Made another quick trip to Daytona area

I just returned to chilly Kansas last night after a quick trip to see our daughter, and I want to be back in Daytona :)

I took my Mom and sister to see our daughter%26#39;s new house (she lives in the Daytona area), and my cousin brought my aunt (Mom%26#39;s sister) from the Ft. Lauderdale area to meet us and have a mini family reunion.

I got a great rate at the Palm Plaza (actually South Daytona beach area...almost to the Dunlawton bridge) for only $54 a night. They have a small continental breakfast, well lit parking lot, laundry facilities, and a nice little pool area with a deck for sunning.

Mom and my sis said the staff checked in on them every morning to see what they needed and took good care of them. It isn%26#39;t a fancy place, but it is clean and convenient. I got to stay with my daughter in her spare bedroom so enjoyed time alone with her.

We were also lucky enough to see the manatee this trip...we went to Orange City (I can%26#39;t remember the name but it is a state park like maybe Silver Springs?) It was only a charge of $5.00 for 4 of us in the car to enter the park area, and we missed the last boat tour but walked around the area on the boardwalk and saw I think about 8 manatee that afternoon. I guess they started arriving a little early this year due to the cold weather setting in and felt lucky to see them. The park area was great with grills, tables, restroom facilities, and a little gift shop/convenience store.

The other new visit for us was the Marine Science Center on Ponce Inlet (right by the lighthouse). It seems like we%26#39;ve never fit it into our schedule to visit and know it%26#39;s closed on Mondays, so we were glad we decided to go this week on Tuesday and really enjoyed the exhibits.

They had great aquarium displays (one with Seahorses), and they have a small bird sanctuary. I can%26#39;t remember the exact cost but am thinking it was $5.00 per adult, $4.00 for seniors, and maybe $4.00 or $3.00 for children (it is minimal anyway in my opinion)

We also drove to Edgewater since we thought there was a bee hive on display, but it was just a little shop (on A1A) that sells honey and gifts. We have lots of clover honey here in Kansas so not sure how exciting that was, but it was a pretty drive...and of course we had to visit Pappa%26#39;s Drive In at New Smyrna! LOL

We also had dinner one night at the Port Orange Steakhouse and another night at La Fiesta (on Nova Road just north of Dunlawton) and both were great as usual.

Wow...for a short trip guess I rambled on too much, but it was beautiful weather, had family fun, and now I%26#39;m sad to be back in preparation for a long and cold winter :(

Made another quick trip to Daytona area

Thanks for the report Ducky you were busy. I love visiting the Marine Science Center.

The park sounds like Blue Springs, great place to see manatee in the winter months and the water is so clear!

Made another quick trip to Daytona area

Blue Springs...that%26#39;s it Teach! Here%26#39;s a link;

floridastateparks.org/bluespring/default.cfm

Ducky,

I%26#39;m so glad you got to go! Did drive or fly? It%26#39;s great you got those rates but with off season and the economy I%26#39;m not surprised. Was anybody on the beach or in the ocean? What was the temp while you were there? I saw a couple of things in the gift shop at the Marine Science Center last year that I wished I would have got, guess I%26#39;ll have to go back in June when we go to see if they still have what I wanted. I would just LOVE to go to DB for a long week end soon but am saving my money for a trip over Thanksgiving to see my son in KY. I will be cold right along with you here in Missouri as we are almost neighbors. Thanks for the trip report.

punz

Hey Punz...wish we were in FL right now (37 degrees and very windy today) :(

The weather was absolutely beatiful (mid to upper 70 degrees), and there were quite a few people on the beach I thought for the time of year. My crazy cousin went swimming and wasn%26#39;t the only one..and he loved the beach. He%26#39;s from New Hampshire but has lived near the Ft. Lauderdale area now for about 30 years, so he loves the Atlantic and plans to come back and visit our daughter now that%26#39;s he knows where she lives.

He told me he was going to bring his wife to visit too since he%26#39;s thinking Daytona would be a good place to move when they retire (imagine that) LOL

Anyway just keep checking in on the forum like me and you%26#39;ll be back there before you know it :)

Those 70 degree temps sound perfect in DB Ducky. It also sounds like the beach is being enjoyed even in November. As far as retiring in DB we have talked very, very seriously about doing just that quite a few times. In fact, everytime we go LOL. It will be interesting to see if we get to go again this year in June for our anniversary. Not sure what air fare deals will be out there with the economy the way it is. I guess we will have to wait and see. Every year, right around February I start looking, I can%26#39;t help it, LOL. I even got a card in the mail today advocating DB new, 2009 travel guide!!

punz

I am in Daytona now and it is going to be 35 degrees tonight - I packed 1 hoodie and have only got flip flops!!!

Di

Oh that%26#39;s not fun....that happened one time to us when we went to Sea World in California. We never had been there in November so was shocked it got cold there and didn%26#39;t pack anything warm :(

Don%26#39;t worry...the sun will warm things up for you today I%26#39;m sure.

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