Atlantic Beach Fl Homes

Road Trip: Affordable Jacksonville

For the AJC

As uncertain economic times continue, many people are holding back on making grand travel plans that may hit the pocketbook too hard and looking for cheaper options closer to home. For Atlantans, Jacksonville, 35 miles south of the Georgia border, contains a surprising array of affordable attractions. Set on the banks of the northward-flowing St. Johns River near the Atlantic Ocean, many of the Jacksonville area’s best attractions are either free or dirt cheap.

Don't miss

Jacksonville Landing and the Riverwalk

The Jacksonville Landing is the recreational heart of downtown for tourists and locals. This waterfront shopping, dining and entertainment complex sits beneath skyscrapers on the north bank of the St. Johns River and contains a mix of chains and locally owned shops and restaurants. The large courtyard area facing the water is the site of many holiday celebrations and special events, such as the before-and-after parties for the annual Georgia-Florida football game played in the city each fall (this year's game is Oct. 29). After getting your fill at the Landing, take the Riverwalk -- which runs along both sides of the river -- across the Main Street bridge to the Southbank Riverwalk for the best view of the city skyline, where the skyscrapers can be seen reflected in the water of the wide river. At sunset, stroll the wooden walkway with other walkers, joggers, hand-holders and people-watching bench-sitters to Friendship Fountain, a 200-foot-diameter fountain with shooting jets of water that are spectacularly lit in the evening.

Beaches

From downtown Jacksonville, it's less than a half-hour drive to miles of sandy shoreline. Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach and Jacksonville Beach all run together from the north to south into Ponte Vedra Beach, an upscale golf resort area that likely wouldn't interest those on a budget. The other three communities are cheaper to visit and each has its own identity, but they don't really differ much when it comes to the beach, as it's all the same easily accessible stretch of Atlantic coast. At Jacksonville Beach, you’ll find a pier stretching nearly a quarter mile into the ocean ($1 admission, $4 to fish from the pier, no license required). Also in Jacksonville Beach is the Beaches Museum and History Center ($5 and under), where you can explore exhibits that relive the rich history of tourism along the strand, including a replica boardwalk from the Gilded Age.

History of Nascar - Daytona Beach Florida

Nascars early roots stemmed from the need of moonshine runners needing fast cars to escape the revenuers in the southeastern United States. Its history is colorful and quite unique. Originally founded in 1948, its first official race was run in Daytona beach on a track that was part beach and part asphalt. It was won by Red Byron , who would eventually win the first championship.

Six days later, at a meeting at the Streamline Hotel in Daytona , Nascar was born. Bill France was the first president. Known as the Grand National division until 1972, when France approached RJ Reynolds it became known as the Winston Cup as part of the agreement. Soon after, Nascars popularity blossomed with most of the races being sold out months before the race.

The drivers became household names. Lee and Richard Petty, the Flock brothers, Junior Johnson and others became legends . Richard Petty ended up winning an almost unthinkable and probably never broken record of 200 races. As far as Daytona, Nascar wasn’t only founded there, the fastest lap ever was recorded when Bill Elliott qualified at over 210 mph. It was started in 1957 and completed in 1959 with Lee Petty winning the inaugural race. Since then Daytona International Speedway has been home to one of the most prestigious sporting events, the Daytona 500. In the last 50 years Nascar has run all of its top three divisions at Daytona.

Many people from around the country vacation and live in Daytona Beach due to the races and NASCAR.  To be up close and personal, to understand and feel the need for speed is what NASCAR is all about.  Thinking of making Daytona Beach your home or are in search for the perfect condo or second home .  Call me!

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