|
Oldest City One of Only Two American Destinations
Selected!
ST. AUGUSTINE NAMED A TOP 10
DESTINATION BY AMERICAN EXPRESS
ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. (Sept. 8)
St. Augustine has been named by American Express as one of
the ten “surprising, exciting, and cutting-edge
places” in the world where Americans can enjoy one
of their favorite travel pastimes.
A survey of American Express cardholders
revealed that 87 percent selected vacation
destinations based on their personal interests. The
top ten interests named were culinary, family
events, music, fitness and exercise,
education/learning, history, the arts,
wine/champagnes, fashion/shopping and sporting
events. American Express then selected ten
“unexpected’ destinations worldwide where these
interests could be enjoyed. Their history
recommendation was St. Augustine, Florida.
American Express said: “Not many history buffs
would consider St. Augustine, Florida their ultimate
destination. However, this city celebrated its 400th
birthday back in 1965. Founded by the Spanish in
1565, it is where the nation’s first schools,
hospitals and banks were built. St. Augustine lays
claim to the first European birth in the New World
and is the oldest town plan in the United States.
It was here where the first Thanksgiving actually
took place, not at Plymouth Rock.”
St. Augustine was one of only two American
destinations to make the list. The other was
Virginia’s wine country. The other recommendations
made by American Express were: Culinary –Vietnam;
Family Events – Lake Garda, Italy; Music – Iceland;
Fitness and Exercise – Madagascar;
Education/Learning – Kerala, India; The Arts –
Beirut, Lebanon; Fashion/Shopping – Durban, South
Africa; and Sporting Events – camel racing in the
United Arab Emirates.
The American Express selection is the latest in
a series of travel-related accolades recently
bestowed on St. Augustine – a city of only 12,000
residents located on the Atlantic coast of northeast
Florida. In August, ABC’s “Good Morning America” in
conjunction with Travel + Leisure magazine, named
St. Augustine as their number one pick for a place
where Americans could feel like they were in Europe
– without the cost of actually going to Europe. In
June, USA Today selected St. Augustine as one of
their ten recommended American destinations where
visitors don’t need a car to enjoy their visit.
|
