Daytona Beach
We went to the beach yesterday and I can’t tell you the last time I was in Daytona Beach. Generally I like to go to the less crowded, less “touristy” places like Cocoa.
Actually we usually go to Jetty Park there in Cocoa and often watch the ships leaving port or sometimes we go to Canaveral National Seashore State Park
I like going to Jetty Park because it has showers and bathrooms and snack bar in case you are starving. I’ve camped there in the past too and the campgrounds aren’t bad at all. Its a nice place to go, especially with small children. Canaveral National Seashore is how I picture Florida might have looked pre-Ponce de Leon. I think the beaches here are probably the most beautiful of any I’ve seen mid state Atlantic side. However the facilities are bare minimum (port a potties only).
So its been YEARS since I’ve been to Daytona. We parked in the parking garage at Ocean walk village and spent the day on the most famous beach in the world.
Now I consider myself a native Floridian (moved here when I was 10 - now 37). I’ve lived in the panhandle and spent lots of time in the Gulf and consider the waters and beaches there some of the most beautiful Florida has to offer. But I tend to use the Atlantic beaches now because I live in Orlando, but I have been known to go to the Gulf side.
So my point is, I consider myself well versed in Florida Beaches. I thought that Daytona was, at best, a small stretch of sand with some waves. The beach itself was scant because of how close the buildings come to the water. The sand had a hint of grey/black to it in various places… probably from the debris of recent hurricanes and the like. But there was very little pretty about this beach. The water was murky green/brown. By 3pm the sun was blocked by all the high rise condos and time share buildings…
In short, I found it far less appealing than the beaches just slightly north or south of it. I probably won’t be going back there anytime soon, frankly. I’ll stick with the beaches that I’ve used in the past.
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I love Jetty Park. Where the dolphins out?? That’s always a treasure to see 3-4 of them playing/swimming around out there.
I like Jetty Park because I know there is a chance that I might catch a glimpse of a submarine pulling in or out of the adjacent military installation at Trident Bay. Of course, they only do this at night so unless you stay up camped out at the water it is pretty unlikely to catch this happening.
Jenn - no dolphins this time although we OFTEN see them. My daughter is a huge dolphin lover so we are always on the lookout!
David - I have never seen a submarine at Jetty before! I’ll have to keep an eye out! Thanks for the tip.