  Usually when Sandra and I travel, we find a hotel or motel that provides us with lodging and all the amenities we enjoy. However, this time, we scored a Daytona Beach condo. And “scored” is the right word.
  It’s known as the Marine Terrace Resort. Due to hurricane damage, the pool has been closed indefinitely, and currently they have no direct beach access. However, because it is December, and because there are multiple access points to the beach – this was not a large scale problem for us.
Lots of Glass
We were impressed by the number of windows boasted by this property. All of the exterior rooms were practically ringed with floor to ceiling glass – most of which looked out over the Atlantic Ocean. Our room was on the third floor. That gave us just enough height for a wonderful view, but still was low enough to enjoy the water almost at eye level.
Yes, it appears the pool may take a while, but the property has a lot of other amenities. For instance, there’s a spa, a reading room and a game room – complete with pool table. They also offer free popcorn on the weekends in the lobby, made with their own retro popcorn machine.
In other words, there’s a lot to do if you choose not to go swimming. However, we were entranced by the motion of the sea. There also were some wonderful distractions both on the water and in the air.
At Sea
It was pretty cool the weekend we were there, so there was not the brace of beach goers and surfers usually seen along the Atlantic coast. However, there were several boats that passed by as we sat on the balcony. One was this sailboat who appeared to be trying to get to port before the sun went down.
In the Air
There was the usual inventory of sandpipers, pelicans and seagulls during our trip. Most of them were flying and diving during the early morning and late afternoon. Apparently they were looking for breakfast and dinner respectively.
However, they weren’t the only airborne entertainment. There were a few banner-towing aircraft, at least one jet airliner. This seaplane made a pass by our condo as it flew down the coastline.
A Great View
I did mention that there was a lot of glass at this condo. Anywhere you sat there was a wonderful panoramic view of the ocean. In the dining area, it was easy to look out and keep tabs on what was happening on the water.
There also was a living room area, where you could watch a flat screen TV, or again, turn your attention out onto the water. The sofa actually was comfortable enough that we fell asleep on it more than once.
Ours was a unit with two bedrooms and three full baths. There also was a utility space with a washer and dryer should we have needed it. The beds were comfortable, and both had windows that allowed us to watch the sun come up without having to get out from under the covers.
The Sun Rise
Although I didn’t have to, I did get out of the bed early on to get a shot of the sun rising over the Atlantic. I got up, my wife did not. She got a very similar shot.
Lest you think this was the only one, we captured this one:
And perhaps my favorite of our stay –
All the Comforts of Home
We mentioned some of the appliances, but our condo feqtured a great little kitchen. It could serve easily for warming things up, or for cooking an entire meal. There were plenty of glasses, cups, plates and utensils. Plus, as a galley kitchen, everything was in easy reach.
And Finally
We cannot say enough about the front desk staff. There was someone there 24/7 and they could not have been nicer or more helpful. This was a great find and a wonderful opportunity – especially if you are going to have an extended stay.
Discover more on the Marine Terrace Resort website.
And there’s a lot to do in the Daytona area. We’ll have more on that later.
