When I was a kid, spring break meant one thing — Daytona Beach. I lived for that one week when I could pretend MTV was filming and I was one of the coolest of the cool spring break visitors that descended upon Daytona Beach. There was no other reason, in my young mind, to visit a packed beach like Daytona unless it was to strut in front of all of the parked cars and pretend, at 16 years old, that I was already in college and free of my parents.
It sounds tacky, and honestly it was, which is one of the reasons I’ve never found another reason to return to Volusia County for anything. And then, I heard about The Shores Resort and Spa at Daytona Beach Shores.
Located a few miles south of Daytona Beach, The Shores Resort and Spa is a quiet, little slice of heaven on a beach known for loud, obnoxious tourists.
Daytona Beach Shores is located on a barrier island on the Atlantic Ocean. It’s home to approximately 5,500 people and is roughly 5 miles long and a couple hundred yards wide. It offers visitors all of the charm of Daytona Beach to the north, like great seafood restaurants, tourist destinations and beautiful beaches, in a much smaller, much nicer environment.
The Shores Resort and Spa is Daytona’s only AAA Four-Diamond luxury beachfront hotel, and it shows from the moment you walk in the front door. The decor screams luxury, with deep, rich wood beams and plush upholstery throughout the spacious lobby. The opulence extends to the decor in the guest rooms — a four-poster, king-sized feather bed is the focal point, but the Italian marble shower, 42" flat-screen television and beautiful patio round the room out, creating a comfortable and elegant ambiance, perfect for unwinding and relaxing.
The Shores is home to Indulge, a boutique day spa on the premises which specializes in helping guests indulge in their every wish. Multiple treatment rooms, low lights and a full salon offer a multitude of options for relaxation. The traditional Swedish massage melts away the stress, and it left me ready to enjoy the rest of the amenities the resort had to offer.
And when it comes to amenities, The Shores has pretty much got them all covered. The pool deck is beautiful, with one large main pool and many different areas to enjoy the sun. The deck stretches across the entire length of the resort and even has a designated area where weddings and events can be staged. A gated entrance keeps away people who are not guests of the hotel and covered cabanas are available for privacy or simply to enhance the pool side experience. A great tiki-bar and outdoor seating for the hotel’s Azure restaurant round out the outdoor experience and help draw guests to the two fire pits, where they can roast marshmallows and have the resorts signature Shores s’mores.
All in all, The Shores Resort and Spa is a great place to visit if you are looking for a beach vacation that isn’t too far from home.
