Florida’s beautiful Daytona Beach, we love it there. We also go to New Smyrna, a lot of locals do, for us though, it depends on where we can get the best deal for rooms. Retirement, semi-retirement requires a bit more research as saving money here means you can spend money there! It seems like we GO a lot, and we do, but we are frugal with our choices. I always say I can stay most anywhere as long as the bed and bathrooms are clean. I have never been to upper class places because I don’t want to like them and, of course, I will!

Several years ago, some friends introduced us to Fantasy Island Resort in South Daytona. It is a small property with everything you need and nothing you don’t! Fantasy Island is located right on the beach, so you have the pleasure of using their private pool or walking down to the beach or both! The perfect blend. Their rooms are best described as efficiencies; bed(s), fully equipped kitchen and eating space. They are clean, property is well managed, and the rates are fair. Since it is a smaller property, parking spaces are assigned per room, and it is private property so you are not fighting others to be able to park.

There are 6 beach front rooms, depending on availability. We have stayed in the beach front and the side rooms, and both are fine. It’s always nice to have a beach view but also nice to save a couple bucks!

Decent restaurants are within walking distance and others are easy drives. Publix Supermarket (ha feels funny saying Supermarket … so old school!) is 5 minutes down the road. WE do not cook in the room; I don’t cook at home so am certainly not going to cook on vacation! Breakfast diner Cracked Egg is a nice walk and serves a good breakfast and lunch. We love Portofino’s Italian Restaurant (baked pasta entrees are SO good!), and there are tons of beach and sports themed restaurants with good food.

Our weather was not that great, very cloudy and lots of rain and we did enjoy the pool more than the ocean. The waves were rough the entire time we were there. I don’t think I even went down to the beach once. Shame on me! At night, since we had so much rain, the ocean was loud. LOUD. We could hear the roar of the waves with the door shut and the a/c on. And no hearing aids! Loud! We had one really bad thunderstorm, but the rest was just wind and rain.

Arent those cloud formations amazing?

My friend Tammy took this beautiful sunrise on her morning walk, I’d love to say I was walking with her, but I was sleeping in and enjoying the bed! haha. I always want to get up to see the sunrise but I really. Sleep is rare enough when I am getting it I am taking it!

As I said, we spent most of our time at the pool, which was relaxing. I’m very fair skinned so trying to keep from getting too much sun is a challenge. I finally broke down and bought one of those sun protection long sleeved shirts so I could enjoy the pool and not burn up. My dermatologist will be proud of me!

You can’t see it but there is a large gas grill out on the pool deck by the seating that guests can use to BBQ.

There was supposed to be a Falcon 9 Rocket Launch, and I was really looking forward to that. I have lived in Florida most of my life and have never seen a rocket launch up close. However, it was not to be. All the launches were scrubbed due to weather. Sigh! We left Thursday morning to come home and of course, the rocket finally launched Thursday night! Our friend Harvey took this picture from his home in Melbourne. Isn’t it spectacular?

Growing up here in Central Florida the beach was always there. I don’t recall our family going a lot maybe my siblings remember more than I do. I don’t think mom liked it that much. I DO remember when we went we swam in the ocean. We jumped waves and went out over our heads and I’m not sure we ever thought a shark would come that close to us. As a teenager, I had a 1968 barracuda convertible and that was a beach car. I wish I had it today but back then it was a boy’s car and quite embarrassing. Most boys just wanted a date in hopes of driving my car, which NEVER happened. Anyway, to drive the convertible to the beach, at 16 and 17 with my friends, was a really cool thing. We’d swim, I’d get sunburned, and we’d go home.

I will always remember when Jaws came out. My first husband Tom and I got married in July of 1975. Jaws came out before July, and it ruined our honeymoon. We went to The Islander Hotel in New Smyrna Beach and neither of us would go in the water! I saw non-existent sharks everywhere!

Tom joined the Army and we moved away but every time we came home, we had to go to the beach, even if it was just for lunch and a quick walk. I have been back in Forida full time since 1990 and my life with Tom is a memory. My life is with John now, been married 22 years. I don’t need to go to the beach often, but I know I get my cup filled there. There is just something lovely and peaceful about the beach. (I’m also a Pisces, so there’s that! haha). I like it when it’s quiet and not too many people. God always speaks to me there, in Florida beaches. My home will always be Florida.