Hollywood, Florida: All America City and
one of Fodor's "Best Beaches for Families"

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 12, 2009

CONTACT:
Judy Erickson
Hollywood, Florida Office of Tourism
(954) 921-3478
Email: jerickson@hollywoodfl.org

Hollywood makes Fodor's list of "Best Beaches for Families"

Hollywood Beach singled out for recognition from among all beaches
in Broward and Miami-Dade

HOLLYWOOD, FL - Hollywood Beach has been selected as one of the 2009 "Best Beaches for Families" in Florida by Fodor's Travel Guides, and is the only beach in all of Broward and Miami-Dade counties to be recognized for its quality sand and amenities.

Hollywood boasts seven miles of uncrowded and uninterrupted natural beach that has been Blue Wave-certified by the Clean Beaches Council for the past 10 years, with plenty of opportunities for water-based activities.

To be considered for "Best Beaches for Families" honors, beaches must have picnic areas, showers, lifeguards and sand suitable for building great sandcastles. Bonus points are awarded to beach sites that host annual festivals or events.

Hollywood Beach is home to a myriad of free entertainment offerings that include live music three times weekly in the outdoor Hollywood Beach Theater bandshell, Classic Cruise Night car shows, the Seaside Craft Affair, cultural events and annual festivals such as the upcoming Mardi Gras Fiesta Tropicale & Fat Tuesday on Hollywood Beach (Feb. 20-24); Brazil on the Beach; Global Groove on the Beach; Red, White & Bluegrass; Hollywood's Fourth of July Celebration; Hollywood Beach Latin Festival; Hollywood Beach Clambake; Hollywood Beach Candy Cane Parade; and OceanDance.

The 2.5-mile Broadwalk, Florida's only auto-free oceanfront promenade, is part of a historic district that features Old Florida architecture, quaint shops, outstanding waterfront restaurants, inviting beach bars, luxury resorts, boutique hotels, charming seaside inns and hotel vacation apartments with all the comforts of home.

Hollywood Beach enjoys an impressive third spot on Fodor's list of seven top beaches. Other sandy strips of paradise that made the cut are Clearwater Beach, Delray Beach, Siesta Beach (near Sarasota), Harry Harris Park (Tavernier, the Florida Keys), Anastasia State Park (St. Augustine), and Fort Myers Beach.

Hollywood also boasts the distinction of being selected as an "All-America City" by the National Civic League, one of Money Magazine's "100 Best Places to Live" and a "City of the Future," and one of the 10 best-mannered U.S. cities by etiquette expert Marjabelle Young Stewart. USA Today named the Broadwalk one of America’s top 10 nostalgic promenades.

"We are excited that Hollywood has once again been recognized for the truly special destination it is," said Gil Martinez, Executive Director of the Beach District of the Hollywood Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA). "Those of us who live and work on Hollywood Beach are already aware of its many unique assets, and it's nice to be able to spread the word to an international audience through Fodor's Travel Guides."

For more information on all Hollywood has to offer, call the Hollywood Office of Tourism (HOT) at 954-921-3478 or 877-672-2468, or visit www.visitHollywoodFL.org.

About Hollywood, Florida
Situated between Fort Lauderdale and Miami, Hollywood, Florida, the 2007 All-America City and one of Fodor's 2009 "Best Beaches for Families," is a desirable year-round destination offering more than 5,000 hotel rooms at a variety of hotels, resorts and Superior Small Lodgings. Minutes away from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Miami International Airport and home to Port Everglades, the largest cruise port in the world, Hollywood visitors enjoy seven miles of Blue Wave beaches; a two-and-a-half-mile European-style Broadwalk lined with cafés, restaurants, boutique and full-service hotels and resorts as well as vacation apartments facing the ocean; a revitalized Historic Downtown Hollywood and new ArtsPark at Young Circle; and an array of activities including first-class shopping, waterfront, nature and dining experiences. For more information about Hollywood, FL, contact the Hollywood Office of Tourism at (877) 672-2468 or visit www.visithollywoodfl.org.