Listen for the thunderous roar of a racecar engine, the 

thunderous roar of thousands of motorcycles or the thunderous

 roar of numerous college students on Spring Break.  If you 

hear any or all of the above, you are probably in Daytona Beach, Florida!

 Daytona Beach is located on the Atlantic coast in central 

eastern Florida, only an hour away from busting Orlando. The

 waters of the Halifax River cut through the middle of the city,

 running north to south and separating the beaches from the 

downtown area.

 Daytona has been a mainstay of vacationers for over 100

 years. It received its recognition as the "birthplace of speed" 

from the various land speed records set in neighboring Ormond 

Beach in the 1940’s.

 In the 1950’s, and still continuing today, young people from

 around the country come from the nation’s colleges and 

universities to enjoy their Spring Break. Motorsports gained

 new ground in 1959 with the opening of the Daytona Beach

 International Speedway, which continues to satisfy hundreds 

of thousands of speed-loving racing fans each year.

 Naturally, the Daytona International Speedway is a must see 

during your visit whether it is a race day or not.  You can enjoy

 NASCAR, IROC, AMA, sports car, and other racing throughout the year.  Located right next door is Daytona USA, a one-of-a-kind interactive 

motor sports attraction featuring hands-on activities designed

 to appeal to everyone.

 The Jackie Robinson Ballpark is an active Class A affiliate park

 that remains much the same as it was on March 17, 1946 

when Jackie Robinson played in the first integrated Major 

League Baseball spring training game.

 A unique “spooky” adventure is to take the Daytona Ghost 

Walk.  It’s an entertaining journey blending history, scientific

 data and haunting tales as you walk the streets of the city.

 Bikeweek and Spring Break take place in March and at that 

time Daytona hopes for great crowds, great weather and great

 fun.  Daytona is known for its beach and for its true hospitality.  With moderate temperatures year round, there is always some sight to see, 

some event to attend, and some attraction to experience.  

Racing fans can hear the thunder of the engines at many times during the year, but February is the peak time, culminating with the Daytona 500.

 Main Street Pier and nearby Ocean Walk Village are the focal

 points of beach activities—concessions, arcades, water-sports

 equipment rentals, restaurants and shops are all within walking

 distance. You can even fish from the pier. New to the 

beach-front scene is Ocean Walk Village, fresh from a $250 

million renovation. This Oceanside district, rich in history, is

 leading a major revitalization effort. Beneath the multicolored

 beams, you’ll find shops, movie theaters with stadium seating,

 and restaurants.

 As you stroll down the Daytona Beach Boardwalk, you’ll notice

 that the granite blocks paving the walkway recount historic 

racing events. Most of those races were held on the beach

 before the International Speedway was built in 1959.

 There is still an opportunity to actually drive your car on the 

hard-packed sands of the beach in certain areas. The silica is 

so hard-packed that vehicles are permitted as long as they

 keep their cruising speed below 10 mph. What a great story to

 tell your friends when you return home.  Of course, any time of

 the year is great for working on your tan.  The beaches are free

, and the water temperature is always refreshing.

 When you tire of the surf and sand, there are plenty of local 

haunts where you can eat, party and shop in the Daytona area. 

 No matter what time of year you visit, Daytona will welcome

 you.

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 Main Street Pier, Ocean Walk 

Village and the Oceanfront Boardwalk.

 The south end extends from Daytona Beach Shores, along 5.5

miles of sandy beaches, to the fishing village of Ponce Inlet, 

home of the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse and the Marine Science

 Center.

On the north end you’ll encounter Ormond Beach and 

Ormond-by-the-Sea, quaint beach communities offering a

 quieter experience (no beach driving). 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 heading 

south on Interstate 95.

Daytona Beach is only a short drive from many of Florida’s 

best known theme parks and attractions.  Disney World, Sea

 World and Universal Studios are only an hour west and 

Kennedy Space Center an hour to the south.  If you have the

 time, they are worth the trip.

 With so much to see and do, Daytona offers its visitors a host

 of opportunities and unique experiences.  Combining beautiful

 weather, great attractions, world class events, with great food and great entertainment, it’s a Florida city you won’t want to miss.