A Day (And Night) In Daytona Beach

Shores Resort firepit

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Even for my wife Brandy, who grew up an hour from the packed sand where bootleggers used to race their souped-up Mercuries, Daytona Beach was largely unfamiliar territory. We both knew about Bike Week, Daytona International Speedway, and other local touchstones of vroom-vroom culture, but that was about it. So naturally, we were expecting Daytona Beach to be a deluge of checkered flag motifs, the never-ending stutter of chopper exhaust serving as the soundtrack. It only took a night (and a day) at The Shores Resort & Spa to change our minds. From A1A, The Shores appears to be just another sun-bleached mid-rise tower wedged between other sun-bleached mid-rise towers. But that stereotype ends in the lobby, a masculine space marked by dark wood, a quiet fountain and a smartly-dressed staff. Our cheerful room overlooked the Atlantic, the khaki-colored sand and a long row of Jeep Wranglers, Audis and pick-up trucks (the ol' driving on the beach tradition endures). The view from the balcony kept our two kiddies interested until they saw the s'mores kit (which we put to good use at the poolside firepit). If the beach, heated pool and tiki bar (try the Bird of Paradise) aren't enough distraction, take a ride over to Beach Street, where bike shops like Red Ember Cycles put shiny custom bikes in the windows like a bakery displayed sugar-dusted confections. Should you need a good excuse to hit Daytona in the coming months, check out the American Music Festival, a series of summer concerts held at the Daytona Beach Band Shell.

Tags: Daytona Beach | family | hotel