Beachfront Balcony View - Daytona Beach, FL

Chilling for a few minutes on the hotel balcony before hitting the road again...

We enjoyed the solitude of a moonlit walk on the beach when we got in last night, and then we were able to appreciate a few moments of peaceful surf and sand before the hordes of beach-goers started pouring in for the day.

The Daytona area IS beautiful.

And the ability to drive on the beach is fun, unique, and convenient,

But beyond that, I'm not really a fan of Daytona.

If you're 21ish and looking for a good time boozing it up with scantily clad members of the opposite sex, then Daytona is the place for you. When you're 30somethingish with a mini-van full of kids, you can live without the beer cans, and the cat-calling, and the non-stop video-recording as people cruise incessantly up and down the shore in their vehicles with rims and stereo systems that cost more than your entire vacation...

If you are going to be in this particular area with your family, I would personally urge you to consider New Smyrna Beach, or even getting down in to my favorite spot, Canaveral National Seashore. Both places are far more family friendly. They are cleaner, quieter, more relaxed, and phenomenally beautiful to boot.

There is SO much to do at Canaveral if your family enjoys wildlife. (See additional post to be added with more information)

Harvest Moon Over Daytona Beach - Daytona Beach, FL

Good Night, Travelers!

Sweet Dreams to You All!

Scenic Route Part Two - Merritt Island, Cocoa Beach, & Cape Canaveral, FL

Back on the scenic route, here are a few shots passing through Merritt Island, Cocoa Beach, and Cape Canaveral.

We cruised a bit through the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, and then bopped around some of the outside areas of the Kennedy Space Center. We've visited the Space Center several times in the past, but it was getting late on this particular day and the facility was already closed.

But even passing through on a lazy afternoon, headed into dusk, you can still see plenty of awesome birds, alligators, deer, and the occasional armadillo.

And don't forget, the one, the only Ron Jon Surf Shop in Cocoa Beach. It's part surfers' paradise, part kitschy souvenir headquarters. But, it's always worth a fun stop! (interior photos in the next post)

Surfer's Paradise: Ron Jon Surf Shop - Cocoa Beach, FL

Sometimes on a long trip you just need a place you can stretch your legs and engage some brain cells for a few minutes. When we're cruising through the Space Coast, we HAVE to stop and give the Ron Jon Surf Shop an hour or so of our time.  

These days, there are smaller Ron Jon shops in multiple locations, but this is THE Surf Shop of the Florida Coast. The 52,000 square foot flagship store boasts massive collections of surfboards for sale; as well as all kinds of surf and swim gear, skateboards and skate gear, swimsuits, sunglasses, clothing, bikes, towels, and so much more.

They have a really cool section of shells, starfish, and other ocean finds. I suppose that one little section helps keep this stop "educational" in nature!  Otherwise, Ron Jon is best experienced as a bright, fun, spirited stop.

If you need gear of any kind for your vacation, you'll probably find your highest quality choices in Ron Jon. If you're not looking for an investment, but perhaps you're in the market for cheap souvenirs, they have those as well. Post cards, shot glasses, window clings...  How about jewelry? I know my kids love collecting necklaces, pendants, bracelets, anklets, and rings, made of colorful shells or in the shape of sea turtles, dolphins, or other ocean life. Yep, they have all that!

And, most importantly, THEY DO HAVE PUBLIC BATHROOMS.

They are upstairs in the very back corner of the store, so you literally have to walk by every product on the sales floor to get to them, so it's certainly not a quick in and out pit stop, but it ranks up on the fun scale for memorable pit stops.

It is a two story store, but elevators are available if needed.

Plenty of parking is available behind the shop, and it is free. So, next time you're cruising through Cocoa Beach, and you've seen the million bill boards plastering the entire state of Florida, go on, and give Ron Jon a whirl.

Random A1A Palm Beach County - Palm Beach, FL

Continuing along A1A, headed North, slowly moseying our way back home, but enjoying every bit of the scenic route...

Now we're passing through Palm Beach County, one of the wealthiest stretches of affluence you'll find anywhere in the nation...

With such cities along the route as Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Lantana, Lake Worth, Palm Beach, and Downtown West Palm...

Opulent beachfront mansions, multi-million dollar estates lining the Intracoastal Waterway, million dollar yachts, condos fit for a King, and a Rolls Royce at every traffic light...

There are a few shots of Donald Trump's Mira Lago, the famed Clematis Street, Palm Beach Avenue, the Little Red Schoolhouse in Lake Worth, and a whole lot of really snazzy places premier addresses!