Rockets, Racecars, and Rip Currents

Day 1

For NASCAR fans, Daytona Beach [2] is the ultimate pilgrimage. The city’s legendary Daytona 500 race kicks off the stock-car season every year, and the city is the site of the racing organization’s birth. Even if there’s no race happening, the Daytona 500 Experience [3] is an essential stop for fans of the sport, as it combines Hall-of-Fame tributes with racing simulations as well as the opportunity for well-heeled guests to drive a stock car on the hallowed track.

Day 2

If the speed of a race car isn’t quite fast enough for you, try the nearly 8 million pounds of thrust that propel the space shuttle into orbit at nearly 3,100 mph. At least you can get a sense of it at the Kennedy Space Center Visitors Center [4], about 90 minutes south of Daytona Beach, which offers exhibits and simulators as well as tours of the NASA facilities.

Day 3

Instead of watching it or dreaming about it, why not get into some action yourself? Florida’s mid-Atlantic coast is home to some of the best surfing in the state. If you happened to miss the innumerable billboards for Ron Jon Surf Shop [5] as you drove into the state, just know that even if you show up in Cocoa Beach [6] with no board, there’s a 24-hour store here that can serve your needs. In fact, there are two 24-hour shops (the other is Cocoa Beach Surf Company [5]), which gives you some indication as to how seriously this part of the state takes its wave-riding.