QUICK VIEW: An overview of the Daytona Beach area, including: Interesting Facts Key background Information Car Culture
Beach Culture how to get there and a great photo gallery!
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The Daytona Beach area tells a uniquely American story that well deserves its reputation. This blog hopes to introduce you to the real Daytona Beach.
The intensity of motor sports, the unbridled energy of Spring Break, and the richness of Florida history all join to create a delicious mix of experiences for a wide variety of travelers.
While Daytona Beach may be familiar to many, the Daytona Beach area is actually comprised of six more surrounding municipalities. Each sub-area adds its own magic to the Daytona Beach area narrative:
Daytona Beach Shores
Holly Hill
Ponce Inlet
Port Orange
Ormond Beach
South Daytona
Let's get to know the Real Daytona Beach area!
A beautiful sunrise over the ocean, witnessed by a tall-legged visitor
Interesting Facts
Much of the Daytona Beach area is located on a barrier island, which is separated from the mainland by the Halifax River.
Automobile and motorcycle land speed records were repeatedly set on the Daytona beaches between 1902 and 1935. Malcolm Campbell set the last auto world record at Daytona in 1935 (276.82 mph/445.49 km/h).
Ormond Beach is known as the "Birthplace of Speed," as many of the early land speed records were set there.
In the 1920s and early 30s, bootleggers used the Daytona beaches to test and race their custom-built stock cars--they needed fast cars to evade the police during Prohibition.
NASCAR was founded in Daytona Beach in 1947, with the headquarters still located in Daytona Beach.
Automobiles are allowed to drive & park on most Daytona Beach area beaches (10 mph/16 km/h speed limit).
At 176 ft/53.34 m tall, the Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse is the tallest in the state of Florida--and one of the tallest in the USA.
The US National LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association) is headquartered in Daytona Beach.
John D. Rockefeller, the renowned American business magnate and philanthropist, died at his winter home, The Casements, in Ormond Beach. The Casements now serve as the cultural center for Ormond Beach.
The local Root Family Museum has one of the biggest Coca-Cola memorabilia collections in the world. Mr. Chapman Root was one of the designers of the original iconic 1915 Coca-Cola bottle.
The Root Family Museum's coca-cola collection is housed in Daytona's Museum of Arts & Sciences
Key Background Information
Travel accompanied by knowing something about the local historical, cultural, and geographical context adds a sense of magic that can enrich each travel experience.
Knowledge of the ghosts of eras past, the secret ingredients of the national foods, the rhythm of the local music, the wildlife inhabitants, and the historic battles that shaped the area--all can all have profound influences on how you perceive your visit, and what you take away from it.
We learned some key background information that we found helpful in painting a more complete picture of the local Daytona Beach area, and in better appreciating our experience:
Early History
The Daytona Beach area was inhabited by the Timucuan Native Americans when the Spanish first arrived--with the Seminoles increasingly present as the Timucuan numbers dwindled by the late 1700s.
In 1804, Samuel Williams (British) received the original land grant from the Spanish Crown for a plantation (sugar cane, cotton, rice) located on the West Bank of the Halifax River, and covering the present-day Daytona Beach area.
In 1871, Mathias Day Jr. bought the tract of land and built the first hotel. Daytona Beach derives its name from Mathias Day, Jr.
The separate towns of Daytona, Daytona Beach, Seabreeze, and Kingston merged in 1926 as Daytona Beach, around the time Daytona Beach branded itself as "The World's Most Famous Beach."
Daytona Beach is known as the World's Most Famous Beach
Cultural Influences
The early European influence was primarily Spanish starting in 1513 through 1821 (La Florida), with a brief period of British control from 1763 to 1783.
The United States took over control of present-day Florida from Spain in 1821.
Today, slightly over 90% of the Daytona Beach area speak English as their first language; Spanish at 4%; French at close to 1%, and German at 1%.
Car culture and beach culture have been dominant cultural influences since 1902, as the arrival of the automobile increased leisure and travel to the southeastern United States.
Cars meet beach at Daytona since the early 1900s, and have remained a cultural presence to the present day
Geography and Weather
The Daytona Beach area is largely divided into two parts: The Halifax River separating the Atlantic Ocean-facing eastern section--from the mainland area to the west.
Six bridges and causeways connect the east-facing part of the Daytona Beach area with the mainland: Granada Bridge (Ormond Beach), Seabreeze Bridge (Daytona Beach), Main Street Bridge (Daytona Beach), Broadway Bridge (Daytona Beach), Veterans Memorial Bridge (Daytona Beach), and the Port Orange Causeway (originates in Port Orange).
Daytona Beach is approximately 51 miles/82 km from Orlando and about 265 miles/427 km from Miami.
Average temperatures in the Daytona Beach area exceed 80 degrees F/26 degrees C between April and the end of October, with average highs over 90 degrees F/32 degrees C in July.
Average relative humidity in the Daytona Beach area exceeds 60% between May and the end of October, with relative humidity well over 70% June through September.
The most comfortable weather months to visit the Daytona Beach area are March, April, and November.
Granada Bridge in Ormond Beach as seen from John D. Rockefeller's winter home, The Casements
Daytona Car Culture
The Daytona Beach area from Ormond Beach to Ponce Inlet was a magnet for motorsport pioneers from all over the world, starting in 1902. The long, straight, hard-packed beaches at low tide provided the perfect course for attempts at land speed records.
Ormond Beach earned the title of "Birthplace of Speed" because of the many land speed records set in the area.
The original Daytona Beach course ran for some 23 miles/37 km from Ormond Beach to the south--500 ft/150 m wide at low tide.
A formal track, the Daytona Beach & Road Course (Ponce Inlet), replaced the original Daytona Beach course in 1936--a 3.2 mile/5.1 km race track designed for stock car racing (expanded to 4.2 miles/6.8 km in the 1940s).
The Daytona International Speedway is world renowned for the Daytona 500 stock car race (February) and Daytona Bike Week (March).
Cars are allowed to drive on some Daytona Beach area beaches--subject to speed & safety restrictions as posted.
Cars are a common sight in designated areas on Daytona Beach
Daytona Beach Culture
The Daytona Beach area has over 23 miles/37 km of white sandy beaches.
Matthias Day, Jr. built the first hotel in the Daytona area in 1874. Today more than 10 million visitors flock to Daytona-area beaches each year.
In the early 1900s, Commodore Charles Burgoyne began promoting concerts on the Halifax riverfront, attracting vacationers from far and wide.
Today, the area of Daytona offers diverse attractions for visitors with varied interests: Daytona Beach Bandshell concerts, the Daytona International Speedway, the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse, the Daytona Beach Boardwalk & Pier, the Daytona Flea & Farmer's Market, and the Daytona Lagoon Water Park.
Daytona Beach is also well known for hosting the first live MTV Spring Break broadcast in 1986, reinforcing its reputation as a major annual Spring Break destination for college students.
The flat sandy beaches of Daytona are popular with young and old
Getting There
Flying into the Daytona Beach Area Closest Major Airport: Orlando International (MCO) is served by all major airlines and is only 50 - 60 miles from Daytona Beach.
Closest Local Airport:Daytona Beach International Airport (DAB) is served by Delta and American Airlines, and does have a small international terminal.
Traveling by Bus to the Daytona Beach Area Checking Wanderu.com, Daytona Beach is accessible by bus from 116 cities across the United States. Greyhound, by far, provides the most itineraries across the country.
Traveling by Train to the Daytona Beach Area Checking Wanderu.com, Daytona Beach is accessible by train from 121 cities across the United States. Amtrak is the only long-haul provider; the train stops in DeLand (about 24 miles/39 km from Daytona) and Amtrak provides a bus link to Daytona Beach.
Car Rental in the Daytona Beach Area Use Kayak.com or Priceline.com to find the best deals on car rentals: Dollar Car Rental, Alamo Rent a Car, Thrifty Car Rental, and Budget Car Rental tend to be competitive locally.
Arriving by Cruise Ship Closest Port: Port Canaveral (about 74 miles/119 km). Next Closest Port: Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale)(243 miles/391 km).
Daytona Beach Photo Gallery
Wraparound beach views from the dining/living room of The Cove's South Tower in Ormond Beach, near Daytona
Daytona International Speedway
The Daytona International Speedway is a must-see for visitors to the area
The excitement was building as the trolley tour was about to begin
The stadium seating is multicolored for making the stands always look full for TV cameras
The wall along the steep gradient of the track provides safety for high speed crashes
Our first stop was at the iconic Victory Lane for photo opps
The roaring sound of the race cars became thundering as we reached the top of the stadium
Our perfect vantage point of the start/finish line
Michael McDowell's winning race car is on display in the World Center of Racing & Motorsports Hall of Fame
The Motorsports Hall of Fame exhibits had something for every fan's favorite
The Champion's Walk of Fame, with signatures, handprints, & footprints of past Daytona 500 winners
The Daytona Flea & Farmers Market
With over 3 miles of shops, this was no ordinary flea market
The Daytona Flea & Farmer's Market is a permanent fixture as evidenced by the official sign
Fresh fruit and vegetables are displayed for sale near the entrance of the Farmer's Market
The market's map is helpful in maximizing your shopping experience
The Market has a wide array of products to keep shoppers busy
Coca-Cola Exhibit at the Museum of Arts & Sciences (MOAS)
The Museum of Arts & Sciences is home to the Root Family Museum's Coca-cola exhibit, and more
A painting from the Cuban Gallery in the Museum of Arts & Sciences
The museum chronicles the role of the Root family in the history of Coca-Cola
The Root Glass Company's winning design of the original coke bottle, inspired by the shape of a cocoa bean
The Roots moved their company to Daytona, which linked with their interest in race cars
The extensive collection of bottles from the Root Glass Company on display in the Family Museum
The replica of an old fashioned pharmacy, where patrons could order a coca cola product from the soda fountain
One of a diverse collection of Coca-cola vending machines in the Root Family Museum
One of the full size trains in the station replica in the Root Family Museum
The life-size bear was part of Susan Root's teddy bear collection
The Root family museum has a display of racing cars, evidence of their Daytona passion
Daytona Beach Bandshell, Boardwalk, and Pier
The Bandshell features cover band concerts every Saturday night from the end of May thru Sept
The Bandshell concert venue, with a scenic ocean view backdrop
Seating for the summer bandshell concerts are reasonably priced, but standing is also a free option
The concert & fireworks were free from our vantage point near the bar
The Boardwalk is lined with arcades and restaurants
Screamer's Park is located just off the the Daytona Beach Boardwalk, for those who dare!
Walking the sandy beach and the Main Street Pier is part of the charm to a Daytona stay
A walk along the promenade is a relaxing way to see Daytona Beach
Ponce de leon Inlet Lighthouse & Museum
The Ponce de Leon Lighthouse & Museum are located in the quaint town of Ponce Inlet
The Ponce de Leon Lighthouse is the tallest lighthouse in the state of Florida
The lighthouse grounds are well manicured and provide a beautiful setting
The viewing platform is the reward if you make the steep climb to the top
Climbing the lighthouse steps was high enough for Rainman
Rooms in some of the lighthouse keeper's homes can be viewed through the windows
Lenses in the Ayres Davies Lens Exhibit are impressive in scale and level of preservation
This First Order rotating Fresnell lens was removed from the lighthouse at Cape Canaveral for restoration & display here
THE CASEMENTS CULTURAL CENTER IN ORMOND BEACH
The Casements property was the winter home of John D. Rockefeller and his family, and is now open to the public
The historic Casements building and manicured grounds
The property lies on the banks of the Halifax River, with a view of the Granada Bridge
The stunning contrast of wood & glass in the entrance of the Casements building
This Florida Heritage site was put on the National Registry of Historic Places in 1973
A historical exhibit of Boy Scouts memorabilia is housed on The Casement's third floor
The vibrant collection of authentic Hungarian folk art and hand-stitched costumes
The grounds and gardens are a beautiful setting for community functions
BUC-EE'S TRAVEL CENTER
Buc-ee's Travel Center is known by its beaver mascot
The biggest travel center is the Iowa 80 in Walcott, Iowa.
One row of many gas pumps at Buc-ee's Travel Stop
Sensory overload with so many sights and smells!
The snack packages are branded with the Buceee's beaver
The Texas BBQ station is central to the Buc-ee's experience
Barbecue sauce is added to the brisket in preparation for assembling fresh sandwiches
The sandwiches were assembled fresh and piled high
So many festive Buc-ee Beaver gifts to choose from!
The jerky choices were numerous in the butcher case
Satisfy your sweet tooth with a variety box of fudge
Though the gas pumps are plentiful, they do not provide for windshield washing
The restroom was modern, roomy, and well maintained
The Buc-ee's experience was memorable, fun, and delicious!
Reny's Rating
Reny is the official Hacking the Road travel mascot!
At the end of each DestinationBlog, Reny rates the overall experience.
Reny's travel experience scale:
4 Renys = Wants to live here!
3 Renys = Doesn't want to live here, but would definitely return
2 Renys = Had a positive experience but may or may not return
1 Reny = Had an overall negative experience and will not return
Reny waves the checkered flag for a strong finish in Daytona Beach!
Reny rates the Daytona Beach area:
4 RENYS!
The beaches ..... the activities ..... the lifestyle ..... sunshine .....
the Bandshell ..... the Summer Concert series ..... the Boardwalk .....
the Pier ..... the International Speedway .....
the Flea and Farmers' Market ..... MOAS Coca-Cola Exhibit .....
the Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse & Museum ..... The Casements .....
Buccee's Travel Center .....
1 hr to Disney ..... 1 hr to Kennedy Space Center ..... 1 hr to St. Augustine
Reny wanted to list a whole lot more, but we had to reign in his enthusiasm!
[…] Touring Daytona, without understanding the greater context of Daytona Car Culture, leaves many questions unanswered. […]
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[…] Touring Daytona, without understanding the greater context of Daytona Car Culture, leaves many questions unanswered. […]