Daytona Beach Guide And Information

Daytona Beach is Without question, Daytona Beach is not just a city in Volusia County, Florida, but is also one of the best-known beach areas in the United States and probably in the world.  The Daytona Beach area consists, not just of the waterfront, but also of the surrounding city, tourist attractions, Daytona Beach Shores, Port Orange, Holly Hill, Ponce Inlet, Ormond Beach, South Daytona, as well as several unincorporated parts of East Volusia County.

Daytona Beach is not only noted for its beaches, but also for being the Capital City of NASCAR--the city where the famed Daytona 500 is held.  Still, the biggest attraction is its 23 miles of sandy white beach.  more than 8 million visitors head to that area every , particularly during the warm months.  A huge chunk of this visitor population comes during college spring break time.  However, more and more, Daytona Beach is becoming known as a family-friendly resort destination.  Also gaining in popularity are historical attractions such as the Oceanfront Boardwalk, Main Street Pier, the famous Clock Tower at Oceanfront Park, and others.

Strangely, Daytona Beach has not always been known as the tranquil paradise it is today.  In fact, it was once more known for war and disease, being pockmarked by the Timucuan Indians' fortified villages.  Later, though, the United States bought Florida from Spain, and after the Civil War, the entire state started experiencing a boom in tourism--and Daytona Beach was one of the more attractive tourist spots.

Without question, if you visit Daytona, you'll want to spend much time there at the ocean-front, enjoying the beach's smooth, compact sand.  But when you want to experience something else, one of the major attractions is, of course, the Daytona International Speedway (home of the aforementioned Daytona 500.  Some other attractions to see at Daytona Beach:

• The Halifax Historical Museum highlights Daytona Beach's history and features hundreds of exhibits on influential people and local lifestyle.  It's located at 252 S. Beach Street.

• The Museum of Arts & Sciences hosts many traveling exhibits and also has galleries that feature fossils, a planetarium, and programs for every age group and interest.  You'll find it at 352 S. Nova Road.

• The Southeast Museum of Photography has a wide array of -- yes -- photographs, and is found at the Daytona Beach Community College.

• Sun Splash Park has an interactive water fountain that the whole family will enjoy, as well as decorative walkways, volleyball courts, shaded playgrounds, picnic areas, outdoor showers, and more.  You can find it at 611 S. Atlantic Avenue.

• For those who want to practice their shooting skills, Robert Strickland Shooting Range has been established on National Rifle Association Standards.  It's found at 1180 Indian Lake Rd.

• Without question, the best shopping experience is at Volusia Mall, found at 1700 W. International Speedway Boulevard.  It has more than a million square feet of stores, with anchors such as JC Penney, Sears, Macy's Dillards, plus 160 other stores, and a huge food court.

There's lots more to be done at Daytona Beach, but these attractions will get you started exploring.