Daytona Beach, Days 8-9

We started our time in Daytona by driving up and down the beach. That is an interesting experience. You feel like you are either in a parade, or somehow doing something wrong because you are driving up and down a very crowded beach. However, they do have the lanes marked and only a few places to get on or off of the beach in your car.

Next, we visited the Daytona International Speedway - pretty exciting and LOUD! Never been to a NASCAR race track before. This was fun and I have a new appreciation for the sport. got the All Access tour and went down to the track...watched some cars race around the track, stood near where the pit crew works, went to the pre-race meeting room where all the drivers listen to the officials before the race, to the garage area where the cars are kept and worked on, the camping area where fans and race crews stay, as well as the stands.

Ponce Inlet at end of the Daytona Beach island has the most amazingly beautiful lighthouse and surrounding grounds. The old buildings and structures are still there for a little lighthouse community from the turn of the 19th to 20th centuries. For real history lovers like me, this is a very wonderful place to visit. We climbed 203 stairs to the top of the 175 foot lighthouse and saw the amazing lens at the top which still gives light to guide ships.  http://ponceinlet.org 

Our last day in Florida before the two day trip back to Texas was started with a trip to Melbourne Beach where we walked along the waves and picked up more shells. (We have a lot to bring home!) It was a perfect morning and so beautiful. It made me very sad to realize we were leaving behind this fantastic vacation. Oh well, all good things...well you know how it goes.