We have Daytona Bike Week happening down here in Florida. It's all going to start on Friday March 10th and last a whole week ending on Sunday March 19th. If you are headed down here for the first time here are a few places you should drop by.
1. Main Street on Daytona Beach Side. Take the historic Main Street Beach to cross over to Main Street where Bikes are parked alongside the road throughout, with vendors, bars and a historic cemetery too. You'll probably see the strangest Characters of Bike Week all at Main Street.
2. Beach Street. Full of vendors at the stretch North of International Speedway up until Main Street Bridge. Although over the years Beach street has definitely shrank in size, there is a good amount of vendors and Grass right along the Halifax River where you can find Dolphins swimming around if you are lucky. You'll find the big Indian Motorcycles Dealer which used to be an Old Harley Davidson store. Lots of vendors are setup at their parking lot too. And if you want to support the local guy, check out Barney's Leather. They were one of my first customers helping me sell my patches when I first started. You'll find him to carry some great leather vests and jackets.
3. Daytona International Speedway. You've come to Daytona, at least checkout the huge recently rebuilt Speedway at Daytona. They spent hundreds of millions of dollars renovating it and it has a very fresh look. Last Biketoberfest you could pay a little to take your Bike to the infield. No you can't race your bike around it, although they do have vendors with Dynos setup who might let you test your Rides Engine. You'll find lots of Demo Bike tents. All the big players are here, Yamaha, Honda, Harley to name a few. You can get to test ride some different motorcycles.
4. Destination Daytona Harley Complex. Bruce Rossmeyer, the legendary Harley Store Owner, built this place over 10 years ago. They said it would move Daytona Bike Week to Ormond. Perhaps it has. a lot of the vending spots south of Daytona on US-1 have disappeared over the last 10 years. And more Biker bars and camping grounds have appeared North of Daytona around Ormond beach alongside US-1. After you leave Main Street, take A1A North till you get to the Granada Bridge. Take the Bridge back to the mainland side and take a right to start going North on US-1. It's a beautiful ride, you'll find lots of bars and camp grounds alongside it. You'll eventually come to the I-95 intersection where you'll find a huge Harley Davidson Complex. Tons of Vendors, lots of Tourists, Concerts, this place has it all. It's a good stop over. But don't turn around just yet, keep going north on US-1, it's nice country riding.
5. The Most Scenic Route. There is always that loop people talk about. Let me give you my version of it. Leave Destination Daytona and go North on US-1 till you get to Marco Polo Blvd. Make a right onto Marco Polo Blvd and keep driving. After you pass the highway intersection the road name changes to Old Dixie Hwy. After a bit more the road curves to the right. Right after the curve you want to take a left turn into Walter Boardman Lane. You'll then make a right onto High Bridge Road at which point it starts to get very scenic! Continue on High Bridge Road till you get to A1A and make a left to go North. The ride on A1A is very scenic till about Matanza's Inlet. Once you get to Matanza's inlet make a pit stop at Matanza National Park. You'll see some amazing Oaks, if the Ferry is working you can also take a ride out to Fort Matanza. Once you are done visiting it's time to head back south on A1A, unless you want to go all the way to Saint Augustine.
6. Washington Oaks State Park. After leaving Matanza's Inlet, Start heading south on A1A until you get to Washington Oaks State Park. Now it's going to run you a $4 or $5 to get in but it's worth it. Take an hour walk relaxing in it's most amazing garden. This place is legendary, it's peaceful, it's the therapy you need and I mean that!
7. Old Dixie Hwy. After leaving Washington Oaks State Park head south on A1A till you get to High Bridge Rd. You'll get to a stop sign at which point you'll make a left on to Walter Boardman Ln. At the end of that road make a left on to Old Dixie Hwy and Enjoy a truly awesome ride through a road that is completely covered over with trees. The Road will eventually turn into Beach Street and you'll eventually come to Granada Bridge. Keep driving on Beach Street Past Granada, The Ride along the river is very scenic till you get to Seabreeze Bridge.
8. The Cabbage Patch off Tomoka Farms Road. This one is towards New Smyrna. To get there, leave Main Street and take A1A South towards the Dunlawton Bridge. If the Tide is low you may want to take this Ride on the Beach. You would enter the Beach at the intersection of A1A and US-92 (International Speedway). Enjoy the beach ride on hard sand till you get to Dunlawton (it would be a big exit with a huge watch tower next to it. It is slightly before the next peer you'll see riding south). Get off the beach at Dunlawton. Take the Bridge Across and keep going on Dunlawton Rd Past the I-95 intersection all the way till you get to a road called Tomoka Farms Road. Take a left and start going south on Tomoka Farms Road (aka 415). You'll find the ride to be scenic, horse farms, big acreages. You'll get to Cabbage Patch a few miles down the road. It's at an intersection. Impossible to miss. Wednesday is the day to go to this place, they have Girls Coleslaw Wrestling. There is also the CackleBerry Campgrounds right across the street from Cabbage Patch. Competition had drawn beer prices down to a Dollar a Beer back 2 years ago. After your Pit Stop at Cabbage Patch continue driving South on 415 till you get to SR44 intersection. Make a Left onto 44 and Go East towards the Beach.
9. New Smyrna to Daytona Ride. Take Route 44 down to US-1 and make a left to go North on US-1. Enjoy the Scenic Ride, Check out the New Symrna Airport. Stop by Spruce Creek Park and take a walk. The road will take you all the way back to Daytona.
