is daytona worth going for a day trip?

[julieannbabe]

i was thinking of going to daytona for a daytrip but i have heard a few negative comments on here about daytona.

i have already been to clearwater - is daytona worth doing for the day?

thanks,

xjx

 

[jtdl]

We went to Daytona for a NASCAR race last February. I didn't really see anything too special about it, but I live on a lake and there are several "beach communities" very similar to Daytona close by - lots of little shops, souveniers, clothing, etc. The beach itself wasn't any different than Clearwater, although at that time of the year it was too cold to swim in the ocean, although we did see dolphins swimming by when we were on the beach. Myself, I wouldn't waste a day to drive there "just to see it". If you were interested in seeing something in particular then maybe, but otherwise I wouldn't bother.

 

[Jason71]

i was thinking of going to daytona for a daytrip but i have heard a few negative comments on here about daytona.

i have already been to clearwater - is daytona worth doing for the day?

thanks,

xjx

I lived in Daytona for 5 years. If you're a NASCAR or Harley Davidson fan, yes. If you think you would get a thrill from actually driving on the beach (right on the sand), yes. Otherwise, probably not. It's fairly run-down (especially the boardwalk), sketchy in some areas, and nowhere near as clean as Clearwater or even Cocoa Beach.

 

[jeff968]

We've visited Daytona a couple of times. It is a "touristy" type of place which is fine with me. Driving on the beach is an interesting experience (cost $5). We walked in the water. the water is not the clear blue green water that you find when you drive another 100 miles south. the race track is interesting if you are into that. You can take a tour if you like. I thought it was an interesting place.

 

[f7prez]

The drive is only about 45 minutes but I would skip Daytona... it's a dump.

Go to Cocoa Beach, just as close but a nicer beach and neighborhood.

 

[party_of_five]

There is a place near Daytona Beach called Ponce de leon inlet. There is a park that you pay to get into, it's where the intracoastal waterway meets the ocean. It's a great place to take little kids because there are very few if any waves. You can also take a tour of a light house for another fee. It was very cool but you have to be able to climb about a million steps. It was hard but so worth it for that view. Then after a day at the park, just down a few streets, is a restaurant called Inlet Harbour restaurant. Eat outside and you eat right on the Intracoastal waterway. People dock their boats there and come in to eat. This is definetly one of our favorite places to visit. It is perfect for a day trip.

http://www.ponceinlet.org/

http://www.inletharbor.com/restaurant.html

 

[Teacher03]

I agree...Daytona Beach is a dump. A friend of a friend had a condo last year, relatively cheap, so we went last year for a week after Disney. Never again. It was really run down. A employee of the condo told us after the last bad hurricane season, everyone is just ready to give up and nothing was built back up. The beach is nothing special....just my opinion.

 

[josh0208]

I also would say it's a dump. We went there for a day trip in October and I was shocked. I guess I built it up to be more than it was.

I would highly recommend taking a day trip to Clearwater Beach. That is definetly work the drive. We've done it twice and loved it both times. We took a dolphin excursion which was fantastic. Saw tons of dolphins. Very nice. Plan on doing that again when we go in 2007 for our family reunion.

 

[vellamint]

Oh.....I am so sad....I remember taking my oldest son in 1988 to Daytona Beach and we had a good time what with driving the car right up and all!!!

So since I was planning on a trip there this summer which other beach would be better....Cocoa Beach or Clearwater? Kids are 12 through 15.

Thanks!!

 

[Banshee]

If you know NJ at all and a little town called Seaside heights Daytona is a bigger version of that not that great and dumpy.

 

[Banshee]

oops sorry you are from London you probably dont know Seaside Heights!

 

[jdm]

Oh, this is all bad news. I have 4 nights in Ocean Walk on the beach in Daytona for next month. We have never been, and we are taking our DD and DN who are 13 & 15. I thought it would be fun for them. Ocean Walk looks like a gorgeous resort. I guess we could just hang there......

Does anyone have any positive input on Daytona (just to make myself feel better )

Also, one of the above posts said the beach was the same as Clearwater. I thought they were completely different. The roaring Atlantic as opposed to the calm, beautiful Gulf coast. Can someone weigh in?

Thanks
Jenn

 

[sheepygirl23]

we went to daytona and stayed in a relatives house with some cousins for a week and it was nothing to look at. Its nothing special, I definatly wouldnt waste a day driving to Daytona, there isnt much to do or see.

 

[julieannbabe]

thanks guys - i really appreciate your input.

maybe i won't go there then.

back to the drawing board!

xjx

 

[littleshamrock]

Bike week is fun....but not so much for the little ones (my DS3 LOVES bikes, and he enjoyed seeing them all). If you ever want to take a kid though, make sure you go during the day!! LOL!!

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Oh, this is all bad news. I have 4 nights in Ocean Walk on the beach in Daytona for next month. We have never been, and we are taking our DD and DN who are 13 & 15. I thought it would be fun for them. Ocean Walk looks like a gorgeous resort. I guess we could just hang there......

Does anyone have any positive input on Daytona (just to make myself feel better )

Also, one of the above posts said the beach was the same as Clearwater. I thought they were completely different. The roaring Atlantic as opposed to the calm, beautiful Gulf coast. Can someone weigh in?

Thanks
Jenn

For me having been to both Daytona and Clearwater there is no comparison.

CW is miles better, the sea is bluer and cleaner, the beach wider and cleaner.

It's just no contest.

 

[DukeStreetKing]

I worked in Daytona for 10 years and now I live just a few miles north of Clearwater Beach. If it wasn't for Spring Break, Bike Weeks and Race Weeks, Daytona would dry up and blow away. You would be better off coming over to Clearwater Beach. The sand on the Atlantic Ocean coast is gritty and made up mostly of crushed Coquina shells which are rough on the skin. Gulf Coast beaches have beautiful white, powdery sand and the water is a wonderful blue/green color.

Another option for you would be St. Augustine. It's about a half hour north of Daytona with so much more to see, historically speaking.

 

[jdm]

Its too late for me to cancel now, as I booked this months ago through our timeshare and because it's Spring break time, I'd be hard pressed to find good beach accommodations elsewhere in the area, I think. We're are doing lots of fun stuff this trip, 3 days in the Keys, then up to Daytona for 4 days and then a week in Orlando. I read reviews on trip advisor which were really positive about the resort so I'm feeling better in that, it seems there will be plenty for the girls to do there. Evidently it is connected to a huge entertainment / shopping complex. So, I guess I'll go with an open mind. We've never been to the Daytona area so we'll be able to say, been there done that!

Jenn

 

[mainewmn]

how far is Clearwater Beach from Daytona? DH wants to go to a race next year and if Dayona is so bad I may just opt to say alsewhere.

 

[DukeStreetKing]

You should figure about 2 hours, maybe a tad more, travel from Daytona to Clearwater and that is without too much traffic. Race day traffic is not fun. You could easily sit in the parking lots after the race for a couple of hours even though the town does a great job with the traffic flow.