Toronto Star

5 REASONS TO VISIT DAYTONA BEACH

Direct flights from Toronto to Florida hot spot make it a convenient getaway

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At one point or another, nearly all of us have said some version of “I need a vacation!”

A large body of research shows that taking regular vacations has significan­t benefits for our health and productivi­ty. One way to maximize those benefits is to take a vacation somewhere convenient, such as Daytona Beach — starting in January, Sunwing Airlines begins direct flights from Toronto to Daytona Beach, which is an ideal vacation spot with year-round great weather and amenities to suit any traveller’s budget and interests. Here are five more reasons to vacation in Daytona Beach:

1. Beaches

It’s right in the name! The Daytona Beach area has over 37 kilometres of beautiful white-sand beaches. At low tide, the hard-packed expanses can be as wide as three football fields There’s nothing like sitting on a beach and doing nothing. You can bask in the sun with a novel, cool off with a swim or a cold drink, watch the surf roll in — or get on a board and ride the waves yourself. Daytona Beach was just picked by Coastal Living as one of the Top 13 places to surf in Florida.

2. Golf

Daytona Beach regularly makes leading golf magazines’ lists of top golfing destinatio­ns, such as the prestigiou­s

Golf Digest Top 15 ranking. With more than 20 courses, Daytona Beach-area golf clubs have hosted legends of the sport, and feature courses crafted by some of the world’s most renowned designers. For example, LPGA Internatio­nal is Daytona Beach’s most acclaimed facility, having hosted numerous LPGA, Symetra Tour and collegiate national championsh­ip events. Both the Jones and Hills courses are 4-star layouts, according to

Golf Digest, but they are hardly alone in delivering an outstandin­g experience.

3. Fishing

Between the winding rivers, inlets and the Atlantic Ocean, Daytona Beach is a dream destinatio­n for fishermen of all skill levels. Since 1925, the Daytona Beach Pier has been a popular local spot that costs nothing, and with no fishing licences necessary. For sailfish, mahi mahi and other sport fishing, an off-shore fishing charter will take you on a trip of a lifetime. And if dry land is more to your liking, there are hidden gems on the waterfront, like Lighthouse Point Park’s 52-acre nature preserve complete with trails, observatio­n decks and Ponce Inlet Jetty.

4. Dining

There is nothing quite like dining on freshly caught seafood on the waterfront after spending the day at the beach. From beautiful sunset views at Off the Hook at Inlet Harbor to casual riverfront Caribbean Jack’s dining and drinks, there’s a meal to suit your tastes and moods with a beautiful view every time.

5. Festivals

From motorcycle­s to classic cars, music and arts to culinary delights, Daytona Beach’s welcoming atmosphere makes it home to more than 60 festivals and events, earning it the name of the Festival Capital of Florida. In the fall alone, Biketoberf­est® draws more than 100,000 riders, enthusiast­s and onlookers to events like motorcycle races at Daytona Internatio­nal Speedway, scenic cruises and live music. For car fans, the Daytona Turkey Run is the largest classic car show and swap meet in the United States, while the Halifax Art Festival draws 40,000 visitors to Beach Street and the Greek Festival, now in its fifth decade, delights in the sights, tastes and sounds of Greece.

Start planning your next trip today at DaytonaBea­ch.com.

 ??  ?? The Daytona Beach area has over 37 kilometres of beautiful white-sand beaches. Contribute­d
The Daytona Beach area has over 37 kilometres of beautiful white-sand beaches. Contribute­d
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