Tropical-style rattan furniture and palm-patterned décor team up to ensure you’re in full escape mode at the Tropical Winds Oceanfront Hotel. (Coconut-scented sunscreen helps too.) Change into your swimwear as quickly as possible and head straight for the sand to decide for yourself if the beach lives up to its “World’s Most Famous” designation. (It does.) Up for more underwater fun? Reapply sunscreen and go for a swim in the outdoor pool, then grab lunch at the poolside cafe. Visiting in the off-season? There’s a heated indoor pool for the cooler winter months. When the days start blurring together, and you can’t remember what you were stressed about before you got here, you’ll know Daytona has cast its magical vacation spell, and you won’t want to reverse it.

Studio and one-bedroom condos sleep four guests and are air-conditioned and have enough space for you, the kids, and all of their toys, blankets, and games. Fully equipped kitchenettes make dinner-fixing a breeze. Declare it Taco Night and let the little ones build their own tacos. Cook the meat, lay out the tortillas or taco shells, cheese, sour cream and avocado and let the kids go wild. (The on-site laundry facilities will come in handy for post-taco cleanup.) The casual on-site restaurant has you covered for breakfast and lunch. Enjoy cozy evenings in thanks to your flat screen TV with cable. At the end of the night, gather the family on the private balcony and watch the sunset.

No matter when you’re here, you won’t want to miss Daytona’s must-visits, like the boardwalk, Ocean Walk Shoppes, and the Daytona International Speedway. The Daytona Beach Boardwalk opened in 1938 and features rides, amusements and two arcades that the family will love. Grab a treat at one of the snack bars and don’t forget to pick up a souvenir from the gift shop. Get ready to shop ’til you drop at the Ocean Walk Shoppes & Movies. For swimwear and surfboards, there’s Maui Nix. Check out the beach apparel, towels and custom t-shirts at Point Break. Treat yourself to a new pair of shades by Ralph Lauren, Tiffany & Co., or Chanel at Sunglass Hut. Hungry? Dine at Johnny Rockets or My Pi. Forrest Gump fans will love Bubba Gump’s Shrimp Company. Enjoy delicious seafood while you participate in movie trivia and see memorabilia from the film. Catch a first-run movie at Paragon Theater; it features ten screens. Nascar fans will want to visit the Daytona International Speedway and check out the newest track, completed in 2016. The speedway is known as the “world center of racing,” and has been the home of the Daytona 500 since 1959.