worked hard to elevate the visitor experience on Florida's Historic Coast.
Learn more about these and other must-do experiences in Northeast Florida by visiting www.FloridasHistoricCoast.com.
Click here for accompanying images.
###
About Florida's Historic Coast
Florida's Historic Coast includes historic St. Augustine, the outstanding golf and seaside elegance of Ponte Vedra, the rural beauty of Hastings, Elkton, St. Johns, and 42 miles of pristine Atlantic beaches. Visitor Information Centers are located at 10 Castillo Drive, St. Augustine; 200 Solana Rd. Suite B, Ponte Vedra Beach: and at the St. Johns County Beach Pier Park, 350 A1A Beach Blvd., St. Augustine Beach.
For advance travel information, call 1.800.653.2489 or go to the Visitors and Convention Bureau website at www.FloridasHistoricCoast.
Media Contact:
Barbara Golden, Communications Manager
BGolden@FloridasHistoricCoast.