According to Wikipedia,

In 1938 Joseph and Robert Taylor from Binghamton, New York started building and operating their own miniature golf courses. These courses differed from the ones in the late 20s and early 30s; they were no longer just rolls, banks, and curves, with an occasional pipe thrown in. Their courses not only had landscaping, but also obstacles, including windmills, castles, and wishing wells.

Impressed by the quality of the courses, many customers asked if the Taylors would build a course for them. By the early 1940s, Joe and Bob formed Taylor Brothers, and were in the business of building miniature golf courses and supplying obstacles to the industry. During both the Korean and Vietnam Wars, many a G.I. played on a Taylor Brothers prefabricated course that the U.S. Military had contracted to be built and shipped overseas.

Arrive in Daytona Beach 2012…

we have several Mini Golf Courses in the Daytona Beach area.

PIRATE’S COVE ADVENTURE GOLF

WHERE: 226 Cardinal Drive, Ormond Beach

ADMISSION: $10.75 for adults, $8.75 for ages 4-12

HOURS: Open daily at 9 a.m.

INFO: 386-676-9326

PIRATE’S ISLAND ADVENTURE GOLF

WHERE: 3420 S. Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach Shores

ADMISSION: $9.75 for adults; $7.75, plus tax for children 4-12

HOURS: Open daily at 10 a.m.

INFO: 386-767-9397

HIGHLIGHTS: The adventures and legends of infamous pirates come to life in both of these theme park-style courses. Putt your way through caves, over footbridges, and under cascading waterfalls, all amidst a fun-filled atmosphere of natural wonders, extraordinary landscaping and enchanting pirate lore. Both courses offer an “all day adventure,” which is unlimited golf from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m. for an extra $5 per person.

CONGO RIVER GOLF

WHERE: 2100 S. Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach

ADMISSION: $10.99; $8 for ages 5-10; age 4 and younger are free

HOURS: 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 10 a.m.-midnight Friday-Saturday

INFO: 386-258-6808

HIGHLIGHTS: Play a challenging round of miniature golf as you explore giant waterfalls and rocky summits, mysterious caves and tropical rainforests. Before you begin your journey, pick up the Exploration Game at Safari Headquarters and get ready to experience a wild ride through the jungle following in the footsteps of Henry Stanley and David Livingstone, famous African Congo explorers, discovering lost treasures from their travels. If you find them all, report back to Safari Headquarters for a special prize. And after you play a round, grab a pole and step right up to try an alligator feeding experience like no other at Congo River’s interactive gator exhibit, featuring more than 25 live gators.

HAWAIIAN FALLS MINI GOLF

WHERE: 2504 S. Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach Shores

ADMISSION: $9; $8 for children; age 3 and younger are free

HOURS: 10 a.m.-11 p.m. daily

INFO: 386-767-7671

HIGHLIGHTS: Hawaiian Falls Mini Golf features two beautiful 18-hole courses that wind you through a 30-foot steaming volcano, mountain caves, roaring waterfalls and beneath a huge airplane. From the course’s beach-wrecked ship, you can enjoy some real views of the ocean.

GO-KART CITY/MYSTIC HARBOR MINIATURE GOLF

WHERE: 4114 S. Nova Road, Port Orange

ADMISSION: $5 for adults; $4 for seniors and ages 6-10; $3 for ages 4-5; a second round replay is $2

HOURS: 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 10 a.m.-midnight Friday and Saturday; 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday

INFO: 386-761-2882

HIGHLIGHTS: On top of its 18-hole nautical-themed course, this family fun zone also offers an arcade, batting cages and go-kart racing. Go-karts racing is $6.50 for regular kart and $7.50 for a faster kart. Double karts are also available.

Daytona Vacation Work Outs

For some of us, life is busy and having a week of vacation leads us to relaxation and conjurs up visions of lazy days by the pool and cocktails. 

Then there are adventurous types ..  God Bless the mom (Amanda) who is coming to Daytona on vacation with her 4 children and wants to know if I know of any good exercise classes for her !!

I admit that when I came down in December - I hit Jenny Craig on my 1st morning in town and vowed to walk the beach everyday … I brought my walkman and hit the beach and went home a few pounds lighter which got me thru the Christmas Holidays …

For you exercise glas out there - I have found something just a little different to jump start your workout…

Elite World Class Fitness   http://www.elitefitnessclub.net

has a boxing boot camp that burns over 1000 calories/hour with classes just about everyday at 6AM.. call Elite World Fitness at 386-236-9956 for directions and to get info on class and costs !!

Joe’s Crab Shack - Daytona Beach

The Main Street Pier construction will not be completed in May as originally thought.

Reported in the  Daytona-Beach News Journal 

In fact — it is where I copied the picture above - -the pier will be opened on June 5th, and pizza and fries will be available from take out windows on the deck level..

 The rooftop bar at Joe’s Crab Shack  is expected to be opened on July 4th.. I am just thinking about how wonderful it would be to sit out on the pier and watch the fireworks from the rooftop bar !!!

Of course Joe’s is famous for Buckets of Crab  and their “Steampots”  the food is consistantly good and it is going to be great having another restaurant near the pier. We spend MUCH time at Ocean Deck and have been known to stop by Sloppy Joes for a nip or 2…

Anyone traveling during or after July 4th  week - let us know how the Grand Opening goes , and if you are lucky enough to land a bar seat for the fireworks…. I just wish I could be there too…

Daytona Beach Crawfish Festival

This is the 8th year that Daytona Beach will host the Crawfish Festival on Main Street. On Saturday May 12th, Main Street will be closed from 6PM - 1AM, as Chef Duane Smith prepares and serves crawfish fresh from his Lawtell La farm.

In addition to Chef Smith’s Fresh Boiled Crawfish offerings, there will be several other booths featuring Seafood, Greek dishes and many other items…

Continuing with the Ragin Cajun weekend - The pubs on Main Street will feature live entertainment…

Check Out  http://daytonabeachmainstreet.com

Have Fun !!

Ocean Walk Resort — 1 bedroom oceanfront condo.

This is unit 1309 - south tower on the 13th floor.

Oceanfront with a private oceanfront balcony.

Looking north over the ocean.

King bed……

cable TV in bedroom…

window in bedroom - looks out to hallway

plain ole’ bathroom…. no jacuzzi

Tub - shower

Living room

Sleeper sofa

Dining area - full kitchen

kitchen -

Lazy river and pool…

The 1 bedroom deluxe has a king sized bed

Sleeper Sofa

Full Kitchen

Jacuzzi Tub

Washer - Dryer

You will see the LockOuts - Labeled A & B

The A side is the deluxe

The B side is the suite

You will have a balcony in the condo, although not all deluxe condos are oceanfront..

King Bed

Large living room area

Usually furnished with a sofa & chairs — Sleeper sofa

Bench seat dining room table…

Full kitchen

Jacuzzi tub in bathroom and also a shower.

There are 4 - 1 bedroom floorplans at Ocean Walk…

The 1 bedroom deluxe condo is the largest

The other floorplans are the ::

1 bedroom oceanfront

1 bedroom standard

1 bedroom suite

Now that the construction is complete, and the paint work  is completed…

the Hawaiian Inn is bad to being  the normal hang out it used to be…

This resort is usually an economical location with a perfect spot on the ocean.

The resort has a Tiki stage and usually has entertainment by the pool on most weekends during the summer.

The resort has an indoor pool….

A fun little Tiki Bar….

Large Oceanfront pool…

A few hammocks for swaying under palms….

Many chaise loungers for laying by the pool.

There are also tables for a lunch by the pool….

Great view of the ocean…

The 1 Bedroom Suite is an economy room at Ocean Walk Resort.

Pros

Low Cost

Kitchen

Washer - Dryer

Sleeps 4

Use of Ocean Walk Pools and Amenities

Cons

Small

No Balcony

No View

These units are 600 sq ft.

and are very comfortable for 4 perople…

We have squeezed 5 adults into the B unit that we own…

It worked for the week….

Here are pictures…

A units are the 1 Bedroom Deluxes

B units are the 1 Bedroom Suites

King Sized Bed

Sofa - Sleeper Sofa

Small table - 4 chairs

TVs….in living room and bedroom

Living Room…kitchen is in same area…right behind this location

All appliances, but limited counter space.

Plain ole’ bathroom…

Not really in our usual travels in Daytona, Gene’s Steak House is west of the Speedway on 92.  I just happened to get a Coupon on Groupon and decided that we would give Gene’s Steakhouse a call.

My sister and I were in town right after the Daytona 500 and met up with my parents and we decided to try the place out.

The restaurant is quaint, cozy and very welcoming. Kitchen is wide open right when you walk in - you can see and smell the steaks cooking and when the food comes up - out it goes. We started out at the small bar and had a few drinks.

Since my parents have retired and moved to northern Wisconsin - my sister has lived in Onaha for about 15 years - we seldom get together, so it was really a nice opportunity to get together and catch up.

This is my sister with Tony Stewart - he is madly in love with her and is going to come get her someday… but he is so busy reacing cars and winning all the time that he has not had a chance to come find her…  

It could happen !!!!

We went right to the steaks - we all had 10 oz Filet Mignon. The stuffed baked potatoes are filled with everything , butter sour cream and all the fixins…

I love my filets RARE and this was cooked perfectly…. as good as any fry aged beed that I have had  - steak melted in my mouth !! AND I LOVE horseradish - they had good, fresh, spicy horseradish… the kind that clears your sinuses …

Extra bacon on my baked potato was not a big deal … excellent !!!

Fries were pretty boring… but I all steaks were cooked perfectly and overall great meal !!

For desert - Creme Brulee - I usually like to have a small side of fresh fruit or creme, but was cooked perfectly…

The carmelized sugar melts in your mouth - just excellent…. We had the key lime pie too, but someone (not naming names here) ripped into the key lime pie before I could get a picture — OK , I forgot to take a picture before I dove into it… Key Lime pie was excellent too….

Overall great steaks - recommeneded…service was good and will go back again !!

Gene’s Steak House

call 386-255-2059  for reservations…

Check Groupon for occasional Smoking Deals…

Restaurant closed Sunday & Monday..