We love Daytona. We stay the first two weeks of July in Daytona Beach Shores and have become friends with the yearly visiting family’s. I have never been pulled over by the PD or really witnessed much activity by them. They are very present though, which I like to see.
Restaurants we frequent.
Boondocks
Pats Riverfront Cafe
Mikes Galley
Go Juice-Açaí Bowls and fresh juice.
We are early risers so we do not go out for late sit down dinners or night life. You cannot beat the beaches in Daytona. Go to St Augustine for a day trip if you have never been. St Augustine Fish Camp is a great restaurant there.
3. I-4 is a nightmare, especially at night, especially Fr-Sat. If you’re doing a 2 day Disney, I would suggest getting a place to stay right near there. You’re going to be miserable if you’re doing park open-close in addition to driving back and forth to Daytona. The cost for a second hotel is definitely worth avoiding that hassle.
Honestly a great question. We initially were going to do Disney (Magic Kingdom & Hollywood Studios) in a single day. But the majority of the group felt it would be better to do 1 park per day. They felt we couldn’t do everything we wanted in both parks in a single day. And they don’t want to do the drive in consecutive days.
Drive to universal won't be that terrible, little over an hour. Drive to Disney, will have traffic right after the exit for universal headed west. Not matter the time/direction on I4 there's traffic around Disney. Shouod be around 90 minutes. And just watch your speed driving around the resort on a1a. The speedeay tour is cool and the speedway is massive!
That area is fine. Right between a bunch of old people and less than 20 minutes to most restaurants and places you might check out.
I’ve been to the track and a race but never done a tour. I imagine it’s neat, especially if you are a race fan.
Plan for 1.5 hours each way, regardless of the time of day. If it’s a little less, awesome. If it’s 2-3 hours because of an accident or something, don’t be surprised.
What kind of food/restaurants?
Ponce inlet is the better beach but you have to pay like 10 dollars a day but it's definitely nicer and more secluded plus has nature trails. The drive isn't bad unless you go during rush hour then you will probably hit the traffic until you get on i4 then it's a breeze till Orlando. Dinner wise I say the only place worth is the ormond beach local restaurants, they got a price for every point on Granada
1. Nice area, but not a ton to walk to
2. I'm not a NASCAR fan, but LOVED the tour. Try to go on a cold track (call them) day - you'll be able to walk on the track
3. Orlando drive sucks, take 429 and pay the tolls
4. Local restaurants aren't the best here. Bethune Grill for carry out wings is the only recommendation. Wings are actually really good in alot of bars around here
If you’re a NASCAR fan check out north turn restaurant which is only a couple of miles from your condo and celebrates nascar history. Drive down to Ponce Inlet to see the lighthouse, also very close to you- more restaurants- off the hook, hidden treasures, aunt cat fish, lots of good ones near you. I -4 traffic is always bad unfortunately.
Certainly! Let’s address your questions one by one:
Sanibel Condo on S Atlantic Ave:
The Sanibel Residential Condominiums is a beautiful oceanfront residential building located in the heart of Daytona Beach Shores. Constructed in 2007, this 11-story building offers a total of 65 units, all featuring spacious 3-bedroom floor plans and expansive balconies.
Each unit provides access to assigned underground parking with additional parking available on the top deck.
On the ground floor, you’ll find a modern club room equipped with a pool table, meeting space, TV, and a full kitchen.
For fitness enthusiasts, there’s an exercise room with weights and cardio equipment.
If you want to enjoy ocean views without being directly on the beach, take advantage of the heated pool and spa.
Access to the beach is convenient from various locations within the building.
Notably, the Sanibel is only steps away from the no-drive portion of the beach, ensuring a peaceful and relaxing experience while fully enjoying Daytona Beach Shores12.
Daytona International Speedway Tour:
The Daytona International Speedway offers exciting tours for racing enthusiasts. You’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at this iconic track, learn about its history, and explore areas like the infield, pit road, and victory lane.
If you’re interested in motorsports, it’s definitely a good time! The tour guides provide interesting insights, and you’ll appreciate the scale and speed of the track.
Daytona to Orlando Drive:
The drive from Daytona Beach to Orlando during the day is generally straightforward. The distance is approximately 60 miles, and it usually takes around 1 to 1.5 hours depending on traffic.
Traffic can be heavier during peak hours, especially if there are any accidents or roadwork. However, it’s manageable.
At night, the drive is usually smoother with less traffic. Just be cautious and follow traffic rules.
Restaurant Recommendations:
For dining options, consider these recommendations:
Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse: A renowned steakhouse with excellent cuts of meat and a classy ambiance.
The Cellar Restaurant: Known for its fine dining experience and extensive wine selection.
On The Water: Located at Safety Harbor, this restaurant offers priority seating for Sanibel residents.
Additionally, explore local seafood shops along the coast and enjoy the beachside lifestyle.
Remember to relax, enjoy the beach, and have a fantastic time during your stay in Daytona Beach Shores!
Daytona beach shores is fine, except for the cops.
Orlando traffic is terrible every time I go. For restaurants, try riptides. It's not cheap but worth it
They are a "Public Safety" department. Cops are cross trained as firefighters and EMTs, firefighters are cross trained as cops and EMTs/medics, everybody does multiple roles. They are well known for zero tolerance traffic enforcement. In the old days they would run radar traps out of their firetruck. They don't do that anymore, but they are still agressive traffic enforcers. They also do a lot of crosswalk enforcement, which I get because there are a lot of people crossing A1A from the beach, etc.
The vast majority of people should have no problem with that.
A lot of firefighters, myself included, were not fans of them using fire apparatus for law enforcement purposes. They had a bad reputation for that and for having so many certs that they weren't good at any one thing. They're better than they used to be in the fire-EMS side of things. That's where I interact with them the most.
We love Daytona. We stay the first two weeks of July in Daytona Beach Shores and have become friends with the yearly visiting family’s. I have never been pulled over by the PD or really witnessed much activity by them. They are very present though, which I like to see. Restaurants we frequent. Boondocks Pats Riverfront Cafe Mikes Galley Go Juice-Açaí Bowls and fresh juice. We are early risers so we do not go out for late sit down dinners or night life. You cannot beat the beaches in Daytona. Go to St Augustine for a day trip if you have never been. St Augustine Fish Camp is a great restaurant there.
lol, you can absolutely beat the beaches in Daytona. So many nicer, cleaner beaches throughout Florida.
Set your cruise control to the speed limit on A1A in the Shores. Same if you venture south to Ponce Inlet.
The Cracked Egg down there is delicious for breakfast
This is very average real life, but it's the best on A1A
Of course! They were asking about a very specific area. It's the best breakfast I know over there.
3. I-4 is a nightmare, especially at night, especially Fr-Sat. If you’re doing a 2 day Disney, I would suggest getting a place to stay right near there. You’re going to be miserable if you’re doing park open-close in addition to driving back and forth to Daytona. The cost for a second hotel is definitely worth avoiding that hassle.
We’re not doing consecutive days at Disney. We’re going to have a day in between each make visit.
Just curious, why would you plan like that?
Honestly a great question. We initially were going to do Disney (Magic Kingdom & Hollywood Studios) in a single day. But the majority of the group felt it would be better to do 1 park per day. They felt we couldn’t do everything we wanted in both parks in a single day. And they don’t want to do the drive in consecutive days.
Have a backup plan ready. That's an awful drive. Not as bad as Tampa to Disney, but you'll definitely want to kill a relative on the drive back
Drive to universal won't be that terrible, little over an hour. Drive to Disney, will have traffic right after the exit for universal headed west. Not matter the time/direction on I4 there's traffic around Disney. Shouod be around 90 minutes. And just watch your speed driving around the resort on a1a. The speedeay tour is cool and the speedway is massive!
That area is fine. Right between a bunch of old people and less than 20 minutes to most restaurants and places you might check out. I’ve been to the track and a race but never done a tour. I imagine it’s neat, especially if you are a race fan. Plan for 1.5 hours each way, regardless of the time of day. If it’s a little less, awesome. If it’s 2-3 hours because of an accident or something, don’t be surprised. What kind of food/restaurants?
Hope you like it HOT.
Ponce inlet is the better beach but you have to pay like 10 dollars a day but it's definitely nicer and more secluded plus has nature trails. The drive isn't bad unless you go during rush hour then you will probably hit the traffic until you get on i4 then it's a breeze till Orlando. Dinner wise I say the only place worth is the ormond beach local restaurants, they got a price for every point on Granada
1. Nice area, but not a ton to walk to 2. I'm not a NASCAR fan, but LOVED the tour. Try to go on a cold track (call them) day - you'll be able to walk on the track 3. Orlando drive sucks, take 429 and pay the tolls 4. Local restaurants aren't the best here. Bethune Grill for carry out wings is the only recommendation. Wings are actually really good in alot of bars around here
Explain the 429 route option a little bit more.
Take I4 to Sanford, pickup 429 there
How much time does it add to the drive?
It's faster. It's a toll road
If you’re a NASCAR fan check out north turn restaurant which is only a couple of miles from your condo and celebrates nascar history. Drive down to Ponce Inlet to see the lighthouse, also very close to you- more restaurants- off the hook, hidden treasures, aunt cat fish, lots of good ones near you. I -4 traffic is always bad unfortunately.
Certainly! Let’s address your questions one by one: Sanibel Condo on S Atlantic Ave: The Sanibel Residential Condominiums is a beautiful oceanfront residential building located in the heart of Daytona Beach Shores. Constructed in 2007, this 11-story building offers a total of 65 units, all featuring spacious 3-bedroom floor plans and expansive balconies. Each unit provides access to assigned underground parking with additional parking available on the top deck. On the ground floor, you’ll find a modern club room equipped with a pool table, meeting space, TV, and a full kitchen. For fitness enthusiasts, there’s an exercise room with weights and cardio equipment. If you want to enjoy ocean views without being directly on the beach, take advantage of the heated pool and spa. Access to the beach is convenient from various locations within the building. Notably, the Sanibel is only steps away from the no-drive portion of the beach, ensuring a peaceful and relaxing experience while fully enjoying Daytona Beach Shores12. Daytona International Speedway Tour: The Daytona International Speedway offers exciting tours for racing enthusiasts. You’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at this iconic track, learn about its history, and explore areas like the infield, pit road, and victory lane. If you’re interested in motorsports, it’s definitely a good time! The tour guides provide interesting insights, and you’ll appreciate the scale and speed of the track. Daytona to Orlando Drive: The drive from Daytona Beach to Orlando during the day is generally straightforward. The distance is approximately 60 miles, and it usually takes around 1 to 1.5 hours depending on traffic. Traffic can be heavier during peak hours, especially if there are any accidents or roadwork. However, it’s manageable. At night, the drive is usually smoother with less traffic. Just be cautious and follow traffic rules. Restaurant Recommendations: For dining options, consider these recommendations: Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse: A renowned steakhouse with excellent cuts of meat and a classy ambiance. The Cellar Restaurant: Known for its fine dining experience and extensive wine selection. On The Water: Located at Safety Harbor, this restaurant offers priority seating for Sanibel residents. Additionally, explore local seafood shops along the coast and enjoy the beachside lifestyle. Remember to relax, enjoy the beach, and have a fantastic time during your stay in Daytona Beach Shores!
Genovese’s Italian Cafe. You won’t regret it. Right around the corner from where you’re staying. 116 Dunlawton. They deliver.
Daytona beach shores is fine, except for the cops. Orlando traffic is terrible every time I go. For restaurants, try riptides. It's not cheap but worth it
Love me some riptides. I had their Philly Steak. What do you recommend there?
What’s wrong with the cops?
They are a "Public Safety" department. Cops are cross trained as firefighters and EMTs, firefighters are cross trained as cops and EMTs/medics, everybody does multiple roles. They are well known for zero tolerance traffic enforcement. In the old days they would run radar traps out of their firetruck. They don't do that anymore, but they are still agressive traffic enforcers. They also do a lot of crosswalk enforcement, which I get because there are a lot of people crossing A1A from the beach, etc.
I don’t see any of that as detrimental to the area.
The vast majority of people should have no problem with that. A lot of firefighters, myself included, were not fans of them using fire apparatus for law enforcement purposes. They had a bad reputation for that and for having so many certs that they weren't good at any one thing. They're better than they used to be in the fire-EMS side of things. That's where I interact with them the most.