The beach town for all seasons, with its T-shirt shops, amusement arcades and wall-to-wall motels, DAYTONA BEACH owes its existence to twenty miles of light brown sand where outdoor fun is mandatory. Once a favorite Spring Break destination when half a million college kids would travel to this hot spot, Daytona now discourages such activity, leaving it free to focus on its true love: motor sports. Life in this down-to-earth resort now revolves around three major festivals: February's Daytona 500, Bike Week in early March, and the relatively new Biketoberfest .

For all the excitement that racing generates, the best thing about Daytona is the seemingly limitless beach: 500 ft (152.4 meters) wide at low tide and fading dreamily into the heat haze.

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