Get out the whistles, the party favors and the fireworks.
The Golden Isles was just named “America’s Best Beach Town” in a poll by Travel & Leisure, a print and online travel magazine.
And it was against some tough competition.
The list was broad, ranging from Myrtle Beach, S.C., to Bar Harbor, Maine, but St. Simons brought home the win, says Scott McQuade, executive director of the Golden Isles Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Readers were surveyed to create the initial list of best beach towns, and then they voted on the completed poll.
This seaside community captured the hearts of readers for its triple treat - Southern charm, serenity and affordability, according to the magazine.
An ideal locale with plenty of rental and hotel properties, St. Simons Island offers more to do than just lounging on the beach, and America is taking notice, McQuade says.
“This has been just one of many amazing accolades that we have received in the past two years,” he said.
Other rankings given the Isles include No. 3 among America’s favorite small towns poll and No. 1 among the nation’s most romantic town poll.
“Travel and Leisure’s No. 1 ranking for America’s favorite beach town is certainly one of our proudest moments,” McQuade said.
McQuade says the latest recognition helps support Golden Isles Convention and Visitors Bureau’s marketing message that the area is a unique destination.
In many cases, he said, third-party rankings, like the Travel & Leisure poll, carry more weight because they are endorsements from some of the most foremost travel publications.
The area is already expecting a robust summer in terms of tourists. Occupancy rates are projected to be well above last year’s record-breaking year.
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