Think beach vacations are only for summer fun?! Wrong! AKA Mom discovered a few hidden treasures that will have you pulling out your calendar and planning your next fall weekend getaway!

Let’s start with where to stay…

I couldn’t have been happier when I came across this amazing new boutique hotel while perusing a “special deals” travel site on the Internet. The reviews were exceptional, the pictures were beautiful and the price was right. The Lotus Inn and Suites was a breath of fresh air… clean, modern and the customer service was an A+. Neal, the property manager, stays on site and is ready to help you with any need you may have. They have a beautiful heated pool, which illuminates in turquoise color at night, a hot tub and fire pit to relax around on a cool fall evening. Pack your marshmallows, chocolate and graham crackers and the kids can enjoy S’mores after a swim! Sleek, contemporary and family friendly… this is definitely my new go-to in Daytona!

Now for things to do…

For the Nascar fans in your family, the Daytona International Speedway “All Access Track Tour” is a definite must! The shuttled tour takes around 90 minutes and you get a behind-the-scene look at what makes Daytona International Speedway the World Center of Racing. You’ll get the chance to explore areas such as the Drivers Meeting Room, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Garages, Gatorade Victory Lane and the Houston Lawing Press Box seven stories above the Speedway. Trust me ladies, even if racing isn’t your thing, you will really enjoy learning about it. Just be sure to put the family in comfortable shoes, some walking is involved.

Photo Credits: Daytona International Speedway

They also have several other great opportunities for families from now through Budweiser Speedweeks and the Daytona 500.

• Scout Days at the Roar Before the 24
• Rolex 24 – kids 12 and under are free with adult
• Budweiser Speedweeks 2013: (from Daytona Shootout through the DRIVE4COPD 300 Nationwide Series race) – Kids 12 & under are FREE in general admission grandstands and Sprint FANZONE when accompanied by a paid adult. http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/Tickets-Events/Events/2013/Budweiser-Speedweeks/DRIVE4COPD-300.aspx
• Daytona 500: Kids 12 & under are half price in Superstretch grandstands and FREE in Sprint FANZONE when accompanied by a paid adult.

After dreaming about high speeds at Nascar, take a trip over to Daytona Lagoon and check out the drier side of their park. Strap in and hold on tight and see who’s fastest in the family on the Grand Prix Go-Kart Raceway or score a hole-in-one playing 18 rounds of miniature golf. Just keep an eye on dad if he’s taking score (wink, wink). There is also a huge arcade, a rock wall, laser tag and even a new indoor ride called the Island Hopper. Any place that will keep your kids busy and smiling for hours on end gets two thumbs up from AKA Mom!

Finally, get back to nature and see the “real” side of Florida with Blue Heron River Tours in Deland, Florida. It’s about a 45-minute drive from Daytona Beach but worth every minute! Tucked away on the St. John’s River at Hontoon Landing Resort & Marina, this place is a hidden paradise with a perfect mix of ecology, nature and history.

Our river tour guide, Captain Gary, was super friendly and made the tour informative but also fun with lots of open discussion on the boat. The boat we rode in, called “Great Blue”, was extremely spacious and comfortable– refreshments and binoculars are also available for a small cost. My kids had a great time laughing with Captain Gary (a former school teacher) and are still talking about everything they saw- manatees, a 14 foot alligator, a baby alligator, tons of turtles, blue herons, Anhinga’s, white ibis’s and even an American Bittern. Not to mention all the lush and beautiful landscape and cypress trees we experienced while traveling on an old 1800’s logging canal into the Hontoon Dead River. I have to share that my 9-year-old daughter decided the theme song for the trip was “On the Hontoon… making waves and seeing gators on the logs”. (in the tune of “Pontoon” by Little Big Town) (giggle)

For folks that want to enjoy this beauty for more than a day, Hontoon Landing Resort & Marina offers lodging and accommodations in 18 Riverside Resort Rooms and Suites. Besides the river tour, the resort also offers boat rentals, fishing, kayaking and lots of opportunity for bird watching. This place is truly a “must see”.

As you can see, Daytona has a lot to offer and something everyone will enjoy. AKA Mom gives Daytona an A+ in family fun for fall!

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