Daytona Beach, Fla.

Daytona Beach, Fla., is in Volusia County on the Atlantic coast. The city became famous for its hard-packed sand along the beach, where early automobiles could be driven. Auto racing began here in the early 1900s and has continued as a top attraction. Today, cars can still be driven in a small part of the beach. The hard-packed beach also became the first airport in the area.

The Halifax River lagoon is part of the intracoastal waterway, dividing the city. There are four bridges connecting the two sides. Major events include Bike Week in March and Biketoberfest. The LPGA International is based here, and there are several golf courses in town such as Club at Pelican Bay.

The Museum of Arts and Sciences is a group of galleries and museum, one of the top cultural attractions in North Florida. The Southeast Museum of Photography and the Halifax Historical Museum are also within Daytona Beach.

Daytona Beach Airport has three runways and is just three miles southeast of downtown, dominated by Delta and US Airways. Adjacent to the airport is Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, a 185-acre campus covering instruction on all things aerospace.

Top attractions include the Daytona International Speedway, which gets packed during the Daytona 500. Both NASCAR and the International Speedway Association are based here. The Richard Petty Driving Experience is for anyone who wants to be a race car driver for a day, or beyond.

The Boardwalk Amusement Park is a throwback to early Florida beach attractions. The adjacent pier extends a quarter-mile into the Atlantic, a popular fishing spot.

There is plenty of resort lodging near Ocean Walk Shoppes, the open-air mall along the beach area. The Daytona Beach Oceanfront Inn is a nine-story luxury hotel right on the waterfront. Among other lodging options are the Nautilus Inn and Shoreline All Suites Inn. Among popular Daytona eateries include the Cracked Egg Diner, Zen Bistro, and the Ocean Deck Restaurant & Beach Club.

Greyhound Bus Lines stops downtown. Interstate highway I-95 is the main transportation artery. Old US highway One runs by downtown. Interstate 4 begins in Daytona and runs to Orlando and across to the Tampa Bay area. The Volusia Mall along International Speedway Boulevard is the largest mall in the county.