Although Florida is known for sunny beaches, epic amusement parks and major historical sites, Agritourism has recently been attracting visitors throughout the First Coast region. Agritourism is unique because it allows local farm owners to share their passion and knowledge of agriculture, as well as their love of nature and animals, with people of all […]Read More
Karolina Guilcapi has been to South America 42 times — for business and pleasure. As the founder of Sated Ventures, Guilcapi couldn’t hide her love and excitement for food and travel if she tried. Her boutique travel agency in Palm Coast, Florida, aims to delight travelers with foodie experiences that simply can’t be booked through […]Read More
The First Coast may be in the throes of an athletic renaissance of sorts. A grassroots movement is opening a myriad of doors of economic opportunity as it fosters a sense of community and collaboration. When you think of our region in terms of sporting events, which games come to mind? Soccer should be high […]Read More
Long before Flagler built the Ponce de Leon Hotel, tourists, entrepreneurs and artists came to St. Augustine for vacation and stayed. That transition from north to south, or west to east, continues with some new residents starting or expanding a business and others working remotely from home. Why have they chosen to come to this […]Read More
Q&A with Tourisim Directors From the impact of the pandemic on visitor numbers to future projections and challenges, local tourism development directors share their insights and experiences as we delve into the dynamic world of tourism. Kimberly Morgan Director of Tourism & Film Development Clay County Tera Meeks Tourism and Cultural Development Director St. Johns County […]Read More
Florida’s First Coast has a good reputation for first class theater and performing arts, even though it could be argued that our local area has a secret some in the theatre and entertainment world recognize as an arts district on the rise, and with good reason. Beneath its beautiful beaches and scenic landscapes that have […]Read More
Isabelle Renault knows firsthand that traveling with a child with special needs can present its own unique set of challenges. But the president and CEO of the St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce is hoping that a new program can help families like hers make more memories while experiencing less worry. St. John’s County and […]Read More
The future of Florida’s tourism industry is bright! The Sunshine State has been the number one choice of destination in the U.S. for domestic and international travelers, and we see that trend continuing. In 2022, we welcomed a record 137.41 million visitors – a year-over-year increase of nearly 16 million visitors. In addition to that […]Read More
With this issue, we complete our second full year publishing the First Coast Region Edition of EVOLVE Magazine. Over that period, we have much appreciated your response to our articles and content. Our goal is to “Shine a Light on Success,” especially business and economic success. Your response tells us we are on the right […]Read More
I’ve seen many changes to site selection criteria – and many constants – since I began my career as an economic development advisor and attorney in 1995. What hasn’t changed includes labor availability, infrastructure issues, proximity to customers, market risk, tax and regulatory considerations and quality of life concerns. Over the past several years, location […]Read More
