Canadave
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Oct 25, 1999
- Messages
- 891
The CAST: DD1 (Brittany, 15 yrs. old), DD2 (Emily, 11 yrs. old), DW (Marylynn, let's just say early 40's) and myself (Dave,same)
Wednesday Jan. 28/04
We had an extra "weather" day built into our plans, so we decided to hit Daytona Beach before enjoying WDW. Although DW would have rather spent the extra day around Disney, one of my goals in life was to watch the sun rise over the Atlantic...I also thought it would be a cool thing for the girls...you know, touching your toe into the Atlantic Ocean, after all, this was the first ocean visit for both DDs.
Had a nice continental breakfast at the hotel and were on the road by 9. It's not long before we hit the Florida Welcome Center. It's amazing how such a small cup of fresh orange juice can make your day. Just gets you in the "Florida" mood Grabbed some hotel discount books and brochures and headed back onto the I75. We exited east onto the I10. On the way down the highway, we saw a prison work gang clearing out some brush on the side of the road. Not something you see in Canada. It was a catalyst for a good discussion with our DD's....always learning! We eventually caught the I295 around Jacksonville and then went south on I95.
At one time, we were thinking about crossing Georgia to Savannah (DW just loves old houses, ie Casa Loma, ParkView Estates), but we will do another trip there and spend a few days. But a compromise was to check out the Casements at Ormond Beach in Daytona. It was the summer 'home' for the Rockefellers many years ago. The brochures were very misleading. What a disappointment. It was kind of neat, but it had been turned into a town hall building and there was very little of the original inside, both architecturally and furnishings. There was supposed to be a tour that day, but no one was there to show us around. On the positive side, the outside grounds were very nice, on the Halifax River...so we had a picnic lunch by the water. Note - Our first trip to WDW, we rented a fridge in our room (to have our own breakfasts and snacks in the evening) $$$$$$$. So for our last trip, we purchased an electric cooler that plugs into the car and an adapter to plug into a regular socket. We used it to keep drinks, lunch and snacks (ie yogurt) cold for our trip and used it for our fridge in the hotel in WDW. Works great. Remember to take it into hotels while travelling (don't want to drain car battery) and as we found out this trip, you have to give it a few hours turned off every few days (otherwise you get a build up of ice on the cooling unit). Being electric, it saves having to buy ice and then having the ice melt and get all your food wet...experience speaking here
We arrived on the main drag of Daytona Beach...I had no idea how long it really was. We checked out a few of the ocean facing resorts...VERY 'touristy', too touristy. It was the week before the tourist season started, so things were quiet. We finally decided on the Desert Inn, on Daytona Beach. I wasn't too impressed...everything looked so contrived, but the girls loved the place...had a pool for DD2 and a free internet cafe for DD1 (although half of the computers didn't work). We were on the 5th floor and it had a great straight-on view of the ocean, so it was a done deal.
Next, we decided to drive on the beach...very cool...in both senses of the word. It was in the 60's, but was sunny...and very windy. We parked the car and rolled up our pant cuffs and into the frigid water we went...certainly a highlight of our trip...watching the DD's splash around and look for shells...even teenage DD was a kid again .
After our beach play, we cruised the strip. Found a liquor store for the adults (the alcohol business in the States is sooooo different than here in Canada ) Gotta like those prices. Anyway, DD1 had to buy some clothes, so off to the nearest, and biggest t-shirt store. While DD was getting her shopping fix, I think I caught some of that bug...there were two really cool shirts to choose from...1. black with flames...announcing Biker's Week. and 2. blue with an orange car on the back....announcing the Daytona 500....both were soooo neat, but being a businessman in a small town, I opted for the racing shirt...I know, I know...boring...... Anyway, DW and DD2 bought a few souvenirs, DD1 had her clothes, and I had my T-shirt...so back to the hotel to change and onto dinner.
We had dinner at Crabby Joes, on one of the piers...very neat place, very casual. We tried the conch fritters (gotta try new things, right)...they were 'just' OK....and we had some other seafoody things (DD's had chicken, of course)...overall, pretty good food, good prices, fun atmosphere (would have been better right at sunset), and average service.
Back to the hotel. DD2 went for a swim in the pool while DW rested and DD1 and I checked out the internet...DD1 had to check in with her friends on MSN while I checked out the latest on, what else, the DIS forums. Made some further arrangements for a mini DIS meet at the PC (more on that later).
We had a great day, but it was time to get some rest, because tomorrow, we were on to DISNEY WORLD!!!!
Wednesday Jan. 28/04
We had an extra "weather" day built into our plans, so we decided to hit Daytona Beach before enjoying WDW. Although DW would have rather spent the extra day around Disney, one of my goals in life was to watch the sun rise over the Atlantic...I also thought it would be a cool thing for the girls...you know, touching your toe into the Atlantic Ocean, after all, this was the first ocean visit for both DDs.
Had a nice continental breakfast at the hotel and were on the road by 9. It's not long before we hit the Florida Welcome Center. It's amazing how such a small cup of fresh orange juice can make your day. Just gets you in the "Florida" mood Grabbed some hotel discount books and brochures and headed back onto the I75. We exited east onto the I10. On the way down the highway, we saw a prison work gang clearing out some brush on the side of the road. Not something you see in Canada. It was a catalyst for a good discussion with our DD's....always learning! We eventually caught the I295 around Jacksonville and then went south on I95.
At one time, we were thinking about crossing Georgia to Savannah (DW just loves old houses, ie Casa Loma, ParkView Estates), but we will do another trip there and spend a few days. But a compromise was to check out the Casements at Ormond Beach in Daytona. It was the summer 'home' for the Rockefellers many years ago. The brochures were very misleading. What a disappointment. It was kind of neat, but it had been turned into a town hall building and there was very little of the original inside, both architecturally and furnishings. There was supposed to be a tour that day, but no one was there to show us around. On the positive side, the outside grounds were very nice, on the Halifax River...so we had a picnic lunch by the water. Note - Our first trip to WDW, we rented a fridge in our room (to have our own breakfasts and snacks in the evening) $$$$$$$. So for our last trip, we purchased an electric cooler that plugs into the car and an adapter to plug into a regular socket. We used it to keep drinks, lunch and snacks (ie yogurt) cold for our trip and used it for our fridge in the hotel in WDW. Works great. Remember to take it into hotels while travelling (don't want to drain car battery) and as we found out this trip, you have to give it a few hours turned off every few days (otherwise you get a build up of ice on the cooling unit). Being electric, it saves having to buy ice and then having the ice melt and get all your food wet...experience speaking here
We arrived on the main drag of Daytona Beach...I had no idea how long it really was. We checked out a few of the ocean facing resorts...VERY 'touristy', too touristy. It was the week before the tourist season started, so things were quiet. We finally decided on the Desert Inn, on Daytona Beach. I wasn't too impressed...everything looked so contrived, but the girls loved the place...had a pool for DD2 and a free internet cafe for DD1 (although half of the computers didn't work). We were on the 5th floor and it had a great straight-on view of the ocean, so it was a done deal.
Next, we decided to drive on the beach...very cool...in both senses of the word. It was in the 60's, but was sunny...and very windy. We parked the car and rolled up our pant cuffs and into the frigid water we went...certainly a highlight of our trip...watching the DD's splash around and look for shells...even teenage DD was a kid again .
After our beach play, we cruised the strip. Found a liquor store for the adults (the alcohol business in the States is sooooo different than here in Canada ) Gotta like those prices. Anyway, DD1 had to buy some clothes, so off to the nearest, and biggest t-shirt store. While DD was getting her shopping fix, I think I caught some of that bug...there were two really cool shirts to choose from...1. black with flames...announcing Biker's Week. and 2. blue with an orange car on the back....announcing the Daytona 500....both were soooo neat, but being a businessman in a small town, I opted for the racing shirt...I know, I know...boring...... Anyway, DW and DD2 bought a few souvenirs, DD1 had her clothes, and I had my T-shirt...so back to the hotel to change and onto dinner.
We had dinner at Crabby Joes, on one of the piers...very neat place, very casual. We tried the conch fritters (gotta try new things, right)...they were 'just' OK....and we had some other seafoody things (DD's had chicken, of course)...overall, pretty good food, good prices, fun atmosphere (would have been better right at sunset), and average service.
Back to the hotel. DD2 went for a swim in the pool while DW rested and DD1 and I checked out the internet...DD1 had to check in with her friends on MSN while I checked out the latest on, what else, the DIS forums. Made some further arrangements for a mini DIS meet at the PC (more on that later).
We had a great day, but it was time to get some rest, because tomorrow, we were on to DISNEY WORLD!!!!
