College (and high school) students all over the country are preparing to spend their spring break in Florida.

If you haven’t made plans yet, it’s not too late.  No, really.  My freshman year of college, my best friend and I decided two days before spring break to cash in our student loan overages in exchange for airplane tickets.  To this day, it’s one of the best damn vacations of my life.

Of course, back then you could go to Mexico on 48 hours notice with nothing more than an ID and US birth certificate.  Now you need a passport – which takes planning – if you want to head south of the border.

In other words, Florida is the perfect Spring Break destination for last minute vacation planners!  (Vacation planners is an official term.  As of right now.)

6 Places To Go For Spring Break In Florida

Where should spring breakers head once they’ve hit the Florida border?

1. Daytona Beach

Daytona Beach, Florida

A lot of people associate Spring Break with Daytona Beach.  MTV helped make the city notorious for party goers with their week long beach party broadcasts.  In recent years, MTV has moved on, but the beaches and bars of Daytona still fill up every year with barely legal tourists.  (In fact, last year saw Girls Gone Wild make an appearance.  Don’t ask me why I know this.)

Nightly spring break hot spots include Razzles and Ocean Deck.  When you’re looking for a hotel in Daytona Beach for spring break, try to book as close to A1A/Atlantic Avenue as possile.  That’s where the magic happens.

(Daytona Beach pictures by Britt Reints)

2. Orlando

Universal Studios in Orlando

Orlando isn’t just for families anymore!  (I actually don’t know if it ever was, but I thought that sounded catchy.  Like The Clap.)  More and more spring break traffic is heading inland to The House of Mouse and the surrounding entertainment.

City Walk in Orlando, Florida

(Photo by Ravin on FlickR)

Orlando offers Disney World, Universal Studios, SeaWorld, a host of waterparks, shopping, dining and a short drive to Coco Beach.  A party can be found any night of the week at Universal Studio’s City Walk as well as up and down Church Street in downtown Orlando.  (Local guide tip: your best chance of seeing a celebrity in town is at the downtown bar, Antigua.)

3. Ft. Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale Beach, Florida

(Photo by Zach Klein on FlickR)

Made famous by the 1960 movie, “Where The Boys Are”, Fort Lauderdale continues to offer its own brand of Spring Break fun in the sun.  It’s not as well known for upscale clubbing as other South Florida beach towns, but it does offer endless chances for you to enjoy an umbrella drink with your shirt off.

Fort Lauderdale, Florida Spring Break Night Life

(Photo by Dawn Ashley on FlickR)

You can enjoy your own pub crawl along 2nd street (or Himmarshee Village) until last call at 3 am.  But if you’re looking for an authentic beach party bar, you’ll want to step off the sand into the infamous Elbo Room.  The Elbo Room offers two stories of party – including a deck and a patio – and is legendary destination for Florida spring break.

4. Miami’s South Beach

Expensive Spring Break in South Beach, Florida

(Photo by Photog*Phillip on FlickR)

Just a short drive down 1-95 from Ft. Lauderdale, you’ll find another Spring Break safe haven in Miami’s South Beach.  Although, I have to believe that someone besides poor college students is fitting the bill for these mid-semester flings.

South Beach is not a cheap place to visit, whether you’re on Spring Break or not.  An average hotel room in South Beach is going to cost about $300 a night – or more.  Drink prices are notoriously high, especially in tourist hang outs.  So why in the heck are college students flocking to South Beach?

Night Life for Spring Breakers in South Beach, Florida

(Photo by wyntuition on Flickr)

The beautiful people. South Beach finds itself on lists like “Hottest Beaches in The World” over and over again and is a favorite winter destination for the fashion industry – including fashion models.  There is no better eye candy for hormonal spring breakers than South Beach.  Just bring your credit card.

5. Key West

Key West, Florida - Margaritaville for Spring Break

(Photo by Kiril Kolev on Flickr)

The farthest south and therefore hottest of the Florida spring break hot spots, Key West is an up and coming destination in the spring break market.  Key West is known for Ernest Hemingway and a party atmosphere year round, so it seems a natural place for college students looking for the hottest party to spend their vacations.

The place to let loose in Key West is Duval street.  Any time of year you’re likely to find yourself with a night full of stories to tell (or not), but the rowdiness factor does get kicked up a notch or two during Spring Break.

Duval Street in Key West - for Spring Break nightlife

(Photo by Joe Shlabotnik on FlickR)

Of course, there’s more to do on Spring Break than go to the bar.  Key West is surrounded by water and endless beaches.  The weather is practically guaranteed to be warmer than where you’re coming from.  Spring Break in Key West is the perfect time to try surfing or kayaking or any other water sport you’ve considered.

6. Panama City

St. Andrews Pier in Panama City, Florida

(photo by shutterchick on Flickr)

The farthest north of all of Florida’s Spring Break cities, Panama City is also one of the most popular spring break destinations in recent years.  Unlike other more traditional spring break communities (like Daytona), the locals of Panama City have embraced Spring Break tourists and the money they bring with them!

Do you want your picture taken in a bikini?  Have you dreamed of judging a wet t-shirt contest?  Would you love to end up in the background on TV?  Then Panama City Beach is the place to be for Spring Break.

Panama City has become the new home for MTV’s Spring Break shows and concerts and the official reigning King of Spring Break.  Panama City hotels and bars have embraced the Spring Break vibe with their own packages, parties and special events all season long.  You’re sure to feel welcome as part of the crowd anywhere in Panama City.

So, when’s the best time to visit these Florida Spring Break locations?  Ideally, when you’re college gives you a week off from school.  Check out this guide to college spring break dates to see when your school lets out and who you might be sharing your vacation with!

Ready to pack your bags? Here is a great resource for Fort Lauderdale flights.

The economy is kicking everyone’s butt right now.

Traditions, vacations and luxuries of all kinds are being axed from the family budget – and the Daytona International Speedway wants to do something about it!

On Sunday, Feb. 15th, NASCAR’s 51st Daytona 500 race will take place in Daytona Beach, Florida.  In an effort to allow more race fans to be able to afford to attend “The Great American Race”, the Daytona International Speedway has cut prices on select tickets.

Race fans can now attend the Daytona 500 for as little as $55.

This is a significant savings in price, bringing ticket costs to 1995 levels and saving over $40 on regular priced admission.  The $55 race tickets are, obviously, for select seats.

The $55 seats are located in rows 1-8 along the Superstretch in the Allison/Lund and Turn 2 Grandstands.  I have no idea what that means as I am not a race fan, but the ticket operator referred to this area as the “lower grandstand”.  Presumably if you are planning to attend this event, you understand what words like “Turn 2″ and “famed superstretch” mean.

last year daytona 500 pre race

Visit the Daytona 500 web site for ordering information on these select tickets.  You can also call 1-800-PIT-SHOP.  (I would highly recommend using the 800 numer to do your ordering and find out about all available specials.)

When you call to order tickets, you will hear the automated attendant advertise tickest as starting at $99.  All you need to do is ask the live operator about the $55 seats and they will let you know what is still available.  As of January 30th, there were still unsold tickets at the $55 level.

Of course, even if you can get the tickets for nearly half price, what about the rest of your expenses?

First, remember that on race day you can bring in your own food and beverages.  In fact, the Daytona International Speedway allows race fans to bring in entire coolers!  Head to the local grocery store and stock up on snacks, drinks and water.  Yes, water.  A full day in the sun with little to no shade requires massive amounts of water in order to prevent dehydration.

There are several options (and price points) for lodging during Speedweek as well.

Daytona International Speedway

You can camp right outside of the Daytona International Speedway for $575 for Tuesday – Sunday.  Or, you can camp at one of the campgrounds in the area for a heck of a lot less (yes, that’s the official offer).  Nova Family Campground offers special rates for Daytona 500 Race week.  Sure, you can’t stumble out to your RV after a day at the races, but Daytona offers a great cab system to get you home safely for $10-$20.

Camping in February?  Absolutely!  Florida weather in February is perfect for sleeping in a tent or RV.  It’s not too hot and not too cold (although the nights can get chilly so bring blankets and sweatshirts!)

If, however, you are much too classy and/or RV impaired for camping, you can head for one of the Daytona Beach hotels or motels.  Be aware, there are only about 4,000 hotel rooms in the immediate Daytona Beach area.  That’s why you’ll pay about $300/night for a place like the Daytona Bahama House on the beach during Speedweek.

If you can’t find or are unwilling to pay for a hotel room right in Daytona Beach, remember to check surrounding areas like South Daytona or Port Orange.

Wherever you stay and whatever you do when you’re not sitting in the grandstands, be safe!  Remember that Daytona Beach is a relatively small town that will be packed to the gills with tens of thousands of other race fans and tourists, not to mention  the poor suckers who actually live here.

Photos courtesy of TequilaMike and Scubabix.

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.