Changing tastes at World’s Most Famous Beach

In the past, this time of year brought the spring breakers to head for “The World’s Most Famous Beach.” That changed as other destinations lured the younger set and most visitors today to Daytona Beach might be more inclined to seek more adult activities.
 

Daytona Beach’s 23 miles of extra wide shoreline that has sand firm enough to permit driving along many areas remains a lure.
 

“Daytona may be known as the ‘Birthplace of Speed,’ but today the city beats with intensity for thrill-seeking fanatics, adventure junkies, bikers, sun worshippers as well as race car enthusiasts,” says FoxNews.com.
 

Every year around this time, NASCAR fans flock to the Daytona Beach International Speedway for the 57th annual Daytona 500, which is the sport’s “biggest, richest and most prestigious race.”

That’s fitting perhaps because auto and motorcycle racing began on the Atlantic shores of Daytona’s hard-packed sandy beaches.
 

The Daytona Beach Road Course was the site of fifteen world land-speed records. In 1959, the Speedway was constructed allowing cars to move to the safer asphalt surface, made famous by the call “Gentleman, start your engines.”
 

Encompassing 180 acres and including a 29-acre lake, the speedway attracts about 250,000 spectators — their masses divided between the 165,000-seat grandstand and the infield track.

On non-racing days the track offers three separate open-air tram tours through the grounds enabling a driver’s point of view of the steeply-banked course, reports FoxNews
 

Drivers who want to see how they do in a real race car find they do it here. The Richard Petty Driving Experience allows licensed drivers to try their skills on a 2.5 mile course in a real NASCAR that roars with 600 horsepower. For those wanting a slightly tamer ride, choose the Ride-Along option and sit shotgun while the expert racer makes a 3-lap run.
 

The price to drive: US$595.
 

In March, leather and chains are hip as the world-famous “Bike Week” rolls into town. It’s an old cliché but visitors find not all bikers wear chains, boast tattoos and are generally hostile to “citizens.”
 

Visitors find a packed place to see the action is the Boot Hill Saloon on Main Street (facing a real cemetery). There are various races, supercross and dirt track competitions for the two-week run of the event. Visitors can also rent “choppers.”
 

For something a little tamer, there’s a 22-mile Bike Week Loop.
 

Less than an hour’s drive by motorcycle, visitors can get a real adrenaline rush by checking into Skydive Deland, a world-class skydive training center. Ground and safety instruction includes reassures that this is going turn out fine.
 

Divers jump out of planes at altitudes of about two miles, then free-fall at speeds of 120 miles before their parachutes (presumably) open safely.
 

If that’s not to your taste, you can always stick to the beach.
 

A suggestion: the lack of shells means a smooth beach here that is perfectly suited to beach volleyball. Stop for a visit to the historic pier and boardwalk where there’s various games including an old-fashioned Ferris wheel and a band shell, circa 1937.
 

By David Wilkening