The lady Crankwalk and I will be taking a quick trip to Daytona Beach this Wednesday for about 4 days. I know the GRM headquarters is down there and it would be cool to swing by that. What else is going there these days? I have checked out Rolex 24 and then jet out of town and of course I went to the beach as a kid but I don't know what to do as an adult when no racing is happening. I suppose we will take the Jeep and drive it on the beach too.
Weather permitting, the beach is always nice. The Ocean Deck is a decent restaurant / bar on the beach, and always a safe bet for a good time. http://oceandeck.com/
Friday night the Daytona Cubs (Chicago Cubs single A minor league team) will have their home opener. It will be packed, and a great time. They do a great job at Jackie Robinson Park: http://www.milb.com/index.jsp?sid=t450
Tomoka State Park is just North of Daytona, and a beautiful place to kayak, canoe, fish, or just hang-out. (if you are into outdoorsy stuff) http://www.floridastateparks.org/tomoka/
For evening entertainment, Seabreeze Ave, near A1A is where most of the nightlife happens. There are several bars / restaurants worth checking out.
for the best burger in town--- http://www.daytonabrickyard.com/
for great sushi without the high cost--- http://www.cafedujapon.com
best Tai food in town----- http://zenbistrodaytona.com/
Have fun!
Heck yes! That's the kind of insider knowledge I wanted! Thanks
Maybe the Museum at the raceway? They had some interesting stuff years ago.
Glad to help!
Daytona has it's charms. It also has it's drawbacks, and seedy areas. Stay out of the Shark Lounge, The Crooks Den, and pretty much any bar on U.S. 1 (between Rt 92 and Rt 40) --- unless you enjoy dealing with the underbelly of society. We've got plenty of that too! 
Yeah I normally hit up the hotel and the Hooters across from the track for Rolex but this time the beach is the highlight and I wanted a couple nice spots to swing by since the lady is coming.
Thanks for the help! Looks like beautiful weather this week.
Another good spot (had lunch there today) is Chucherias Hondurenas in Holly Hill (yelp link). Not only is it delicious latin food, but their courtyard is one of the prettiest outdoor dining spots in the area. Their giant live oaks are lit in the evening, and I recommend a glass of their sangria with your lady. You'll get lucky, guaranteed.
Margie
^Best advice ever.
For italian, it's Don Vitos on Speedway Blvd toward the beach. Little hole in the wall, a family affair, the wife waits tables and the husband comes out and interacts with all of the tables. Brickyard and Don Vitos are our must hit spots when in town.
The Sharks Lounge was the first Ahem, Gentleman's Club I had ever been to. I had heard about having to go there from a bunch of friends that ran modifieds every year at New Symrna. We went when we were testing the Busch car and learned about how the entertainment in the off season is not as good as during Speedweeks.
The friday night before the Rolex 24 JG and Debbie from GRM sent The Wife and I went to Mario's on Rt. 1 in Ormand Beach for Italian. It was a really good old school Italian restaurant. If you trip goes bad there's also a place down the road that does cremations for $745
Nice boxes, Link?
The Ponce de Leon lighthouse is only about 15 minutes south of Daytona Beach. Mrs. Crankwalk might appreciate it, as I have observed that at least 90% of women like lighthouses.
^Thanks for the suggestions everybody!
And yes, women almost universally love lighthouses, dolphins, and horses it seems.
I need to start an excel sheet with local knowledge of potential future places of visit.
We also went to a park, I think it was called Blue Spruce state park near Deland to see manatees. The water was incredibly clear and there were a bunch of manatees and schools fish swimming about.
Don't forget to get a salt life sticker while your down there.
Wally wrote: We also went to a park, I think it was called Blue Spruce state park near Deland to see manatees. The water was incredibly clear and there were a bunch of manatees and schools fish swimming about.
Wally--- that sounds like Blue Spring state park-- for manatee watching http://www.floridastateparks.org/bluespring/
Seeing dolphins is an easy one. Just spend any time at all on the water, and you are bound to see a few. Kayak and paddle board rentals are available in Ponce Inlet (near lighthouse) Ponce is a quaint, quiet little place with lots of natural beauty:
http://ponceinletwatersports.com/stand-up-paddle-board/
That's the park.
I managed to resist getting the salt life sticker but I did slap a Mile 0 sticker on in Key West. I also can't pass South of the Border without getting a fresh bumper but The Wife wouldn't let me put it on her car.
Wally wrote: That's the park. I managed to resist getting the salt life sticker but I did slap a Mile 0 sticker on in Key West. I also can't pass South of the Border without getting a fresh bumper but The Wife wouldn't let me put it on her car.
All of the sudden I have a lot of respect for your wife! 
Thanks for stopping by today crank. I hope it was all you dreamed and more.
And I just realized we totally didn't get to show you the basement.
Yeah, thanks for the visit. Next time JG will show you the basement.
Wally wrote: That's the park. I managed to resist getting the salt life sticker but I did slap a Mile 0 sticker on in Key West. I also can't pass South of the Border without getting a fresh bumper but The Wife wouldn't let me put it on her car.
Are you talking about this place? I have never seen so many billboards for one place.
That's the place. There seems to be less billboards then there were when I was a kid.
So far Daytona has been perfect. 82 degrees and no rain. Delicious food, driving on the beach, also replenished the GRM swag supply. I normally roll in, watch the Rolex, get Krispy Kreme and then dip out. I have been missing out! Lady Crankwalk is having a blast too. Next time we are trailer ing her 600rr behind the jeep though.
Had a great time meeting up with the GRM staff and getting the tour. I want a Meyers Manx now after staring at them on the beach and in the GRM office. I also wanted to see the basement but I was afraid I would end up a well-sunscreened human lamp shade.
All the food recommendations have been spot on. Ocean Deck had incredible mahi and Cafe Du Japon had the best sushi we've ever had.
Doing some geocaching and more seafood today. Woot!
The Taj Mahal of all things GRM.
Supplies
Srs sushi face.
Regular sushi face.
Thanks for stopping by Crank-- glad the trip is going well!
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