Watching children play in the surf and listening to the plaintive cry of seagulls in the distance, it's hard to imagine that Daytona's hard-sand beach was once the setting for fifteen world land speed records. The Daytona Beach and Road Course was the predecessor of the world-famous Daytona Beach International Speedway–home of the Daytona 500, the most prestigious race in NASCAR®. And while the old beach course is gone, everyone still enjoys the thrill of driving on the sand at this seaside playground where sun, surf and fun are a way of life.
Daytona's Main Street Pier stretches more than 1,000 feet into the blue waters of the Atlantic. As the longest pier on the entire East Coast, it's perfect for fishing—which just happens to be free and requires no license. Even if you catch nothing more than memories, you'll have some great fish stories to tell. Enjoy great meals at one of the many local restaurants right on the beach, with the sound of crashing waves creating a unique ambiance. And if fast-paced action excites you, put it in high gear at one of the nation's premier race tracks.