Let Florida's Historic Coast Set the Stage for Your Group's Next Celebration

Looking for a unique domestic destination for a client's wedding, family reunion, quinceañera, proposal or friend getaway? Perhaps where Old World charm meets Gilded Age luxury - with upscale modern amenities and ample opportunities for outdoor activity and cultural enrichment? As the oldest, continuously inhabited settlement founded by Europeans in the U.S., St. Augustine has learned a thing or two over the centuries about putting on celebrations. And together with neighboring Ponte Vedra - a golf mecca boasting pristine beaches and top resorts - it is eager to help you create fantastic moments for your couples, wedding parties, families and other groups. Read on for a sampling of ideas.

With nearly 42 miles of beaches along the Historic Coast, as this area of Florida is known for, a toes-in-the-sand wedding is easy to pull off - especially when given the help of a seaside resort staff, a robust roster of wedding vendors and a responsive tourism office. Couples seeking some Old World ambiance might choose a wedding spot in the Colonial Quarter, such as in a park of oak trees strewn with lanterns. For those who like high ceilings, soaring columns and a splash of opulence, there's the Treasury on the Plaza. For a stress-free on-property wedding at a resort, your couple might go for the exotic Sultan's Pavilion with a poolside reception. These are just some of many choices. And remember that most of these venues can be booked for family and other groups functions as well.

Ponte Vedra is flush with world-class resorts that will pamper and entertain groups of all kinds with such amenities as top golf courses, sumptuous spas, state-of-the-art fitness centers, elegant ballrooms and great dining. St. Augustine has everything from historic inns to cozy cottages with gracious porches to high-end as well as reasonably priced hotel-chain properties offering expansive ocean views and proximity to great shopping and attractions.

Along with historical curiosities like the Spanish/Colonial Quarter and nearby forts, groups of all ages can enjoy forays into nature at Anastasia State Park, where they can go hiking, birdwatching and kayaking, or try the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park, which features educational demonstrations and thrilling zipline rides. Visitors can be transported 300 years back in time at the St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum, where Port Royal, Jamaica - the setting for the "Pirates of the Caribbean" films - comes to life. If your clients still haven't had their fill of adventure, the city offers ghost tours and scavenger hunts. And, of course, the beach always beckons!

Art walks, architectural tours, dozens of galleries, unique museums and performance venues create perfect pastimes for groups inclined toward the arts.

Great for friend getaways or bachelor/bachelorette parties, Ponte Vedra features world-renowned golf courses, including Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass, home of the PLAYERS Championship and open to the public. Another resort offering championship-level golf courses is Ponte Vedra Inn & Club. While golfers are hitting the links, their friends and family members who don't play the game can find plenty of amenities at the resorts to bide their time happily.

Recently recognized as the "Best Foodie Town in the South," St. Augustine will more than satisfy a group of hungry palates. Families and groups of friends getting together at almost any of the area's resorts will find a range of top dining venues offering seafood and steak on property. Those who venture out and about will come across a wide variety of eateries featuring international fare, barbecue, farm-to-table meals and family-friendly menus. Finally, options such as waterfront settings and gourmet cuisine abound for romantic dining and wedding receptions.

From free summer concerts on the Plaza to art walks in the Historic District to live jazz and blues performances at a winery, the area brims with activity on balmy nights. Mild temperatures and gentle ocean breezes are the norm in St. Augustine and Ponte Vedra.

Even if your groups don't have any specific reason to celebrate, like a wedding, birthday or retirement, St. Augustine will help them find one! Whether it's the Rhythm and Ribs barbecue and music festival, a pirate parade, a celebration of the state's literary heritage, the Ancient City Kingfish Challenge, a golf championship or the Nights of Light, when more than three million white lights blanket the Historic District, there are many events to either inspire a booking or enhance an already-planned stay.

St. Augustine and Ponte Vedra are eager to help travel advisors plan group events. The area's Visitors and Convention Bureau reaches out to advisors in many ways, which you can learn about if you enroll in its Specialist Program at TravelAgentAcademy.com. The course covers many other topics in addition to group events and celebrations, offering an expansive overview as well as detailed information on accommodations, attractions, activities, the area's impressive culinary scene and more!