But it seems St. Augustine Beach is getting rave reviews from travelers. Tripadvisor named the beach among the top 25 in the U.S. in its Travelers Choice Awards for Best of the Best Beaches .

St. Augustine hotelier Kanti Patel recently acquired the Castillo Real hotel at 530 A1A Beach Blvd. in St. Augustine Beach. The purchase was made through Vista Hotels XI for $11.5 million.

A year ago, St. Augustine was named to Southern Living magazine’s The South’s Best Beach Towns, earning praise for its beaches, the Castillo de San Marcos and Lightner Museum.