Spending A Day At Daytona Beach When It’s Too Cold To Swim
If you live in central Florida, you know that it is not 90 degrees for 12 months out of the year. However, if you live anywhere else in the world, you’ll mistakenly assume that the “Welcome To The Sunshine State” signs are sincere and equates to tropical paradise even in the dead of winter.
You have only to visit Florida’s famed Daytona Beach between October and March to realize the error of your thinking.
While even northern tourists will find it much too cold to swim in the Atlantic during the colder months, the beach is still a great place to find fun and relaxation.
How can you possibly enjoy coastal Daytona Beach with all of your clothes on?
Take A Walk Along Daytona Beach
Take a walk.
Sure, it sounds cliche. But kick off your shoes, roll up your pants, and stroll along the edge where the tide changes its mind over and over again and you’ll soon understand how long walks on the beach became a romance movie staple.
It feels good. It’s relaxing. It’s cheap and easy entertainment for the kids that makes for very impressive pictures to take home. Time flies by and before you know it’s time for everyone to head to bed, the sun and wind having sapped your children’s will to argue.
If you get tired of staring at the endless stretch of white sand, rolling waves and disturbingly unaware birds, Daytona Beach pier and boardwalk area offers slightly more commercial attractions as well.
A small amusement park provides the opportunity to have yourself shot into the air at a freakishly fast speed via The Slingshot for $25 per person, per ride. A two story strip mall (it is still Florida) offers tourist style shopping and Starbucks as well as several themed restaurants.
But perhaps the most unique experience at Daytona Beach that can be enjoyed year round is the sea chairs ride out over the pier and the water.
Daytona Beach Sea Chairs
It’s an old, rustic attraction that scares the crap out of some people. But if you’re a fan of nostalgia and old fashioned charm, a tour along the skyline trolley is a true can’t miss.
And if you ride in December, for Pete’s sake, bring a jacket!
All pictures taken by Britt Reints.
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4 Responses
As a Northerner, I don’t really understand this. It only needs to be 65 to be warm enough to swim. If we’re coming from 10 degrees, even 60 feels tropical.
Darren, all Northerners say that – until they get into the freezing water!!
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Very few people from up north get in the water during the winter while vacationing in central Florida. You’d have to go farther south – Marco Island or Key West before you would feel comfortable getting wet.
That said the beaches of Florida and the Alabama Gulf Coast are very nice in the winter. Much easier to go on long beach walks, and fish are still biting.