Delivering on Daytona - Special events and blissful beaches

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Delivering on Daytona - Special events and blissful beaches draw Daytona Beach visitors to its sandy shores.
Tuesday, January 2, 2007 - By Stephen M. Wheeler - Home and Away - homeandawaymagazine.com




Whether it’s quiet relaxation or fast-paced action one seeks, Florida’s Daytona Beach welcomes winter visitors and offers a multitude of options. Each winter, Daytona hosts two thrilling weeks of excitement—Speed Week and Bike Week—but aside from these times, the world’s most famous beach affords great values for winter escapes for golf, culture and the rejuvenation that only sand and waves can provide.

The winter months bring calm and quiet to the beach—the kids are in school and the crowds have thinned. Winter golf is in full swing, and the performing arts season is blooming. The 7th Annual Daytona Winterfest, presented by the Daytona Beach Symphony Society, takes place in late January before giving way to the Boston Pops in early February.

Daytona’s popularity peaks during Speed Week and Bike Week. Daytona International Speedway celebrates Speed Week 2007, Feb. 10–18, with numerous events, including the Budweiser Shootout, the Gatorade Duel, the Daytona 300 Busch Series race and, of course, the 49th annual Daytona 500.

Now in its 66th year, Daytona Beach’s Bike Week, March 2–11, is heaven for motorcycle enthusiasts. Bikers come from every walk of life and from all across the country. During Bike Week, folks put aside their professional lives and come together to celebrate the thrill of riding. Leather jackets are always optional.

Whether visitors come for the thrilling days of Speed Week and Bike Week or for a restful week on the beach, rejuvenation should be part of everyone’s itinerary. Such revitalization requires beachfront pampering. The historic Plaza Resort & Spa offers the perfect venue. Having entertained guests for more than a century, the Plaza Resort & Spa was recently renovated and boasts spacious guest rooms and outstanding amenities. The Plaza Resort & Spa also offers true relaxation at the Ocean Waters Spa, the only full-service European-style spa in central Florida.

Other beachfront properties to escape to include the Plaza Ocean Club, where every room has a private balcony; the La Playa Resort & Suites, featuring the popular Bonkerz Comedy Club; the Boardwalk Inn & Suites, just south of the historic Bandshell and Ocean Walk Shoppes; the Acapulco Hotel & Resort, ideally located in the southern part of Daytona Beach; and the Palm Plaza Oceanfront Resort, a Florida Certified Green Lodging. All are AAA-approved and diamond-rated.

From the relaxation that a beach getaway is typically known for, to golf, the arts and thrill-seeking excursions, Daytona Beach delivers.

Hotel Options Abound
Daytona Beach visitors have numerous lodging options among these AAA Three Diamond-rated hotels:

The Plaza Resort & Spa
600 N. Atlantic Ave.
Rates range from $119 to $159

The Plaza Ocean Club
640 N. Atlantic Ave.
Rates range from $59 to $115

LaPlaya Resort & Suites
2500 N. Atlantic Ave.
Rates range from $59 to $115

The Boardwalk Inn & Suites
301 S. Atlantic Ave.
Rates range from $69 to $125

Acapulco Hotel & Resort
2505 S. Atlantic Ave.
Rates range from $109 to $139

Palm & Beachside Plaza
3301 S. Atlantic Ave.
Rates range from $69 to $125

All prices subject to change. Rates are for one to four persons, per room, per night, plus tax. Rates vary by date, day of week and season. Some restrictions/blackouts may apply.

Call or visit your local AAA office for these exclusive member rates or visit AAA.com/daytona.




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STEPHEN M. WHEELER is senior associate editor of Going Places.