What would Daytona be without the fast and the furious? Although these days the speed limit all over is a meager 55 or 65 mph, Daytona proclaims itself the Racing Capital of the World. Who dares say that America has no past? It's already been over a century (since March 1903) that hard-nosed daredevils, entering into a furious competition for the finish line on sand and dirt, forged with their sweat and ambition the legend of Daytona. The beach, a long stretch of tough (when wet) quartz sand, provided a natural track for these new speed machines that would propel their anxious drivers to a rapidly increasing velocity—even if in the early days the motion was generated by steam.

This undertaking seemed especially adventurous given that the rest of America was riding horse carts. No wonder the King of England knighted Sir Malcolm Campbell when he broke the barrier of 300 mph behind the wheel of a 30-foot-long, ten-ton monster with the questionable nickname "The Blue Bird"—which had all but the lightness and grace of a feather.

In 1936, the idea of a stock car race on the beach arose. After World War II, a gas station owner by the name of Bill France formed an association he called the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing. NASCAR rapidly became a national sport. A real car racetrack, the Daytona International Speedway, was built—but not without pain: it even necessitated the intervention of former dictator of Cuba, Fulgencio Batista.

Daytona thus acquired the unrivaled status of the city where the wheel is king. The big annual Daytona 500 attracts more than 200,000 enthusiastic spectators, and the local economy benefits from an input in excess of $600,000 million. Despite these colossal numbers, the events in the Speedway unwind like clockwork. The Daytona USA caterers are even able to serve 25,000 lunches or dinners of a remarkable quality in no time.

Treasure Island Resort

Hotel capacity seems unlimited. At least 300 establishments offer various kinds of accommodations including time-sharing—the vast majority in the budget category. Many are conveniently located on the beautiful beach. The prototype of these mid-sized, affordable hotels is the Treasure Island Resort, boasting a large pool, direct access to the beach, and family sized rooms with a full kitchen. It is undergoing a much-needed restoration to address the degradation caused by the saline air.

The Adam's Mark Daytona Beach Resort, which is part of a hotel chain, sits right in the middle of the Daytona Beach stretch imposing its large pyramidal shape. It is currently not only the most visible but also the top property, although it doesn't pretend to duplicate here the splendor of an international palace. Targeted at conventions and large meetings, it boasts 746 rooms, two health clubs and pools, six restaurants and a food court, a business center, and 32 meeting rooms. The Coquina ballroom can sit 1608 guests for a banquet. It is located right across the relatively new Convention Center and the Ocean Walk Shoppes.

The Bar at Ocean Walk Resort

The Ocean Walk Resort next to the Adam's Mark and under the same ownership is a resort hotel—more fit for a beach stay—with one or two bedroom condos furnished in art deco style and fully equipped kitchens.

The Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort offers spacious rooms and suites, many with views of the Atlantic Ocean or the Intracoastal Waterway. Furnished in the style of a turn-of-the-century beach cottage with room decoration reminiscent of Matisse, it also features a large heated pool, kiddie pool, jacuzzi and a fitness center and a pretty good restaurant, Blue Water Grille.

Day 1

Harley Heaven

Even if autos don't turn you on, when in Daytona all things cars and bikes are a must. A visit to the temple, the International Speedway is mandatory. The huge success of this enterprise is well worth a trip to appreciate the phenomenon. You can add some fun by imagining yourself as a hot wheeler when you sit in the simulator ride, which really requires all of your energy and concentration.

The Daytona 500 is the most-watched motor sports event in the world and has the biggest payout in prize money. In 2003, the total winnings for the Daytona 500 were almost $14 millions! The speedway covering 480 acres is easy to reach, one mile east of I-95. Nine racing weekends are presented annually, including stock cars, motorcycles, sport cars and go-karts.

The biggest attraction is Daytona USA. The interactive motorsports animation spread over 60,000 square feet features an exhibition of the winning cars of the year and the great models of the past. But there are also a variety of hands-on activities mixing advanced technology and historical elements. On a 55-feet-wide and three-stories-high screen, a movie shows the hottest moments of the Daytona 500. Even more thrilling is the Acceleration Alley: Hop inside a makeshift car, buckle up and accelerate to 200 mph. The simulator combining motion, video projection and sound leaves you breathless and makes you think twice about a career in car racing. Another simulator ride, the Daytona Dream Laps, seats 32 guests, who can feel what exactly racing feels like when you are riding on the high banks of the Speedway. To complete the experience, visitors are taken to a guided tour of the Speedway on an open-air tram, and can visit the garage area that can accommodate 164 racecars, the Pit road and the impressive 31-degree high banks of the speedway. (Daytona USA is open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. The cost is $20 for adults, $14 for children over six.)

With all these sensations you might choose to conclude the day with a simple dinner on location. But be aware that they can also prepare banquet for a thousand guests.