A trip to Daytona Beach, Florida, wouldn’t be complete without seeing its famous racing locations. The city is linked with racing.
Daytona Beach provides a racing enthusiast’s dream come true, with everything from the storied Daytona International Speedway to lesser-known tracks and historic attractions.
Take a virtual tour with us as we explore the attractions that any racing enthusiast in Daytona Beach simply must see.
Take a walk through the Speed Park Birthplace
Take a stroll down the coast at Ormond Beach’s Birthplace of Speed Park to honor the history of racing. On this rugged, sandy coastline back in 1903, there was the first official powered race.
Markers detailing the history and tales of how racers utilized the location for testing and consistently shattered world speed records are dotted throughout the park.
Apart from the historical walk, the beachfront park features covered gazebos, picnic tables, grills, and restrooms with direct beach access.
Lunch at North Turn in Racing
When you’re hungry, head to Racing’s North Turn Beach Bar & Grille, a Historic Landmark and one of the top 10 Florida beach bars for nine years running. The restaurant is situated precisely where the beachside course’s north bend was done in races.
The best thing about the restaurant, other its delicious meal and stunning view of the ocean, was that it doubled as a museum! The restaurant’s lobby was crammed with souvenirs, antiques, signed photos, and newspaper articles detailing the history of the neighborhood.
Even the live radio program “Legends of Racing Radio Show,” which is all about racing, is hosted in the restaurant. There are plenty of seafood selections (it’s the beach!), salads, steaks, and sandwiches to choose from for lunch.
If you’re in the mood for a drink, the well stocked bar offers a view of the ocean, so take a seat and introduce yourself to some new people.
Spend your time at The Daytona, Autograph Collection
Make hotel reservations at The Daytona, Autograph Collection, which is across from Daytona International Speedway.
Perfect for race fans and visitors seeking a distinctive lodging option, this Marriott resort is bordered by eateries and retail establishments known as the ONE DAYTONA entertainment district.
You will notice a NASCAR car on display as soon as you walk into the hotel foyer, in addition to other makes and models. Even merely for taking pictures, it is a museum unto itself that is well worth seeing!
The automobiles that are on display are amazing, and I can’t wait to show my kids! While taking in all of it, make sure to stop by the hotel lobby and have a drink.
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Enjoy a Drink at the Streamline Hotel
Speaking of drinks, you should definitely check out the Streamline Hotel‘s rooftop bar, which is situated on A1A across from the beach.
Despite having a simple exterior, the rooftop bar at this hotel holds historical significance as it is recognized as the “birthplace of NASCAR.”
Bill France, Sr. and other notable figures in the racing sector convened on the roof of Streamline on November 14, 1947, to devise regulations and guidelines for establishing an official organization for the activity.
After much discussion, NASCAR was finally formed on February 21, 1948.
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Visit Daytona International Speedway and Take a Tour
Take an hour-long tour of the Daytona International Speedway for the ultimate non-racing day experience in Daytona Beach.
Climb aboard the tram with your tour guide and visit Victory Lane, view the infield garages and if there’s not anyone testing on the tracks, you can even step out on to the start/finish line. You can feel the 31-degree embankments as the tram travels around the racetrack.
It may surprise you to learn that the front stretch has 100,105 seats. For television, colored seats are utilized to simulate human presence in the seats, regardless of race!
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