Usually when someone thinks of Spring Break, the image of convertible cars cruising along the beach strip comes to mind.
Picture it: the loud music pumping as each car rolls on by, one after the other, honking as if it were a street parade. Once in a while, that flashy car with the spinner rims and the fancy metallic paint will have heads turning, a fist pump in the air showing a sign of approval. This is an age-old tradition that every college spring breaker knows they need to experience and participate in.
Cruising the main drag may be a rite of passage at any other spring break destination, but in Daytona Beach, Florida, it’s all about getting in the car and cruising the actual beach!
Yes, driving on the sands of Daytona Beach is a unique experience. In fact, Daytona Beach is one of the very few places in the U.S. where vehicles are actually permitted on the sands. The 16 miles of hard compacted white sand along the shoreline are what make this a possibility and is readily accessible to vehicles. It’s become an attraction unto itself, and an experience that spring breakers can’t wait to partake in each year.
Driving areas are highlighted by signage and drivers are advised to follow the signs and speed limits to ensure the environment is safe for traffic and fellow beach users. The beach is open to traffic from November through April. One can venture along the coastline and can even park in designated areas to stop for a while.
So how did driving on the actual beach become a Daytona tradition?
The famous stretch of Atlantic Oceanfront sand has a history that’s tied to automobile racing, as is the city itself, home to the Daytona International Speedway.
Beach driving began with racing early in the 1900s, when the earliest of drivers were interested in testing their new machines, and their own driving skills. Early racers competed on what was dubbed the Daytona Beach Road Course, a race track comprised of both Highway A1A and the beach itself. Drivers would make a turn at what is now the Beach Street beach access and headed north along the sand.
So when you book your Spring Break 2013 trip to Daytona Beach, don’t forget that while other destinations may have the beach front strip to parade along, it’s Daytona that has the actual beach – a definite plus for spring breakers who love to show off those fancy rims.
Be sure to check back with us for more information about Spring Break 2013 right here at springbreakguide.com
