Resort at a Glance: Perry’s Ocean Edge Resort

As the name suggests, Perry’s Ocean Edge Resort occupies an enviable stretch of sand along Daytona Beach’s warm gulf waters. Celebrating its 75th anniversary, this beachside getaway has been a favorite of the city’s vacationing families. Here, guest rooms pair breezy Floridian decor with comforts of home; many include full refrigerators and kitchenette equipment, and all feature wireless internet access.

• Take a dip in one of two outdoor pools, or head inside to the heated indoor pool at the center of the garden atrium.
• Donuts? Donuts.: The resort serves fresh, homemade donuts every morning in the south tower, leading us to wonder why anyone ever leaves the south tower.
• Eat well at the Mango Sun Grille, which serves breakfast and lunch each day, or grab a drink at the restaurant’s tiki bar, which boasts unparalleled ocean views.
• Stay active with the resort’s fun activities, which include both shuffleboard and mini-golf.
• Notable awards: The resort was the recipient of the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence in 2015.

Daytona Beach, Florida: Racing Legacy and a Famed Lighthouse

At the turn of the 20th century, motorists began racing on the packed sand of Daytona Beach out of practicality: the beach had a wide, unobstructed stretch and a smooth surface ideal for high-speed sprinting. Today, stock-car racing has moved to nearby Daytona International Speedway, but it’s still possible to park your car along the oceanfront here—one of the few beaches in the world where you can do so.

Hundreds of thousands of racing fans visit Daytona International Speedway each year to watch world-class champions such as Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon. Stock-car, sports-car, and motorcycle events round out the calendar all year, highlighted by the Daytona 500 in February—the first race of the Sprint Cup Series and typically regarded as the most prestigious. On various behind-the-scenes tours, you can explore the speedway’s elevated press boxes, banked infield turns, and decadent hot tubs filled with motor oil.

At Daytona Beach itself, cars toting beach gear roll across the hard-packed sand through oceanfront driving zones; there are also traffic-free areas. South of town, you can see the Ponce de León Inlet Lighthouse. There, a spiral staircase winds up to the top of a 175-foot tower, where you can overlook a 52-acre park filled with armadillos, shore birds, and native wildflowers.

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