Daytona Beach Vacation Rentals

Daytona Beach, birthplace of Nascar , stretches about 15 miles North along the Atlantic Ocean from Ponce Inlet's Lighthouse where the ocean meets the Halifax River, Intracoastal Waterway, also known as the I.C.W. The powdery sand beaches attract millions to its shores each year. Daytona is split between the beachside peninsula and the mainland on the other side of the I.C.W. There are six bridges connecting the two. Four of the bridges are located in the middle in the City of Daytona Beach, the other two are north & south of the downtown area in Ormond & Port Orange, respectively. On both sides you will find many scenic riverfront restaurants, reasonably priced, too!
Water sports and barefootin' on the beach are some of the main attractions with charter fishing, (both deep sea & backwater), jet ski rentals, kayaking, parasailing available. Public boat ramps are plentiful with access to the river and ocean. Also, there are 3 ocean piers and a marvelous jetty by Lighthouse Park and Museum. One of the last original operational lighthouses on the East Coast, if you can endure the climb to the top you will always remember the vista , if you can’t, well then the gift shop and other exhibits are worth the trip. Watching the surfers is always fun.
Of course, there is a Nascar Museum, and there is a great rainy day Museum of Arts and Science including a planetarium.
To name a few of the many historic sites: The Casements on the Halifax River, former summer residence of John D Rockefeller, The Historic Coquina Band Shell on the beach & the Old Downtown deco-style Beach Street shopping district featuring many antique dealers, eateries and taverns.
Daytona offers numerous venues for entertainment, notably, The Ocean Center, News Journal Performing Arts Center and The Peabody. There is plenty nightlife to be found on Main St and Seabreeze Blvd and the local's favorite: The Ocean Deck on the ocean, all in the downtown beachside corridor.
Daytona Beach has long been a Mecca for motorcyclists with Bike week and Biketoberfest being part of the cycle of life - no pun intended.
Day trip destinations include Marineland, which is half way to St Augustine about 75 minutes up A1A from Daytona; Cape Canaveral Seashores to NASA; The Springs including Blue Springs and DeLeon Springs, (known as The Fountain of Youth!) — see the manatees there in the winter or just go swimming in the springs. The springs are always 72 degrees so swimming there is possible even when air temperature is cold, canoeing there is popular, too.
Many Daytona visitors run up I-4 to the theme parks but if your time is short we suggest just 'coolin' your heels and soak up the relaxing atmosphere Daytona has to offer. Daytona Beach still has small town flavor. Traffic is an unusual occurrence. People are very tourist friendly. Every time you cross one of the bridges you will savor the local scenery. Convenient, affordable and chock full of nature’s beauty. If you take the time to watch the river you will probably see dolphins and maybe a manatee & sea turtle.
Just a short trip down the coast will put you at Daytona Beach Shores, where there's some great short term rental Condominiums. Or head up the beach for a self-catering holiday home in Ormond Beach.
Most folks that move here permanently met Daytona on vacation!
Text and pictures courtesy of Daytona Beach Realtor Judi Gentile - 30 year resident