For more than a century, Daytona Beach has been a draw for vacationers. In the late 1800s, the Daytona area caught the attention of wealthy northerners, who found it to be a favorable area for investment. One of these investors was Matthias Day, who was the founding father of what was then call Daytona. He had built the first hotel, the Palmetto House, in 1874.

As growth continued, entrepreneurs like Commodore Charles Burgoyne began building a community center in Daytona Beach. In the early 1900s, Burgoyne organized concerts along the riverfront, promoting the town's events to travelers.

Automobile racing became a regular pastime along the hard-packed beaches at the beginning of the 1900s, and Ormond Beach became known as the "birthplace of speed" due to the many land speed records set there.The National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing was founded in Daytona Beach in 1947. In 1959 the Daytona International Speedway opened, which continues to draw about 8 million visitors a year.

Visitors come from around the world to enjoy one of the "most beautiful, family-friendly beaches in Florida."