The Daytona Beach area is known for its 23 miles of pristine white sand beaches, attractions, shopping, restaurants and microbreweries, arts and culture, and trails and green spaces. But there are some interesting tidbits behind all that vacation fun in Daytona Beach. Here are 10 fast facts about the Daytona Beach area that you should know as you plan your next vacation to this beach-rich destination:
1. Cities in the Daytona Beach area
Eight different cities make up the Daytona Beach area: Ormond-By-The-Sea, Ormond Beach, Daytona Beach, Daytona Beach Shores, South Daytona, Ponce Inlet, Wilbur By The Sea, and Holly Hill.
2. Ponce Inlet Lighthouse
The Daytona Beach area is home to the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse, the tallest lighthouse in the state of Florida and the third tallest in the United States. At 175 feet and 203 steps, the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse is a National Historic Landmark and provides a breathtaking view of the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean. The pristine lighthouse museum grounds also offer a rare glimpse into the lives of former lighthouse keepers.
3. Prototype of the Coca-Cola bottle
Did you know the Smithsonian-affiliated Museum of Arts & Sciences in Daytona Beach is home to the Root Family Collection of Coca-Cola memorabilia that offers a fascinating glimpse into the development of this iconic brand. Included in the display is one of only two prototypes of the world-famous Coca-Cola bottle.
4. Daytona International Speedway and NASCAR
Daytona International Speedway is one of the most famous race tracks in the world and was built by Bill France Sr. in the late 1950s. Today, it’s home to the biggest, richest, and most prestigious stock car race – the NASCAR Cup Series season-opening DAYTONA 500. Speaking of NASCAR, the stock car sanctioning body was founded right here in Daytona Beach back in 1948 at the Streamline Hotel, which is open for accommodations and home to two restaurants.
5. Speed on the beach
Before there was racing at Daytona International Speedway, cars got their start on the beaches of the Daytona Beach area. In the early 1900s, Ormond Beach, located just north of Daytona Beach, earned its nickname “The Birthplace of Speed” as that area was the site of Land Speed Records set by legends such as Sir Malcolm Campbell, Sir Henry Segrave, Barney Oldfield, and Frank Lockhart. In 1936, the chasing of Land Speed Records morphed into a new type of competition with stock car and motorcycle racing on the Daytona Beach Road Course located in what is today Ponce Inlet.
6. Hard-packed Sand of Daytona Beach
The beaches of the Daytona Beach area, known as the “World’s Most Famous Beach,” are one of the few in the United States that permit vehicles to drive on the beach. With its wide, hard-packed sands, Daytona Beach has more than 11 miles of expansive oceanfront providing convenient vehicle access.
7. Bethune-Cookman University
Bethune-Cookman University is located in Midtown Daytona Beach and was founded by civil rights leader, and educator Mary McLeod Bethune, the only woman widely recognized as a founder of a still-existing Historically Black College and University. Dr. Bethune’s home and gravesite, a National Historic Landmark, is located on the scenic grounds of the university.
8. Jackie Robinson Ballpark
Jackie Robinson played in the first integrated Major League Baseball spring training game at City Island Ballpark in Daytona Beach back in 1946 for the Montreal Royals. Later renamed Jackie Robinson Ballpark, the facility is now the oldest minor league baseball park and home to the Daytona Tortugas, a Cincinnati Reds-affiliated minor league team.
9. Brownie The Town Dog
Daytona Beach once had a town dog, so special that a memorial was created for visitors and residents alike. Brownie is Daytona Beach’s most famous four-legged friend. This stray dog was “owned by no one, loved by all” and was collectively adopted by the city's residents from 1939 until his death in 1954. His grave and memorial are located at the Riverfront Esplanade in downtown Daytona Beach.
10. Daytona Beach Bandshell
The Daytona Beach Bandshell is a 5,000-seat oceanfront amphitheater built of coquina in 1937. Located near another historic spot, the Main Street Pier, the Bandshell serves up breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean and is home to the popular summer tribute concerts and other events throughout the year.
Dive into the rich history of the Daytona Beach area on your next vacation. Check out all the great accommodations available in the area now, and start planning your amazing beach getaway today! We’ll be looking forward to seeing you in Daytona Beach soon!
