Daytona Beach Become a Disney Travel Agent Near Me

If sand and surf—and sunbathers—appeal to your senses, then visit Daytona Beach, Florida. The self-proclaimed "World's Most Famous Beach" is an epicenter of activity for Florida-bound college students, NASCAR fans and motorcycle enthusiasts from mid-February through March.

The rest of the year, Daytona Beach is a balmy haven appealing to all age groups, from little children assembling sand castles to seniors basking in the ocean breeze. Although lying on the Daytona Beach sand is a time-honored activity, so is driving on the beach—the silica is so hard-packed that vehicles are permitted as long as they don't exceed 10 mph/16 kph. When you tire of the surf and sand, there are plenty of local Daytona Beach haunts where you can eat, party, relax and shop for souvenirs.

Visitors will find that Daytona Beach is in the midst of a major redevelopment campaign, spurred by hurricane damage and the city's reputation as a spring-break destination. When completed, the Atlantic Avenue Enhancement Project will revamp the 1.3-mi/2-km stretch of Atlantic Avenue from Davis Street to Riverview Boulevard into a tropical boulevard, complete with palm trees, gardens and more.

Modern Daytona Beach hotels line the oceanfront, and many other improvements complement the Atlantic Avenue project. Daytona's character as an entertaining mix of high culture and fun-in the-sun remains intact—the elegant Hilton Hotel shares the boardwalk with Joyland Arcade. Unique shops, restaurants, and recreational and entertainment venues welcome everyone from families with young children to retirees to the uber-sophisticated.

Must See or Do

Sights—Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse; the Daytona International Speedway; Bulow Plantation Ruins State Park.

Museums—The portrait of Argentina's Eva Peron at the Museum of Arts and Sciences; vintage traces of John D. Rockefeller's life at The Casements; the Marine Science Center at Lighthouse Point Park; artifacts dating back to 5,000 BC at the Halifax Historical Museum.

Memorable Meals—Chicken Tuscan at Angell & Phelps Cafe; creme brulee at Le Crepe En Haut; breakfast at the 1950s Americana-themed Daytona Diner.

Late Night—Razzles for high-energy dance; Ocean Deck Restaurant & Beach Club for the view and live reggae; Martinis Chophouse for delicious desserts; a ghost tour with Ghost Walk of Daytona.

Walks—Daytona Beach Boardwalk; anywhere along the 23-mi/37-km beach; downtown Daytona Beach.

Especially for Kids—Daytona Lagoon; Joyland Arcade at the Daytona Beach Boardwalk; Daytona USA.

Geography

Daytona Beach is located on the Atlantic coast in east-central Florida. The Halifax River cuts through the middle of the city, running north to south and separating the beaches from the downtown area.

On the north end you'll find Ormond Beach and Ormond-by-the-Sea, quaint beach communities offering a quieter experience. Ormond Beach extends across the Halifax River, so there are inland and beachside parts of town. This is the first town you'll approach if you're driving south on Interstate 95 toward Daytona Beach.

The central area is the heart of Daytona Beach. It includes the Ladies Professional Golfing Association International golf courses, the Daytona International Speedway and the Daytona Beach International Airport. The beach area extends all the way to the Halifax Harbor Marina and includes such attractions as the Daytona Beach Pier, Ocean Walk Village and the Oceanfront Boardwalk.

The south end extends from Daytona Beach Shores, along 5.5 mi/9 km of sandy beaches, to the quintessential fishing village of Ponce Inlet, home of the Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse and the Marine Science Center.

History

Originally settled by the Timucuan Indians, the Daytona Beach area began attracting the attention of wealthy northern investors in the late 1800s. The first hotel, the Palmetto House, was built in 1874, and more development quickly followed. Entrepreneurs soon began promoting the area's attributes to northerners looking for a winter retreat. John D. Rockefeller was among the first to discover the area's golf courses and built a winter home, The Casements, in nearby Ormond Beach. When Daytona Beach was incorporated on 26 July 1876, it was named after its founder, Mathis Day.

In the early 1900s, automobile racing became a popular pastime along the hard-packed beaches. The National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) was founded at the Streamline Hotel in December 1947, earning the city the nickname "Birthplace of Speed." Successful banker William "Big Bill" Henry Getty France moved to Daytona Beach in the mid-1930s to establish a new career in race car promotion. During the 1940s, France established 4.1 mi/6.6 km on the beach and along Highway A1A as a race track. Motorsports gained new ground in 1959 with the opening of the Daytona International Speedway. Since then, the area has attracted millions of racing fans as well as beachgoers looking for a vacation in the sun.

Bike Week became a tradition in 1937, although it was discontinued during World War II. The festival was revived in 1947, and the annual 10-day event continues to flourish.

In recent years, Daytona Beach has attempted to change the blue-collar image it earned from its influx of bikers and spring-breakers. The city has built the Ocean Walk Village vacation and entertainment district, located next to the famed Daytona Beach Pier. In addition to upscale hotels, the village has stores, restaurants and a 10-screen movie theater.

Potpourri

According to local legend, Al Capone, the famed outlaw of the 1920s Prohibition years, played cards in Daytona Beach and owned a home in the area.

In 1897, author Stephen Crane was rescued from a shipwreck off the area's coast and taken to the Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse. His experience inspired him to write the classic short story "The Open Boat."

According to one legend, John D. Rockefeller built his home in Ormond Beach after learning that he was being charged US$5 more than other guests at the Hotel Ormond.

Daytona Beach's one-of-a-kind Broadway Bridge features mosaics of dolphins and other marine life on its supporting pillars.

Parishioners can wear bathing suits and even take their dogs to the Daytona Beach Drive-In Christian Church, a one-time drive-in movie theater. The church, across the street from the beach, holds services every Sunday morning at 8:30 and 10.

At 175 ft/55 m, the historic Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse is Florida's tallest, with 203 interior steps.

Built in 1914, Jackie Robinson Ballpark is the third oldest ballpark in the nation—only Wrigley Field in Chicago and Fenway Park in Boston are older.