Because of its popularity among race fans, motorcycle enthusiasts, spring breakers, and summer vacationers, Daytona Beach is often overlooked by many boomers as they search for a Florida retirement destination that will fit their ideal lifestyle. However, those popular reasons for visiting Daytona Beach are really just scratching the surface of what residents enjoy here throughout the year.
Located just over an hour northeast of Orlando, this oceanfront destination provides residents with everything they could want from a big city on the beach while still maintaining the quaint feel of a small town atmosphere. Let's wade out into the water and see what Daytona Beach has to offer!
Daytona Beach History
The area that would become Daytona Beach was originally settled as a citrus and sugar cane plantation by Samuel Williams. That plantation operated from 1787 all the way up until it burned down in 1835. The area was then purchased by Mathias Day, Jr. in 1871 and a small community developed around the hotel he built there.
Local residents decided to name the new town after Day, and things really took off in the late 1880s when Henry Flagler's Florida East Coast Railroad started offering easy access to the area. Shortly after the turn of the century, Daytona Beach had already become a popular tourist destination that was earning the reputation as “The World's Most Famous Beach.”
You also can't talk about the history of Daytona Beach without mentioning that the hard-packed sand here made it a popular spot for early auto races. There were a number of racing firsts that happened in Daytona Beach over the years, and any NASCAR fan will tell you how important “Daytona” is to their heart.
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Daytona Beach Lifestyle
Attracting and entertaining tourists is the root of a major portion of the Daytona Beach lifestyle. The region plays host to two NASCAR races each year, as well as all kinds of auto-racing events. Then there are the huge Daytona Bike Week and Daytona Jeep Beach events that attract people from all over the globe.
But while many locals do participate in the fun during these busy weeks, it is important to realize that most year-round residents have a much calmer lifestyle that makes use of all of the local parks and beaches. You can do everything from standup paddleboarding in the Atlantic Ocean to hiking through the woods of Doris Leeper Spruce Creek Preserve here in Daytona Beach.
Daytona Beach Culture
Because it is one of the most popular destinations along Florida's Atlantic Coast, there is plenty of arts and culture to go around in Daytona, starting with historic landmarks like the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse and the Mary McLeod Bethune Foundation House.
Residents here can spend hours exploring destinations like the Halifax Historical Museum, the Museum of Arts & Sciences, and the Cici and Hyatt Brown Museum of Art. On top of that, there are always exciting performances happening at the Daytona Beach Bandshell, the Peabody Auditorium, and the Daytona Playhouse.
Daytona Beach Shopping
If unique boutique shopping is what you are looking for, your first destination for shopping should be the Riverfront Shops of Daytona Beach. Here you will find more than 60 stores selling a wide range of merchandise in a beautiful, waterfront setting.
And if you are looking for more of a mall-style shopping experience, then you can choose from the Volusia Mall or the Tanger Outlets, which are both easy to access and packed with popular stores.
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Daytona Beach Dining
Because Daytona Beach is such a popular tourist destination, local residents have the benefit of being completely surrounded by outstanding restaurants.
One of the most popular choices in the area is always Caribbean Jack's, which is located right on the water and is a perfect spot to enjoy local favorites like gator bites and coconut shrimp.
There are plenty of seafood options located along the water, but Macker Seafood and Bay Street Seafood are two of the most popular among the locals. Neither of these places is built to wow tourists with their appearances, but the fresh seafood will blow most of the tourist traps out of the water…literally.
Of course, Daytona Beach offers a much wider variety than seafood. You can always find a great local beer on tap to go with your meal at the Daytona Taproom, and the Osso Bucco on the menu at The Cellar Restaurant is the perfect treat for any special occasion.
Where to Retire in Daytona Beach
As far as communities here on the central east coast of Florida go, the one you’ll hear most about in the coming years is Latitude Margaritaville, a partnership between Minto Communities and Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville brand.
The community began sales in late 2017 and so far more than 500 homes have been sold in this community planned for more than 6,000 homes.
As you might have suspected, Latitude Margaritaville is being designed to reflect the Margaritaville lifestyle, including the look and feel of its homes, which will feature an Old Florida/Key West architectural style. Some of the amenities residents will enjoy at Latitude Margaritaville include a fitness center with an aerobics studio, an indoor lap pool and spa, indoor and outdoor dining with signature Margaritaville food and beverage concepts, arts and learning programs for residents and guests, a resort pool area with beach entry, and a band shell for live entertainment.
You can request more information here.
Many people think of Daytona Beach as a tourist destination, but many boomers who choose to retire here have realized that there is a whole lot more than meets the eye once you dig down a little bit below the surface here. If that is something that sounds appealing to you, then Daytona Beach should definitely be on your shortlist.
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