How to Enjoy an All-American Experience in Daytona Beach

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The Daytona Beach area tells a uniquely All-American story deserving of its reputation. The intensity of motor sports, legendary Spring Breaks, and a rich Florida history join together to create the one-and-only Daytona experience.

At Hacking the Road, we are dedicated to finding ways to help people live a Better Life ... on the Road! We are full-time travelers and experience seekers, and we want to share our journey with you. We believe that travel opens hearts and minds, and makes the world a better place. Join us as we explore each new destination.

We are Rainman and Tricia ... and we are the Road Hackers!

This Blog is part of our travel series covering the state of Florida in the United States. The Daytona Beach area tells a uniquely American story that well deserves its reputation. 

The intensity of motor sports, the craziness of Spring Break, and the richness of Florida history all meet to create a delicious potpourri of adventures 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: Daytona Beach Shores, Holly Hill, Ponce Inlet, Port Orange, Ormond Beach, and South Daytona.

Each sub-area adds its own magic to the Daytona Beach area narrative.

In 2021, the Road Hackers were privileged to explore the Daytona Beach area over the course of four months. Some of the highlights of this amazing trip include:

But first, let's take a look at our 10 Interesting Facts about the area...

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.

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).

Our travels haven't focused much on the southeastern United States, until now!

The summer of 2021 saw us packing up and heading down to Florida for an extended 17-week stay. Way too much time to explore a little piece of Florida--or so we thought. In hindsight, we merely scratched the surface, and we'll definitely be back!

Four weeks were spent in the Orlando area of Celebration and Kissimmee. For the remaining 13 weeks, we lived in Daytona Beach and Ormond Beach. Our strategy was to cover the Florida west coast while in the Orlando area, and the Florida east coast during our stay in the Daytona area.

This Blog only shares our travels in the greater Daytona Beach area--plenty, believe me. The rest of the adventure will be covered in our Florida travel series.

Our 13 weeks in the Daytona Beach area were truly amazing.

All accommodations had beachfront access! We spent two weeks in Daytona Beach itself with a beach view in a one-bedroom, which we thought was fantastic.

The Daytona experience was unexpectedly topped by our 11-week stay at The Cove in Ormond Beach.

Our one-bedroom in the South Tower had views that were the best we've ever had! Large windows in the front, wrapping around to the side, and extending to the bedroom, gave us a panoramic view of the beach and to the pool area a few floors below. 

It was hard to leave the beach to explore the sights in the area, but we were excited to get started. 

Before setting out, we decided to take a deeper dive into understanding Daytona. 

The Car Culture in the Daytona area plays an huge role in defining its identity. The origin of the Daytona Car Culture is not common knowledge to most visitors. Holiday makers tend to focus on the beaches, nightlife, and the Daytona International Speedway.

Touring Daytona, without understanding the greater context of Daytona Car Culture, leaves many questions unanswered.

Daytona Beach and Ormond Beach allow cars to drive on their beaches ... but why?

Why is the Daytona 500 such a huge annual event in the United States?

Why is the World Center of Racing and Motorsports Hall of Fame of America located in Daytona Beach?

Why was NASCAR founded--and still headquartered--in Daytona Beach?

We set out to answers to these questions. Along the way, we discovered a fascinating story about American culture at its best.

To help answer these questions, here's some history on the origins of the Daytona Car Culture:

The Daytona International Speedway is, no doubt, the ultimate Daytona Car Culture icon.

A visit to Daytona Beach just wouldn't be complete without a tour of this world famous track! We had to see what all the fuss was about.

Neither of us was much of a NASCAR fan. So, we weren't quite sure what to expect.

Having done our Daytona Car Culture research, we felt better equipped to fully appreciate the Speedway.

The official Speedway tour would be the perfect orientation for first-timers like us.

Things didn't start off too well. We mistakenly parked in the general stadium parking area and had to walk almost a mile to get to the Tours Center Building. Lesson learned!

Luckily, a tour leaves every hour, and we were able to switch our tour departure time with ease.

Pro Tip: The Tours Center has its own parking area next to the tour departure area. Don't go to general parking!

From start to finish, this 60-90 minute tour was packed with fun and excitement. Boarding the open-air trolley, we could feel the energy building.

For most of the group, this was a once-in-a-lifetime visit to hallowed ground. The feeling was contagious!

Our tour trolley began by making its way around the exterior of the towering stadium.

As the enormous seating area came into full view, the scale of the facility was overwhelming. Daytona Speedway has a crowd capacity of 101,500! That's a small city!

The multi-colored seats are purposely designed to make the stands look full for TV viewers.

Our tour guide was quite entertaining as he shared some of the track history and interesting facts.

The track's 31-degree gradient was a surprise to witness firsthand. The gradient, curvature, and wall barrier are all part of a sophisticated safety system that protects drivers.

According to our guide, race drivers regularly hit that wall at speeds of 200 miles per hour. The goal is to make sure the vehicle and driver survive with minimal damage and injury.

The wall is called a SAFER barrier, which stands for Steel and Foam Energy Reduction. The inner wall is made up of nine miles of hollow square tubing, and the exterior wall is concrete.

Leaving the track, we headed through an underground tunnel that took us to the interior area reserved for racers and pit crews. The walls of the tunnel were lined with colorful graphics celebrating NASCAR history.

Our first stop was an absolute highlight! Getting off the trolley, we were only a few yards from the world famous Daytona Victory Lane.

The history of the Daytona 500 was all over Victory Lane! 

Even our tour guide seemed excited to be here. 

We were treated to photo/video opps with all the iconic Victory Lane props. Directly across from Victory Lane, we could see the race track and the enormous stadium. What a powerful experience for the winning drivers!

Daytona usually allows tour guests access to the starting line and pit crew area. Unfortunately--or fortunately--there were cars on the track that day. So, we were left peering through the fence.

Driving away from Victory Lane, we were excited to learn that our next stop would be the stadium. The group would have a birds-eye view of the track and the NASCAR drivers practicing their time trials.

What a powerful experience!

As we climbed the tall escalators into the stadium, we began to hear the intense thundering sound of the engines as they roared around the track. 'So Exciting!

These high-performance race vehicles can generate engine noise up to 140 decibels. Imagine 43 cars on the track on race day! 

In case you were wondering, the United States limits workplace decibel level to no more than 85 decibels. Extended exposure to levels over 85 decibels can cause hearing loss. Noise over 110 decibels can cause immediate hearing loss in some instances.

Our vantage point was perfectly positioned to see the start line and the pit crew area. All eyes were glued on the track as car after car bellowed by with awesome power. We could feel the stadium vibrate.

What a thrilling moment!

Race day must be over-the-top! The ambience of 100,000 fans, 43 roaring engines, the drama of the race, and the smells of the track must be intoxicating.

We thoroughly enjoyed our micro-experience!

On the way out of the stadium, there were several displays, including a replica of the 31 degree track banking gradient. Testing the slope in person is quite an experience--it's really steep!

Next, we set off for the World Center of Racing and Motorsports Hall of Fame of America.

Get your cameras ready!

The Hall of Fame was packed with exhibits. The experience was a little overwhelming at first. Historical artifacts covered every inch of the exhibit space.

Of course, the Daytona Beach area has a prominent place as a backdrop for the whole story!

One of the most popular exhibits showcased the recent Daytona 500 winner. The actual car is on display and very accessible for photos/video.

You bet ... we took several posed photos!

The car that wins the Daytona 500 is usually displayed for a full year--ending on the day of the next Daytona 500 race.

Here are some of the major themes featured at the Hall of Fame:

Our final stop was the Daytona Speedway gift shop, aptly called the Pit Stop. Fans were excited to buy their favorite racing memorabilia.

We also felt like fans as we left the Pit Stop. But that wasn't the end. There was one more very pleasant surprise! 'The colorful Daytona 500 Champion's Walk of Fame!

The bright red Walk of Fame immediately catches the eye. A lengthy red carpet-like walk showcases the signatures, hand prints, and footprints of all the Daytona 500 winners since 1996.

The most recent winner of the Daytona 500 is memorialized every August.

What a fitting finish to a highly informative and entertaining tour!

We may not have started out as race fans, but we left with a new-found sense of respect for the sport and an understanding of the contagious excitement it generates... 

Our visit to the Daytona International Speedway had brought everything full circle ... and provided the final piece of the puzzle that explains the Daytona Car Culture.

There's no doubt that Daytona Car Culture begins and ends with a genuine love for the automobile.

Understanding this uniquely American story made for a richer experience as we continued our visit to the Daytona area.

How do you follow up a tour of the unforgettable Daytona Speedway? Shopping, of course!

We had heard that the Daytona Flea & Farmers Market was a definite must-see. The Market is open three days a week: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 9am-5pm. We made a plan to spend the morning exploring, expecting the usual 7-10 rows of vendors. We were in for another surprise--a very pleasant surprise!

As we arrived in the parking lot, we knew this wasn't just any flea market.

The parking area was spread over a huge green space. Ahead were long, enclosed sheds that presumably house the Flea & Farmers Market goods. It was a hot summer day, so we headed for the shade, and the advertised market air-conditioning, fans, and misters. 

Once inside, we very quickly knew this was going to be a long day. The orientation map at the entrance said it all:

The Vendor and Map pages are key to unlocking the secret to this overwhelming maze of stalls. We would recommend looking up your category of interest on the Vendor page and then, using the Map page, find the stall location. You might even be able to plot a general route of interest this way, for much more efficient shopping.

The Farmers Market is conveniently located near the main entrance. Colorful fruit and vegetables line the tables for what seemed like hundreds of yards/meters. The variety was impressive, from the ordinary to the more exotic. Pricing was competitive  but not cheap, but most of the produce appeared to be farm-to-table fresh.

As we wandered beyond the Farmers Market concentration, we were bombarded with all kinds of delicious food smells. They didn't seem to have a concentrated Food Court, but there were plenty of food options scattered throughout the central areas.

The biggest mistake we made was to not orient ourselves to the market before starting our adventure through the stalls. In hindsight, the Daytona Flea & Farmers Market has a decent website that would be quite useful for orientation purposes.

Just to give you a sense of the enormous array of goods and services, here's a small snapshot:

Be sure to also check the market calendar for special events and shows: The first Saturday of each month features a classic car cruise-in; Arts & Crafts are featured the second weekend of each month; and the third weekend showcases Garage Sales.

Needless to say, we left the market exhausted, promising to return at a later point to complete our quest. Next time, we'll be better prepared, and have more comfortable shoes! A good six hours is probably the minimum to really survey the market.

According to their website, The Museum of Arts & Sciences (MOAS) is "the primary art, science, and history museum in Central Florida." The museum is nationally accredited and is recognized as a Smithsonian Affiliate. MOAS is a must-see if you value insights into the Daytona Beach area culture and history.

While we were especially interested in the Coca-Cola exhibit, we also really enjoyed touring many of the other MOAS exhibits and museums, including:

The Root Family Museum, which is located within the MOAS, houses the second largest Coca-Cola memorabilia collection in the world, the largest being at Coca-Cola Headquarters in Atlanta. We love the mystique of the Coca-Cola story, so we just had to see it!

The Root family has a long history strongly intertwined with the rise of Coca-Cola in America.

At one point, the Root Glass Company was the biggest Coca-Cola bottler in the United States. The museum chronicles the Root family story, starting in 1901 when Chapman Jay Root established the original Root Glass Company in Terre Haute, Indiana (USA).

Chapman Jay Root and his company played a key role in designing the original iconic shape of the Coca-Cola bottle. By 1915, competition in the softdrink category had increased significantly. Coca-Cola decided to challenge bottlers to design a distinctive bottle for their product.

Chapman's Root Glass Company team successfully patented the "hobbleskirt" shape we know so well today.

The inspiration for the shape was heavily influenced by the natural shape of the cocoa bean. Coca-Cola declared the Root bottle the winner in 1916. This original bottle weighed a heavy 14.5 ounces/0.411 kg and contained only 6.5 fluid ounces/192 ml of Coca-Cola.

Chapman Jay's son, William Ruffle Root, and his grandson, Chapman Shaw Root, were both actively involved in growing the Root Glass Company in the decades that followed.

The grandson moved the company to Daytona Beach in 1951, hence the strong Daytona connection. Chapman Shaw Root had a great interest in car racing, and sponsored many cars in the Daytona 500 over the years.

All of this history is chronicled along the walls of the museum, along with sample Coca-Cola bottles as they evolved through the decades, including pre-1915 Coca-Cola bottles using the early generic "Hutchinson" design.

We were amazed to see that the exhibit had one of the original "hobbleskirt" bottles on display. There are only two left in the world!

The Root Family Museum also houses a replica of an original pharmacy, fully equipped with replicas of the soda fountains used in the early days of Coca-Cola.

Dr. Pemberton's original secret recipe was developed and mixed with carbonated water in a pharmacy similar to this one. It was interesting to stand there and imagine patrons coming to the counter for their first Coca-Cola experience. And isn't it hard to imagine a world without Coca-Cola!?!

The rest of the collection focuses on the Coca-Cola distribution machinery. The museum showcases beautifully restored Coca-Cola delivery trucks, carbonation and vending machines, syrup barrels, and all kinds of Coca-Cola marketing memorabilia. 

The Root Family Museum has a lot more than just the Coca-Cola collection.

One of the sectors of the museum houses two fully-restored train cars in a replica of a train station.

We also very much enjoyed seeing Susan Root's huge teddy bear collection, featuring the history of the teddy bear, as well as teddy bear doll houses and life-size teddy bears in full costume.

For those who can't get enough of car racing, they even have a few fully-restored indy cars on display.

The tour was such a treat for us. We'd highly recommend a visit for anyone interested in American history and memorabilia.

Here's some interesting facts about the beach culture surrounding Daytona Beach:

The closest we came to a Spring Break experience was our evening at the Daytona Beach Bandshell. We say that tongue in cheek, because the experience was dominated by people in their 50s, 60s, and 70s. 

On one of our many walks along the Daytona Boardwalk and Pier, we noticed a posting for the annual Summer Concert Series held at the historic Bandshell.

Each summer, the series starts on the last Saturday of May and extends through the last Saturday of September. Every Saturday features a different tribute band, and on the evening we attended, we were treated to a very talented cover of Bon Jovi.

We had no idea, but the Bandshell has quite the history. In 1999, it was actually listed on the US National Registry of Historic Places. The Bandshell structure was built in 1938 using local sedimentary coquina rock, a mix of crushed shells and sand. 

The Bandshell has been a focal point on the Boardwalk since its inception. Beyond the annual Summer Concert Series, the venue is also used for all kinds of private and public open-air events. With an ocean view backdrop, one can only imagine how beautiful a wedding would be in this special setting.

The Bandshell structure is designed to amplify and direct its sound out toward the crowd seated next to the Boardwalk, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. It's quite a sight!

But, there's more. You get the live concert, a beautiful setting, ... and, at the end of the evening around 9:30 pm, you're treated to an impressive fireworks show on the beach opposite the concert! Not bad for a $4 ticket, if you'd like a seat in front of the stage.

But if you prefer sipping beer at the City Walk restaurant above the Bandshell, or don't mind sitting on the beach or standing on the outskirts, the concert and fireworks are free! 

The Daytona Beach Boardwalk promenade was built in the late 1920s, a decade before the Bandshell complex.  The original name is actually the Daytona Beach Broadwalk--not Boardwalk, but the local newspaper editor didn't like the connotation of the word "Broad."

Today, the promenade is lined with hotels, restaurants, the Bandshell complex, arcades, and amusement centers. At the pier-end of the walk, you can get a reasonably priced hot dog or pizza, grab a beer, play Skee Ball, and enjoy your favorite video game--all within a short walk.

And, if that's not enough excitement, there's Screamer's Park, only 50 yards away. For the those with strong stomachs, why not test the Slingshot or the Vomatron? The names tell the story! It was fun watching, but we didn't dare. The huge Daytona Lagoon Water Park is just a block away for kiddies of all ages.

The historic Daytona Pier, also known as the Main Street Pier, was built in the late 1800s. The original Pier was approximately 600 feet/183 meters long and built of palm logs. It was destroyed by a significant fire in 1920, and recast as the Ocean Pier & Casino in 1925.

Today, the modern pier is approximately 1,000 feet/305 meters long and includes a restaurant.

Even if you aren't into the games, rides, and entertainment, why not just enjoy a relaxing walk along the promenade or take off your shoes and head down to the shoreline. We certainly spent most of our time walking along the ocean once we explored all the promenade sights.

We thoroughly enjoyed our time exploring the Daytona Beach area. Expecting a highly commercialized beachfront, we were pleasantly surprised to find a rather laidback beachfront community that still had a lot of its original small-town charm. We'll be back!

Our visit to the Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse & Museum was one of the highlights of a 3-month stay in Ormond Beach, Florida.

We have a particular interest in lighthouses and make it a point to visit them whenever we're in range, especially in areas we haven't visited before. Ponce Inlet Lighthouse came highly recommended!

If you are interested in American maritime history, local culture, and natural beauty, then the Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse should be on your itinerary.

Join us as we share our experience exploring this National Historic Landmark.

Reading the history of this special place had us hooked from the beginning:

Tallest lighthouse in Florida ... Ayres Davies Lens Exhibit ... Woodshed Theater ... Climb to the Moon & Climb with the Keeper experiences ... beautiful setting on the Halifax River and Daytona Beaches ...

With highlights like that, who wouldn't want to visit?

The Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse & Museum is a must-see on any trip to the Daytona Beach area.

This great attraction is located only 12 miles/20 km south of Daytona Beach.

From Daytona Beach, take South Atlantic Avenue all the way down to Ponce Inlet. This scenic route offers views of the Atlantic to the east and Halifax River to the west. It's a slow drive, but worth the extra time.

Both Daytona Beach and Ponce Inlet actually sit on an extended barrier island separated from the mainland by the Halifax River.

The Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse was built at the southern tip of the barrier island--and was intended to be the main lighthouse between St. Augustine (north) and Cape Canaveral (south).

Once in Ponce Inlet, there's plenty of free parking most of the day.

The Lighthouse & Museum attracts bigger crowds close to lunchtime and in the early afternoon. Morning visits tend to be less busy--and cooler.

Get ready for a fun experience!

The namesake of the Lighthouse & Museum is the famous Spanish explorer, Juan Ponce de Leon. He is credited with leading the first European exploration of the coast of Florida. De Leon's 1513 landing took place somewhere between St. Augustine and Melbourne--on the Florida east coast.

Ponce de Leon likely did not land in the area of the Ponce de Leon Inlet.

The Lighthouse was completed in 1887 in an attempt to mark the location of the only major inlet in central Florida. The current structure replaced a previous lighthouse built in 1835.

The newer version of the Lighthouse required three keepers. In those early days, the lens had to be illuminated by a kerosene lamp at all hours of the day and night. The workload was tremendous!

Keepers would regularly have to haul heavy loads of kerosene all the way to the top of the lighthouse. Once at the top, the keeper had to perform the dangerous maneuver of hoisting himself onto the platform that held the lantern. The job was both physical and dangerous!

The long hours and stresses of the job meant that keepers seldom left the facility. Keepers were given homes and encouraged to bring their families to stay with them.

The Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse Preservation Association painstakingly restored all the original buildings, including the Lighthouse and the support buildings. As a result of their dedication, the Lighthouse was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1998.

The grounds are beautifully landscaped and well maintained. It's no wonder the museum allows small intimate weddings on the premises.

One of the buildings, called The Woodshed Theater, was originally used as an outbuilding for the keepers and their families. Today The Woodshed Theater is used as a cool respite for viewing a 20-minute film about the  Lighthouse history.

The Gladys Meyer Davis Home has also been restored to its former glory. This dwelling was originally home to the last Principal Keeper. A tour here provides a glimpse into 1890s living.

Visitors are welcome to take see-guided tours of the grounds and facilities at any time during business hours. Bigger groups can call ahead to organize formal narrated guided tours.

Regular Summer Hours (June - August): 10:00 am - 9:00 pm

Regular Non-Summer Hours (September - April): 10:00 am - 6:00 pm

Entrance prices are very reasonable:

General Access Tickets allow visitors access to all the major facilities. Here are a few of the main visitor attractions with access:

Plan to spend about 2 - 4 hours touring all the facilities and grounds. Take your time and enjoy this beautiful piece of American history!

Yes, you can climb to the top of the lighthouse tower!

Keep in mind, this is Florida's tallest lighthouse (175 feet/53.34 m)--and the 2nd tallest lighthouse in the United States.

Most people successfully climb to the top. The views of the Halifax River and Atlantic coast are said to be wonderful.

We attempted the climb, but Rainman's fear of heights got the best of him! What a disappointment!

The museum also offers special RSVP Events that grant access to the premises outside of regular hours.

One of the most popular events is the monthly Climb to the Moon ($35). This climb is held on the eve of each full moon and is limited to 15 participants.

Climb to the Moon guests are treated to a tour of the Lighthouse and the Lantern Room. The tour continues to the outer Viewing Deck, where everyone is treated to drinks and hors d'oeuvres. Guests settle in for a  magical experience as the sun sets and the moon rises in the distance.

The Climb with the Keeper after hours event is also very popular--and sells out quickly.

These themed events made us wish we could make it to the top!

After touring the Lighthouse and Keeper Dwellings, we headed over to the Ayres Davies Lens Exhibit Building.

What an impressive showcase of American maritime history!

The building was built in 1994-95 for the unique purpose of housing lighthouse lenses. The Ponce Inlet Preservation Association had acquired an outstanding reputation for restoring older lighthouse lenses. The Association's expertise caught the attention of the Coast Guard.

When the Coast Guard was looking to restore the Cape Canaveral First Order Fresnel Rotating Lens, the Ponce Inlet Preservation folks got the call! The Canaveral Light lens had been damaged by the frequent rocket launches in the vicinity.

Today, the Canaveral Light Lens is proudly displayed on the first floor, near the facility entrance. The scale of the lens is enormous and immediately commands your attention. There was no doubt we were in for a special experience.

The Ayres Davies experts have also restored the original 1887 Ponce Inlet Lighthouse First Order Fixed Fresnel Lens. There's an interesting story here.

The 1887 lens was retired in 1933 when lighthouse operations first became electrified. The lens was carefully packed and sent off to Staten Island for warehousing. Over the years, the system lost track of the whereabouts of the lens. The Preservation Association finally tracked the lens to Mystic, Connecticut.

Our tour of the multi-level complex continued to impress as we enjoyed the various lighthouse artifacts on display. Their collections of lenses, lanterns, and photos were world class!

The chronological History of Lighthouse Illumination was particularly interesting. One can easily spend a between 1 - 2 hours in this facility.

Finishing with the rest of the historical buildings and the gift shop, we were able to come away with a much better understanding of the lighthouse experience in the United States.

The Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse & Museum experience was one of the most informative lighthouse tours we've ever seen. We vowed to return!

Huge thumbs up from us! Visit! Visit! Visit!

If you are interested in American history, local culture, natural beauty, and exhibits of civic pride, then The Casements should be on your itinerary.

This great attraction is located only 6 miles/10k north of Daytona Beach--right in the heart of Ormond Beach.

Our visit to The Casements was one of the highlights of our 11-week stay in Ormond Beach, Florida.

Reading the history of this special place had us hooked from the beginning:

Ormond Beach Cultural Center ... Jewel of Ormond Beach ... Rockefeller's winter home ... famous visitors like Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Roy Rodgers ... beautiful gardens ...

With highlights like that, who wouldn't want to visit?

The Casements name originates from the "large hand-cut casement windows" built into this magnificent early century mansion. Entering the reception area, one can't help but feel the history of the place.

The Casements Guild has done a marvelous job restoring and decorating everything.

The mansion was first built in 1913 by a local clergyman and his wife. 

John D. Rockefeller, Sr., bought this prime piece of property in 1918 and made it his family winter home.

The original property sat on about nine acres of beautifully landscaped land, bordered by the Halifax river on the west side.

The Atlantic Ocean lay only a few blocks to the east. The Rockefellers had their own private access trail to the ocean. The original Rockefeller gardens were, by all accounts, quite inspiring. Today's gardens follow closely in those footsteps!

Rockefeller relished the chance to play golf and watch the automobile races on the beach when he came for his winter escape.

The family loved to entertain the rich and famous.  Movie stars, racing celebrities, barons of American industry, and the politically powerful were frequent winter visitors to the estate. Their legendary Christmas parties were an annual spectacle to behold.

Rockefeller died at age 97 in his beloved Casements home in 1937.

The Casements was sold in 1940, and converted into the Casements Junior College through 1951. Between 1951 and the eventual City of Ormond Beach purchase, The Casements served in several capacities, including an extension of the Ormond Hotel, a retirement facility, and as a school.

The Casements was put on the National Registry of Historic Places in 1973, and purchased by the City of Ormond Beach in 1974, and is also designated as a Florida Heritage site.

The City of Ormond Beach finally purchased The Casements estate in 1974. The property had significantly deteriorated over the previous 20 years. The City proudly restored the complex to its former glory with the help of federal grants.

The Casements Guild was formed in 1979. Today, the Guild members serve as docents and tour guides on the premises. One can feel a strong sense of community ownership and civic pride at The Casements.

Today, The Casements serve the public as the Ormond Beach Cultural Center.

Given its cultural and historical designation, The Casements is much more than just the Rockefeller winter residence. Today, the third floor of the mansion houses two permanent community-sponsored exhibits:

The Boy Scout Historical Exhibit was originally part of an Eagle Scout project created by an Ormond Beach resident, John Slaughter. This is one of the largest Boy Scout exhibits in the southeastern United States!

The exhibit showcases the history of the Boy Scouts. Memorabilia include vintage uniforms, old scouting manuals, achievement patches, Jamboree scarves, and scouting equipment. 

Today, the exhibit is overseen by local Troop 403. Keep up the good work!

Having been involved with the Boy Scouts, Brownies, and Girl Scouts in our younger days, we were quite interested in the history and great artifacts on display.

The Hungarian Folk Exhibit displays a great variety of Hungarian folk art. The collection was curated by the Horvath Family with the support of the Cardinal Mindszenty Foundation.

The exhibit is full of beautifully embroidered, colorful pillows, throws, and costumes. Many of the artifacts were actually hand-stitched by Mrs. Horvath.

The ornate traditional costumes on display represent the historic districts in Hungary. Again, these costumes were all hand-stitched!

The Casements has a very active cultural mission today and generous hours.

Summer Hours:

Guided and Self-Guided Tours in the Summer:

The Casements offers a wonderful free Summer Concert Series, featuring local musicians. The North Lawn becomes a concert space on these Friday evenings. 

The cultural calendar has a robust schedule with all kinds of offerings, including classes in art, fitness (yoga & pilates), language, and cooking. Free movies on the river are offered to the community at the beginning of each month. 

Special events and wedding can take full advantage of the facilities. The Rockefeller Gardens are the perfect backdrop for these special occasions, and rental prices are very reasonable.

For us, the most fun cultural event was the annual Ormond Beach Original Music and Art Festival. The festival features up-and-coming musicians playing on more than a dozen stages scattered around the sprawling Casements Estate.

The event usually takes place during the last week in September. Don't miss it if you're in the area!

There's so much more, but you get the picture. The Casements is a special place!

Learning about the history of a community is an important part of discovering the true heart of each place we visit. Today, The Casements continues to play a central role in defining the City of Ormaon Beach. In some ways, The Casements is the heart of Ormond Beach!

The Casements now honors this community by bringing the past into the future. The estate is a real jewel for the City of Ormond Beach.

A visit to the Daytona area should include a visit to The Casements!

Now for something completely different!

As we drive the highways between destinations, we are always interested in the unique truck stops and travel centers along the way. 

Each travel center has its own special character. Some travel centers are known for their burgers or fried chicken, some for their showers, and others for clean restrooms.

The major players we encounter across the United States are:

But, there's a new player in town! Buc-ee's!

Buc-ee's started out in Texas back in 1982. They have expanded to several more states over the years:

Buc-ee's is a unique Gas Station-Country Store that makes a lot of people very happy!

Everyone should get to experience a Buc-ee's. The great Buc-ee's Travel Center experience includes a very entertaining Texas BBQ station, and a Texas-sized selection of jerky, fudge, nuts, and souvenirs.

As we toured Florida, quite a few people recommended that we visit the Buc-ee's Travel Center in Daytona. The place was generating a lot of positive buzz!

This peaked our interest, so, of course, it was added to our visit list. There was no way a travel stop could live up to that kind of hype. Or, so we thought!

Our first visit to the Daytona Beach Buc-ee's would turn out to be quite memorable. 

Many had said that the food alone was worth the visit. We arrived just in time for an early lunch ... excited, curious ... and hungry!

Driving up, we were greeted by two massive banks of gasoline pumps--about 120 pumps in all. This dwarfed what we'd see at Pilot Flying J and Love's. We were off to a good start ...

'A few Buc-ee's fun facts before we continue out visit:

'Back to the Daytona Buc-ee's experience ...

The main retail center entrance was lined with rows of BBQ meat smokers. Welcome to BBQ Heaven! They made a definite statement.

Once inside, our senses were immediately overloaded with all kinds of stimuli. We didn't know where to start.

One could sense a genuine excitement across the expanse of this massive store! The smells, the sounds, the ambience, and the sheer number of patrons all combined to generate an energy that was quite a rush.

On one end of the store, there was the usual travel center fare: coffee, soft drinks, snacks, etc, but with one difference. Buc-ee's has its own extensive branded snack line, proudly bearing the Buc-ee beaver motif.

Their Beaver Nuggets in flavors like sea salt caramel, chocolate-dipped, and spicy are apparently quite addictive. Their yogurt-dipped pretzels and chocolate-covered peanuts are also very popular. 

The middle of the store took on a whole different vibe. It was like we'd just arrived at a rodeo!

A touch of folksy theatre filled the air! BBQ Masters and food preparers added to the fun ambience with their own individual shows as they called out the exciting arrival of freshly cooked brisket and pulled pork.

The show was worth an admission charge. Buc-ee's are sometimes referred to as the "Driver's Disney." It was no wonder Buc-ee's has a very loyal following.

As the brisket and pulled pork came off the cooker, the meat preparers, dressed in red shirts, announced the start of the show as they began their chopping and saucing routine.

The theatrics were first-class, and the smells were fantastic! As fast as the meat came off the chopping tables, it was freshly assembled into delicious sandwiches and placed in trays before the customers.

There's no doubt most of the people were focused on the arrival of the fresh meat. The line moved smoothly and quickly, with sandwiches continuously being added to the trays. 

We definitely wanted in! The sandwiches are reasonably priced at $7 - $9. In case of a big appetite, they also have the super-sized XXL brisket sandwich with a huge load of meat ($12).  

As they say, 'That's good eatin'!

As we moved to the other end of the store, it looked very much like a festive department store during the holidays.

All kinds of branded Buc-ee's apparel and souvenirs occupied row upon row as far as one can see: footballs, Christmas ornaments, t-shirts, sweatpants, caps, shot glasses, pajamas, you name it, and they have it in 3-D! 

Back to the food area, we noticed a butcher-like counter filled with every imaginable type of jerky that included a vast variety of meats with uniquely spiced flavors. If you like jerky, this is the biggest selection we've ever seen!

A wall of pre-packaged jerky is also available for a quick grab-and-go if the line is too long and you're in a hurry.

For those sweet tooth cravings, Buc-ee's has a substantial fudge counter with a colorful variety of tempting flavors.

Right next to the refrigerated salads, we found one of our biggest weaknesses--a good old fashioned cheesecake (60 oz/1.7 kg). Had to buy it on the spot! 

Another of Buc-ee's claims to fame is that they have the cleanest travel center restrooms in the United States. A national survey of patrons vetted this notion, and Buc-ee's won!

Had to check it out, and from personal experience, the honor is well deserved. Clean, well stocked, and attractive!

As we left the retail store, it was clear why the store needed so much parking. Most of the patrons were eating their delicious sandwiches in their cars. Those sandwiches were never going to make it home!

The Buc-ee's gasoline prices were the cheapest in the area, and matched the perennial low-cost champion, Sam's Club, which happened to be located right across the street.

One note worth mentioning: When we filled up, we were surprised to discover that they do not provide windshield washing stations like most gas stations. Maybe it's too difficult to maintain the set-up at so many pumps?

Our trip to Buc-ee's was memorable, and it's hard to imagine another travel center that can top it. We're hoping to visit another one along our travels, and may even take a detour to get to it... 

Stay tuned, we'll have updates as this travel center experiment expands!

Reny is the official Hacking the Road travel mascot!

At the end of each Destination Blog, Reny rates the overall experience.

Reny's travel experience scale:

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!