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Daytona Beach, FL
About the Area
Beachside & Mainland
North - Ormond-by-the-Sea and
Ormond Beach are located at the north end of the Daytona Beach
area. The Ormond Beach area was once home to the Rockefellers
and the Flaglers, as well as the early automotive pioneers who
tested their inventions on the hard-packed beach. Today Ormond
Beach features attractions like the Casements and Tomoka State
Park. Visitors seeking a quieter part of the beach can find it
in the Ormond Beach area. In fact, beach driving is not allowed
at the northern end of Ormond Beach or in Ormond-by-the-Sea.
Central - Daytona Beach, made
famous as the "World Center of Racing" and home of NASCAR, is
the best known of the seven area communities. Although the wide
stretch of white sandy beach is still the biggest attraction
here, the Ocean Center convention complex, the new Daytona
Beach International Airport, the new Ladies Professional Golf
Association (LPGA) golf course, and the Halifax Harbor Marina
hail the renaissance which has been taking place in Daytona
Beach over the last several years. Historical sites like the
Main Street Pier, the Oceanfront Boardwalk and the Clocktower
in Oceanfront Park add to the appeal of this exciting city.
South - Daytona Beach Shores
was formed in 1960 by a group of moteliers who called
themselves "2,000 Cottages." This relatively new city was
incorporated in 1967, and stretches for 5 1/2-miles along the
Atlantic Ocean. At the southern tip of the peninsula is the
scenic fishing village of Ponce Inlet. Local charter fishing
boats are located here, along with several of the area's best
seafood restaurants.
Mainland
North -
Ormond Beach extends across the Halifax River from the
Beachside and is the very first Daytona Beach area community
reached when traveling south on Interstate 95.
Central -
Holly Hill is bordered by the Halifax River on the east side,
Ormond Beach on the north side, and Daytona Beach to the south.
According to the Halifax Historical Society, Holly Hill was
given its name by William Fleming, a farmer whose land had many
holly trees on the west bank of the Halifax River. Also located
in the central part of the area are parts of Daytona Beach and
South Daytona. Each of these communities has giant oaks and
other foliage traditional to Southern river landscapes.
South -
Port Orange is the fastest growing city in the Daytona
Beach area. Located primarily between the Intracoastal Waterway
and Interstate 95 in the southwest region of the area, it is
home to Sugar Mill Gardens, exclusive Spruce Creek Fly-In, The
Gamble Place at the Spruce Creek Environmental Preserve and
many scenic parks and pathways.
A Brief History
Vacationers have been flocking to the Daytona
Beach area for more than a century. During the late 1800s, the
area caught the attention and imagination of many wealthy
northern tycoons who found the land favorable for investment.
One such mogul, Mathias Day, founding father of what was then
called Daytona, built the first hotel, the Palmetto House, in
1874.
The trend continued with other entrepreneurs
endeavoring to build a city of commerce and vision. Commodore
Charles Bourgoyne began by building a community center in
Daytona Beach in the early 1900s. Bourgoyne organized concerts
along the riverfront actively promoting the town's events to
travelers. Later, John D. Rockefeller, discovered Ormond
Beach's immaculate golf courses and made his winter home at The
Casements.
Automobile racing became a regular pastime
along the hard-packed beaches at the turn of the 20th Century.
Ormond Beach became known as the "birthplace
of speed" due to the various land speed records set there.
In 1947, the
National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing was founded
in Daytona Beach. Motorsports gained new ground in 1959 with
the opening of the
Daytona International Speedway, which continues to satisfy
hundreds of thousands of speed-hungry fans each year.
Today, the Daytona Beach area entertains
approximately 8 million visitors each year. Visitors come from
around the world to relax and recreate on one of the most
beautiful, family-friendly beaches in Florida.
For more information about the history of the
Daytona Beach area visit the
Halifax Historical Museum located in downtown Daytona
Beach.
A Proud
Heritage
Bethune-Cookman College
1904-2004
"I had no furniture. I begged for dry
goods boxes and made benches and stools; begged a basin and
other things I needed and in 1904 five little girls here
started school." - Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune
****
Known to many as the "World Center of
Racing" and the "World's Most Famous Beach," Daytona Beach
plays host to an increasing number of visitors who are
discovering the area's rich African-American history.
African-Americans were
among Daytona Beach's earliest settlers. A large colony of
freed slaves was established in 1866 by Esther Hill and
John Milton Hawks in an area just south of modern-day
Daytona Beach. That area, called Freemanville, now includes
the towns of Ponce Inlet and Port Orange. Hawk and his
wife, both physicians, had been staunch abolitionists in
their time and had spent the Civil War years caring for
black Union soldiers. It was primarily these soldiers and
their families, numbering as many as 1,500, who settled in
this area following the Civil War.
Through their leadership and determination,
other African-Americans such as Jackie Robinson, Dr. Mary
McLeod Bethune, and Dr. Howard Thurman have left their
legacies for you to discover in the Daytona Beach area.
Their names, as well as their accomplishments, remain an
important part of the area's proud heritage.
What's Nearby
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ATTRACTION
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ROUTE FROM DAYTONA
BEACH
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TIME
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Walt
Disney World
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I-4
West
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1:15
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Kennedy Space Center
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I-95 or U.S.1 South
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1:00
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St. Johns River Country (Deland area)
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Hwy 92 West
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:30
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St. Augustine
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I-95 or U.S. 1 North
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1:00
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Silver Springs
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S.R. 40 West
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1:15
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Sea World
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I-4West
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1:10
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Universal Studios Florida
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I-4 West
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1:10
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Cypress Gardens
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I-4 West, then U.S. 27 South
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2:00
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Safety Tips
The
Daytona Beach area is proud of its well-deserved reputation
as a safe place for visitors. The following are some common
sense safety tips that will help to ensure a safe, secure
vacation stay.
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For emergency assistance of any kind, dial -911-
from any phone.
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When traveling in the area, always be alert and
trust your instincts. Upon arrival, get your
bearings, and note locations of well-traveled,
well-lit areas where you could obtain assistance if
necessary. Use area maps and travel main roads.
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Carry a minimal amount of cash. Use travelers
checks and credit cards whenever possible. Record
their identification numbers, and keep that record
in a separate, safe place.
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Always carry purses, wallets, hotel keys and car
keys securely. Do not leave purses on chairs, under
tables or on bathroom hooks.
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Be observant, and always report any suspicious
activity to Law Enforcement, Security Officers, or
Hotel and Business Managers.
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Always lock your car, whether parked or traveling.
When parked, keep valuables out of sight. At night,
park in well-lit areas.
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Keep hotel room windows and doors locked. Know who
is at the door before you open it. Do not invite
strangers to your room.
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Keep extra cash and valuables locked in a safe
place such as a hotel safe deposit box or a room
safe.
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Upon checking into a hotel or motel, locate fire
exits, elevators, and the nearest phone. Plan the
best way to exit in case of any emergency or fire.
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Make sure children know the name and address of
where you are staying. Remind children of places
they can go to get help should they become
separated from you.
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Pedestrian traffic should cross roadways at
intersections. Wait for pedestrian walk lights
before crossing.
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Florida law requires safety belts for all front
seat passengers, regardless of age. Children under
the age of 3 are required to be in a safety car
seat. Children ages 4-5 must either be in a safety
seat or wear a seat belt.
In the unlikely event you are confronted by an assailant,
do not resist demands for your valuables
Some Content
Courtesy of the
Daytona Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau
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Back to Daytona
Beach
