of white sand beaches. For around $5, drivers can take their vehicle on to designated areas of the beach for the day or, if you’re so inclined, even attend a drive-in church service.
The dominance of motor sports, and the enthusiasm that it draws, can be seen everywhere in this resort, part of the state’s Funcoast area.
Beach Street’s scenic driveway can be packed with fun, and often rare, collections of enthusiasts’ transport, and the resort has plenty of attractions themed around motor racing and biking.
The biggest draw is Daytona USA, near the Daytona International Speedway venue, which features high-tech, hands-on challenges such as changing tyres in a timed pit stop.
You can also design and video-test your own car or try your hand at race games at the SEGA Speedway electronic entertainment complex.
To round it off, there is Mark Martin’s Klassix Auto Museum which has one of the best classic car collections in the US, as well as automobiles from famous movies and TV shows, such as Grease and The Munsters.
But Daytona Beach is not just for the motor enthusiast, it has some superb resort beaches, marine parks and excellent boating and fishing facilities.
Lining the huge, palm-fringed boulevards are colour-wash shops, restaurants and bars, which all add to the tropical feel of the place.
A number of operators feature Daytona as part of a flydrive itinerary or resort stay. It is also an easy day or overnight excursion for holidaymakers based in Orlando, which is just 54 miles to the northeast, while Miami is a 250-mile journey south.
Travel 4 Florida product manager Allyson Smith said: “It is a young, hip and trendy place to visit with very good nightlife and a party atmosphere. The beachlife is also very lively and there is every kind of water-based activity available.
“The main race meeting season is in January and February, but rooms gets very booked up.”
However, Daytona Beach is making huge investments in broadening the scope of its infrastructure.
A $200m oceanside district called Ocean Walk Village is due for completion next February and will feature a water park, golf centre, shops and restaurants, as well as the new adjacent Ocean Walk Resort hotel.
The new five-acre Adventure Landing Waterpark and entertainment centre across from the historic boardwalk area has a Caribbean theme, three nine-hole miniature golf courses and a two-level go-kart track.
Some $15m is also being spent on renovations at the newly-named Plaza Resort and Spa, opening this month as one of the area’s major spa hotels. The 322-room property is styled on an 1890s Spanish mission and will have treatment rooms, lap pool and fitness centre.
THERE is no better place to experience America’s love affair with the automobile than at Florida’s Daytona Beach.
Home to the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, you can also take in famous national race meetings such as the Daytona 500 and Pepsi 400 events, and enjoy organised races on the sprawling 23 miles of white sand beaches. For around $5, drivers can take their vehicle on to designated areas of the beach for the day or, if you’re so inclined, even attend a drive-in church service.
The dominance of motor sports, and the enthusiasm that it draws, can be seen everywhere in this resort, part of the state’s Funcoast area.
Beach Street’s scenic driveway can be packed with fun, and often rare, collections of enthusiasts’ transport, and the resort has plenty of attractions themed around motor racing and biking.
The biggest draw is Daytona USA, near the Daytona International Speedway venue, which features high-tech, hands-on challenges such as changing tyres in a timed pit stop.
You can also design and video-test your own car or try your hand at race games at the SEGA Speedway electronic entertainment complex.
To round it off, there is Mark Martin’s Klassix Auto Museum which has one of the best classic car collections in the US, as well as automobiles from famous movies and TV shows, such as Grease and The Munsters.
But Daytona Beach is not just for the motor enthusiast, it has some superb resort beaches, marine parks and excellent boating and fishing facilities.
Lining the huge, palm-fringed boulevards are colour-wash shops, restaurants and bars, which all add to the tropical feel of the place.
A number of operators feature Daytona as part of a flydrive itinerary or resort stay. It is also an easy day or overnight excursion for holidaymakers based in Orlando, which is just 54 miles to the northeast, while Miami is a 250-mile journey south.
Travel 4 Florida product manager Allyson Smith said: “It is a young, hip and trendy place to visit with very good nightlife and a party atmosphere. The beachlife is also very lively and there is every kind of water-based activity available.
“The main race meeting season is in January and February, but rooms gets very booked up.”
However, Daytona Beach is making huge investments in broadening the scope of its infrastructure.
A $200m oceanside district called Ocean Walk Village is due for completion next February and will feature a water park, golf centre, shops and restaurants, as well as the new adjacent Ocean Walk Resort hotel.
The new five-acre Adventure Landing Waterpark and entertainment centre across from the historic boardwalk area has a Caribbean theme, three nine-hole miniature golf courses and a two-level go-kart track.
Some $15m is also being spent on renovations at the newly-named Plaza Resort and Spa, opening this month as one of the area’s major spa hotels. The 322-room property is styled on an 1890s Spanish mission and will have treatment rooms, lap pool and fitness centre.
DAYTONA BEACH
Location: central east Florida coast facing the Atlantic Ocean. To the south is Kennedy Space Centre and Cocoa Beach.
Description: situated on a peninsula separated from the mainland by the Halifax River. The eastern area is called Beachside and westside is known as the Mainland.
Access: via Interstate 95 or Interstate 4. Also has an international airport with regular services from 150 destinations.
Accommodation: more than 400 hotels and motels offering 16,000 rooms, suites and apartments, many with direct views of the ocean.
Events: Daytona 500 (part of Speedweeks) – February; Bike Week and Spring Speedway Spectacular – March; Pepsi 400 – July; Biketoberfest – October; Fall Speedway Spectacular – November.
Who offers it: Funway Holidays, Virgin Holidays, Airtours, among others.
Sample product: seven nights’ accommodation with breakfast at the Treasure Island Inn with Virgin Holidays, from £469 in January 2000, including flights; from £709 for two weeks in June.