By Stephen M. Wheeler

No matter whom you ask, two thoughts spring to mind when you say "Daytona Beach": the big fun of an exciting Florida beach getaway, and the big thrill of high-energy auto racing. While you might not typically associate those two activities together, at Daytona Beach, it's been the norm for more than 100 years. When eager race enthusiasts first trudged across the tall and flowing sand dunes to witness those early beach-side races, few could even conceive that Daytona Beach—now fondly called "the birthplace of speed"—would be at the forefront of the second largest spectator sport in the world, and a host to more than 8 million visitors each year.

Today, the dunes of the "world's most famous beach" have been replaced by the peaks and valleys of hotels and resorts that line a good portion of this 23-mile serene slice of Atlantic Ocean. Many of these resorts have undergone multi-million dollar renovations—the aftermath of a busy storm season a few years ago. Both private and public efforts have contributed, from the renovations of restaurants, hotels and shops, to the palm tree lining of Atlantic Avenue (A1A) with artfully designed brick-paver crosswalks and decorative murals. The result is a brand new Daytona Beach.

The historic Plaza Resort & Spa, located in central Daytona Beach, is a stellar example. Having recently completed a $70 million renovation, the Plaza Resort & Spa remains the choice in Daytona Beach for elegant accommodations and upscale décor. The Plaza Resort & Spa offers spacious guest rooms—many with private balconies-and a 100-year tradition of hospitality and service seldom found at beachfront properties. With an Olympic-sized pool, deckside tropical drinks and snacks from Café Al Fresco, and the ever-present allure of the Atlantic, the Plaza Resort & Spa is an ideal luxury getaway. The Veranda Lounge is a favorite with guests, offering a full bar—including a martini bar-and a gourmet bar menu. The Plaza Resort & Spa also offers true relaxation at the Ocean Waters Spa and Salon, the only full-service European-style spa in central Florida.

Sister (and next door neighbor) to the Plaza Resort & Spa is the Plaza Ocean Club. Slightly more casual, yet equally exotic, the Plaza Ocean Club offers enchanting views of both the Atlantic Ocean and downtown Daytona from private balconies. The Plaza Ocean Club is also home to Atlantic Jack's on the Beach, a favorite restaurant and lounge featuring dishes of gourmet excellence to casual fare and spectacular oceanfront views.

The La Playa Resort & Suites, located just north, offers newly renovated rooms and a stylish Caribbean décor. With romantic views of the Atlantic right from your own private balcony, the La Playa Resort & Suites also features an oceanfront wedding gazebo and garden. The large oceanfront deck is complete with pool, whirlpool, kiddie pool and shuffleboard deck, and there is even an indoor heated pool. The La Playa Tiki Bar, located steps from the outdoor pool, offers guests tropical drinks in a tropical setting.

Both the Plaza Resort & Spa and the La Playa Resort & Suites will offer AAA members special Pepsi 400 race packages for the 2006 event at nearby Daytona International Speedway.

Each year, race fans are drawn to the Daytona International Speedway (DIS) for two major NASCAR Nextel Cup races: The Daytona 500, which was won by Jimmie Johnson this past February; and the Pepsi 400, where, on July 1, Tony Stewart will lead the pack in defense of his 2005 championship. Personally, I'll be routing for Mark Martin, driver of the No. 6 Ford Fusion AAA car. Martin will retire at the end of this year, and since AAA is the Official Auto Club of the Daytona International Speedway, a victory in the 400 would be a perfect match, an amazing farewell salute.

While the Nextel Cup races are the largest draws to the speedway, events at DIS happen year round. Daytona USA, the 60,000-square-foot interactive museum of the speedway, features the pulse-racing NASCAR 3D: The IMAX Experience, the heart-pounding "Acceleration Alley" race car simulation, and the frantic "Ford 16-Second Pit Stop Challenge." Not to be missed is the 30-minute speedway tram tour, which includes a trip through Daytona's renowned twin tunnels, great photo opportunities of Daytona's famous 31-degree banks, and a visit to Gatorade Victory Lane, where Johnson's No. 48 car is proudly displayed.

Returning to the beach along International Speedway Boulevard, you'll reach the Boardwalk Inn & Suites. This AAA Three-Diamond resort with a Caribbean-style setting offers charming guest rooms and spacious suites, plus continental breakfast. Outdoors, the Boardwalk Inn & Suites features an Olympic-sized heated pool with water jets, a kiddie "mushroom" waterfall and a beachside Jacuzzi, not to mention the glorious sand and surf of the ocean.

At the Boardwalk Inn & Suites, the Internet is a fun thing. From your room—or anywhere in the world, for that matter—you can check out the action at the beach or poolside on their live Internet web cam. There's also a live web cam at Iguana Sam's, the Boardwalk Inn & Suites open-air seating restaurant that overlooks both the Atlantic and Atlantic Boulevard. With playfully named "Sam-wiches" and steakburgers, guests can enjoy delectable, casual fare while waving "hi" to friends back home.

As you might suspect, the Boardwalk Inn & Suites is just a short walk from classic Daytona Beach attractions such as the Boardwalk Amusement Area and Pier, Adventure Landing waterpark and arcade, the Ocean Center, and the 1937 Daytona Beach Bandshell. Great shopping is available here, too, as the bandshell sits adjacent to the popular Ocean Walk Shoppes. Home to a variety of interesting boutiques, shops, casual restaurants and a movie theater, many Ocean Walk Shoppes merchants are Show Your Card & Save participants, so always keep your AAA card handy when browsing for gifts and souvenirs.

One attraction that is a good way to catch a glimpse of the greater Daytona Beach area—and conveniently begins and ends at the Ocean Walk Shoppes—is the Daytona Trolleyboat. Similar to a military duck, the trolleyboat is a land and sea vehicle that can reach speeds of up to 60 mph on land and 10 mph at sea. The trolleyboat points out some of the more famous sites of Daytona, including residences of Al Capone, Stephen Crane, Fulgencio Batista and Bill France. Want more details on these famous figures? Your trolleyboat guide is only too happy to oblige.

Undoubtedly your tour will take you along the Riverfront Marketplace on Beach Street, the current hot spot for eclectic shopping and dining. The intimate Song Mongolian Grill is a "create-your-own" meal restaurant, where guests choose from a large variety of meats, vegetables, seasonings and around 15 signature sauces. Chefs grill your meal immediately in front of you, and if you're pleased with your creation, you can repeat the dish or experiment further with a virtually endless supply of flavor combinations. With slightly less effort, guests can enjoy the American nouveau fare of Angel & Phelps. Home to winetastings and live music, Angel & Phelps also boasts its own chocolate factory, where free tours-and tastings-occur daily, excluding weekends. The trolleyboat merely passes by these locales; you'll want to return on your own later with ample time to indulge at each.

Saying goodbye to the trolleyboat and heading south along Daytona Beach, attractions begin to give way to nature-though many would argue that nature in Daytona Beach is an attraction unto itself. The Acapulco Hotel & Resort is ideally located in the southern part of Daytona Beach and features modern, airy guest rooms with oceanfront views and private balconies. A large heated outdoor pool pairs nicely with a wading pool and twin Jacuzzis.

Also on the south side is the Palm Plaza Oceanfront Resort, or what the staff affectionately call the "pink sandcastle in the sun." The Palm Plaza Oceanfront Resort features private balconies, fully equipped kitchens, indoor HEPA room purifiers and an outdoor swimming pool. True to its name, every room at the Palm Plaza Oceanfront Resort faces the ocean, and a deluxe continental breakfast is included.

At the extreme southern end of Daytona Beach lies Ponce Inlet, where the main draw is the historic Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse. Built in 1887, the lighthouse is the tallest of Florida lighthouses. Having been decommissioned in 1970 and reactivated in 1982, the lighthouse today serves as a private beacon—a guide to local seafarers on their way home.

Just down the street is a well-known dining spot to those local seafarers, Down the Hatch. For more than 30 years, Down the Hatch has served the freshest in seafood (it was once a fish market) in its waterside dining room. Dishes such as Grouper de Leon and Rolled Crab-Stuffed Salmon are served in large portions, and it's quite common to see the pelicans lined up outside the windows looking for sumptuous leftovers.

Also nearby, the Marine Science Center at Ponce Inlet specializes in the recovery, rehabilitation and release of sea turtles and birds. In its three-year history, the Marine Science Center has returned some 3,500 wash-back turtles (those that storms have "washed-back" to the shore) to the ocean, and rescued more than 90 species of birds. Many locals and visitors phone the Science Center for aid when they spot endangered animals while walking the beach.

And yet Daytona Beach has even more to offer, perhaps more than can be accomplished in any single trip. Golf, fishing, the Museum of Arts & Sciences and many other attractions await you, so race to Daytona Beach for "big fun" for everyone.

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