Travel Log: Daytona

Attractive land at low costs lured investment hounds south to a popular beach area in the late 1800s, where Matthias Day constructed the first hotel. He called the area Daytona, of course. The hotel was the Palmetto House, opened in 1874.

After the turn of the century, organizers hosted concerts and touted the place as a winter getaway for the rich -- John D. Rockefeller rich.

Spring Break, bikes and beach driving now highlights the region, but it's always been about cars. Motorcycle and auto races were held on the beach as early as 1902, and even then horse-drawn carriages were making tracks in the sand. Now, of course, it's one of the only places in the world where automobiles are permitted to drive on the beach -- a direct link to NASCAR's roots on the old Daytona Beach Road Course.

The first race on the beach course was in 1902. Ransom E. Olds raced Alexander Winton that year and lost by a whopping 0.2 seconds, thus creating an undying marriage between the beach and speed. It was 1936 when the first stock-car race was held on the sand in what would later become the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing thanks to a meeting in a smoky Streamline Hotel room.

Driving on the Beach -- It's the perfect combination for NASCAR fans considering it's where the sport began, literally. During this time of year, the beach is open from sunrise to sunset with a fee of $5 per day per vehicle. Dish out the cash and get your tires sandy.
• For beach driving rules, click here

BristolMike -- A1A: Travel that little highway in either direction. All along there are small beach communities with a new adventure at each. Small restaurants / bars all along the way. Have a designated driver, enjoy the views, stop in the bars and have a great time. During event weekends locals are hard to find but if you find an area with a collection of them you'll find some of the greatest people in the world to make new friends with.

Directions and an aerial map

Thursday: Sunny with a high of 66 degrees, low of 49.
Friday: Mostly sunny with a high of 74 degrees, low of 53
Saturday: Partly sunny with a high of 76 degrees, low of 63
Sunday: Cloudy with a high of 79 degrees, low of 60
Complete Forecast

Let NASCAR.COM help book your last-minute travel.

Have a favorite restaurant or place to visit in California? The Cup Series heads to SoCal next week. Share your personal hot spots in the L.A. area here.