I mentioned in this post that we have recently spent some time in Daytona Beach, and I wanted to share a few snippets from that place, along with some thoughts, in case you’re interested in visiting and want to know what to expect.

Something I have learned quickly in Florida is that its beaches will vary greatly from one area to another, specifically the sand type and color, and even the water.

In Daytona, the beach itself is nice with mostly hard sand that makes walking on it easy and pleasant. In spots, the sand is rusty-looking due to the coquina shell fragments absorbing the color of iron oxide. The water seemed clean enough and algae-free at the time we visited, and there were plenty of crowds, though few were adventuring in it (the water was a bit on the cooler side).

Important to note is that driving and [free] parking are allowed in certain portions of the beach— at high tide, a good part of the beach will simply vanish, as expected, leaving little room for lounging. Also, don’t plan on finding shells there, we really haven’t found any (other than tiny ones).

Daytona calls itself world-famous, and that may be so, but in all honesty, I didn’t find it to be that nice. I’m talking about what the beach area specifically has to offer. Sure, there are a few nice hotels there, but, surprisingly, at least by the pier, there are few options for food, especially ones that don’t involve fast-food or casual dining. The pier itself houses a Joe's Crab Shack, which is super busy — we didn’t eat there as the lines were too much for our liking, and the place, apparently, does not do takeout, unless it’s done through DoorDash (a service we don’t use).

If you’re looking for a beach vacation that would entail time for relaxation, without fighting crowds and having to drive somewhere to have a nice dinner, I would recommend skipping Daytona.

Nonetheless, for a beach day, this is a good option, if you’re in the area, especially as it offers free parking right on the beach (that is not the case on other beaches), making it very convenient.

With that said, enjoy some of the views captured there, including a photo of me sprinting in the water (this girl loves her ocean, what can I say…😊).

I hope you enjoyed these photos, and they made you feel like you were there.

Happy weekend!

xo,

Em