The Daytona Beach area covers 37km (23 miles) along the Atlantic coast and at low tide offers a 150m (500ft) expanse of hard white sand. The beach first became well known in the 1930s and 1940s as a testing ground for the early pioneers of high-speed motor cars and it was here that Sir Malcolm Campbell set his 1935 land speed record – an amazing 444kph (276mph) run in his rocket-powered Bluebird. For a small charge visitors can still take their cars on part of the beach, but the top speed now allowed is just 16kmph (10mph). Real speed is confined to the Daytona International Speedway, which hosts the famous Daytona 500 race each February. The Pepsi 400 NASCAR Winston Cup Series takes place in the summer. The speedway also houses a huge collection of racing memorabilia and early racing films and conducts 30-minute tours on days with no races.
Other attractions include the huge Daytona Flea and Farmers Market, open Friday to Sunday; the Harbour Marina; and the Ocean Center, which hosts top entertainers, sporting events and conventions. Historical sights include The Casements, the former home of John D Rockefeller; Gamble Place, a historical and nature preserve; Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse; and Sugar Mill Gardens, a large botanical garden and dinosaur park.