Daytona Beach Information & Travel Tipps – learn what makes Daytona Beach the ideal place for your next vacation.
Daytona Beach in a Nutshell
Relaxed beach town, home of Spring Break, Motorsports Capital of America – Daytona Beach on Florida´s east coast has many faces. Thanks to a pleasant climate and beautiful beaches, the city attracts many sun worshippers from colder regions, while motorsports enthusiasts flock to the Daytona Speedway. What is more, Daytona Beach offers exciting choices for families with children, nature lovers and visitors interested in history and culture. The city is located just a 5 hour drive from Cape Coral and can easily be reached via Greyhound bus from Fort Myers.
Best Beaches
One of the city’s main attractions is its 23 mile long beach. Thanks to fine sands, exciting waves and turquoise waters, this is the perfect place for a vacation by the sea. The beach is even accessible by car: Slowly cruising on the sand is a favorite pastime in Daytona Beach and shows the citizens´ affinity for motorsports. But do not worry: There are also non-driving beaches. Situated at the Daytona Pier is one of the best beaches for children. After swimming, you can visit the Daytona Boardwalk Amusement Park with its carnival atmosphere, ice-cream vendors, roller coasters and merry-go-rounds.
Even though Daytona Beach has long transformed into a family-friendly beach destination, the city is still popular with Spring Breakers. At the end of the semester, thousands of college students come here to have a giant beach party. But even then, you will always find quiet spots like Ormand Beach to the north – once owned by multimillionaire John D. Rockefeller.
Romano Beachfront Park is an ideal choice for families with children. Here, you can spend carefree days picnicking and swimming in the warm, calm water. Life Guards keep an eye out for little beach-goers. Another access to the beach is located in Sun Splash County Park that also features volleyball nets, picnic areas and shaded playgrounds.
Given the popularity of the city’s beaches, it is no wonder that most hotels are located here. Whether you want to stay at a budget-friendly motel, a beach resort with spa or a luxurious 5-star-hotel – Daytona Beach has no shortage of accommodation options. If you are looking for a pristine beach teeming with Florida’s native species, Smyrna Dunes Park is the perfect place for you. Here, only 20 minutes away from Daytona Beach, scenic sand dunes and hiking trails await you. Thrill seekers, on the other hand, should visit the Daytona Lagoon waterpark with its exciting slides.
Top Sights and Activities in Daytona Beach
Beautiful beaches are not the only attraction Daytona Beach has to offer. A popular place for long, romantic walk is Ponce de Leon Lighthouse, the tallest of its kind in Florida. Up there, visitors enjoy magnificent views of the Halifax River and the Atlantic Coast. Families with children can spend fun-filled days at the Daytona Lagoon Water Park with its 65 feet tall slides. Speaking of heights: At the Daytona Beach Zipline in Tuscawilla Park guests can fly like Superman and master an obstacle course in the tree tops.
For a more laid-back option, visit the museums of Daytona Beach. The Museum of Arts and Sciences houses not only world-class paintings, but also a huge collection of fossils and a planetarium. At the Halifax Historical Museum you can learn more about the city’s history. And if you want to admire beautiful black and white shots, you should stop by at the Southeast Museum of Photography.
The biodiversity of Florida’s coast is displayed at the Marine Science Center. Here, visitors can observe marine creatures like crabs, anemones and stingrays, and even touch them. The Center also treats injured sea turtles before releasing them back into the ocean.
After your day of sightseeing, you can recharge your batteries at more than 400 restaurants. Many of them are located directly at the Halifax River and offer beautiful views along with the delicious food. There is no shortage of entertainment options, either: Beach bars and clubs are blasting live music, while theaters like the Peabody Auditorium and the Seaside Music Theater are perfect if you want to see a Broadway musical.
Motorsports in Daytona Beach
The heart of America´s “Motorsports Capital” beats at the Daytona International Speedway. This giant venue features a whopping 2.5 miles of tracks and can house 168.000 spectators. Not long ago, 400 Million USD were poured into modernizations. For motorsports enthusiasts there is nothing better than watching 50 high-powered NASCAR cars flying by from the ranks. Of course, the most famous event is the Daytona 500, also called the „Great American Race“.
Motorcycle fans love to watch the Daytona 200, and exotic street cars are on display at the Rolex 24 at Daytona. The Motorsports Hall of Fame showcases legendary cars, bikes, boats and airplanes. And if you always wanted to get behind the wheel of a NASCAR racer, you can fulfill this dream after the tour.
The city’s passion for horsepower is not only apparent at the Speedway. In March, the streets of Daytona turn into a Mecca for bikers. Every year, more than 500.000 of them present their choppers at the Daytona Bike Week. The Speedway serves as a venue for the Daytona 200 bike race, while shops are selling the newest gadgets and bike accessories. The event is so popular that many similar ones have sprung up across Florida: for example, the Bike Night in Cape Coral and Fort Myer
Climate and Weather
Thanks to pleasantly warm temperatures and relatively few rainy days, spring is the best time to visit Daytona Beach.
