Daytona Beach

Daytona Beach is a Florida getaway that does notIt is also a museum with plaques and photos
put on airs and graces. It is a place where you candocumenting the life of Jackie Robinson. It explains
relax and enjoy yourself at your own speed. It is alsoRobinson's childhood, how he excelled in many sports
a place where you can enjoy the finest beaches,in college, and the humiliating experiences he faced as
world-class sports attractions, excellent museums,the man who broke the colour barrier in major league
and first-class restaurants.baseball. It also lists many of his accomplishments
The beach itself is world famous. As soon as you putsuch as playing in six world series and being voted
on your swimsuit and step on the white sand, youMVP in 1949 in the National League. But the one that
will be in a different world. Everything seems so calm.tells it all, was that after Robinson's retirement from
The beach is super wide, so wide and flat that carsbaseball, his "number 42" was also retired by every
and trucks ride on it. Many years ago cars actuallymajor league baseball team. It's a real pleasure to
raced on it. The ocean is unbelievably calm and veryvisit this historical ballpark and watch the Daytona
shallow when you go in and so you do not have toBeach Cubs play. Tickets are only $5.
fight the waves.Another fun way to see Daytona Beach is by an
There are 23 miles of beautiful beaches in theamphibious adventure on a trolleyboat. It leaves daily
Daytona Beach area. As you look down the beach infrom the Ocean Walk Shoppes and takes you on a
either direction, it appears that all of the waves aredrive through historic Daytona Beach. It then enters
breaking in unison. This symmetry is intriguing. Thethe Halifax River where you are given a narrated
waves breaking slowly over and over create atour of the history and wildlife of the area with great
calming, relaxing effect. However, for those who toviews of the riverfront mansions. The trolleyboat
like to surf there are beaches where the waves arethen leaves the river and drives you back to the
high and strong.Ocean Walk Shoppes.
There is also a boardwalk on the beach with someAt the Ocean Walk Shoppes there is lots to do.
exciting rides. You could spend everyday of yourThere is a new Bandshell featuring concerts with an
vacation on the beach and many visitors do.ocean view and a beachside theatre showing ten
However, there is so much more to do and see inmovies. There is also a delightful Bubba Gump Shrimp
Daytona Beach.Co. Restaurant for some casual fun, good food,
The Daytona International Speedway is a must seebased on the Forrest Gump movie with plenty of
on your visit to Daytona Beach. The Daytona 500Forrest's favorite fixins. A visit to the Museum of
race is the most watched motor sports event in theArts and Sciences is a wonderful way to spend some
world when attendance at the track and televisionrelaxing and interesting hours in Daytona Beach. All six
viewing are combined. Estimated attendance for thepermanent collections are excellent. The Centre for
Daytona 500 is 200,000 and more than 29 millionFlorida History collection tells the story of Florida's
watch it on television.historical and cultural development from prehistory to
There are tours of the Speedway, but that is only athe present complete with interactive features. It
small part of it. Located at the Speedway iscentres around a 13 foot tall skeleton of a Giant
DAYTONA USA. This is an interactive motor sportsGround Sloth which was excavated in 1975 in a fossil
themed attraction. This is an interesting and excitingsite called the Daytona Bone Bed. This huge
entertainment experience for hard core race fansvegetarian could have weighed three to five tons
and also for casual observers. It offers lots of funand eaten a daily ration of 300 pounds of plants
for the whole family. In addition to the thrillingabundant in the area.
interactive features, there are historical exhibits suchThe Cuban Museum collection is the largest Cuban
as the Goodyear Heritage of Daytona history walk.Museum in the world outside of Cuba. It contains rare
A good place to start your visit to DAYTONA USA is18th, 19th, and early 20th century maps, documents,
by taking a 30 minute guided tour of the Speedway.lithographs, paintings, furniture, sculpture, and
The tour takes guests on an open-air tram throughceramics arranged chronologically. Rare photographs
the Speedway's garage area. The tour is narratedhelp establish a sense of time and place. The Root
and you see Pit Road, Victory Lane and thefamily's collection is not only interesting, but it also
world-famous 31 degree high banks where cars racebrings back a lot of memories. This is an astounding
at over 200 miles per hour.display of more than 800 Teddy Bears, ranging from
There are two new motion simulator rides atseven feet tall to only a few inches in height. Each
DAYTONA USA. These are "Daytona Dream Laps"Teddy Bear represents a different time period or
and "Acceleration Alley". "Daytona Dream Laps" is atheme, and portrays everyday scenes such as a
ride that seats 32 guests for a full range motion"Teddy Bear Wedding", complete with bridesmaids,
experience racing at the high banks of thegrooms, and a minister.
Speedway. On the "Acceleration Alley" ride you hopThe Root family has also amassed one of the most
inside a racecar, buckle up and take a simulated ridehistorically important anthologies of the American soft
at high speeds that combines motion, video, anddrink, Coca-Cola, on which their family fortune was
sound. Other activities include going over the wall atfounded. The collection includes just about every
Ford's 16 second pit stop challenge to test your skillsconceivable item relating to bottling, advertising, and
in a live pit stop.consumption of Coca-Cola. The Root's collection also
One of the most popular attractions is the Daytonaincludes an impressive array of decorative arts, china,
500 movie, a large-screen format film presented on asilverware, and glasses collected from 85 of the
screen 55 feet wide and almost three stories tall innation's railroads, hotels, and restaurants. Two actual
the Pepsi Theatre. You see the movie in the realismrailroad cars are also displayed in this permanent
of 3D, and with the accompanying sounds you feelcollection.
as though you are behind the wheel of one of theThere are still lots of other fun things to do in
racing cars.Daytona Beach. You can spend an hour or two at
Tickets for DAYTONA USA including the Speedwaythe Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse, and climb to the
tour are around $20 for adults, $17 for seniors andtop if you wish. It is the tallest lighthouse in Florida.
$14 for children 6-12.Not far from the lighthouse is the Inlet Harbor Marina
If you want the real thing, for an additional charge ofand Restaurant. The seafood is fabulous. There is a
about $130 you can first don a racing outfit includinglot of freshly caught fish on the menu. It is a nice
helmet. Then climb through the window of a racingplace for lunch or dinner (they have sunset specials if
car on the Speedway track, strap yourself in, andseated by 6 p.m.) with a lovely waterfront view. You
ride next to a race driver at high speeds around thecan dine inside or on the riverfront outdoor deck. It is
track. Whether or not you are a baseball fan, thecasual dining. A live band playing on the outdoor deck
Jackie Robinson Ballpark is an interesting place to visitadded to the festive Caribbean like setting.
in Daytona Beach. This is where baseball legendGreyhound racing is also another exciting attraction in
Jackie Robinson played in the first integrated baseballthe area. They race at the Daytona Beach Kennel
game. The ballpark was built in 1908, seats 3800 fans,Club. Children are welcome with a parent or guardian.
and is the Class A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs.