Travel On The Level

The Shores Resort & Spa in Daytona Shores is definitely a cut above what most tourists experience in the Daytona Beach, FL, area. I'm tempted to say it's the best - it's Daytona's only AAA Four-Diamond luxury beachfront hotel - but I haven't personally stayed at them all.

I do know that it's a great place for Levelers - barely a step in sight - and the food is outstanding, a real surprise.

Tip: If you select a ground level pool room - very popular with multi-generational families - you will have five steps from pool to your room's terrace. All ages enjoy the nightly S'mores splurge at the beach-side fire pit.

Inside, the lobby is club-like with dark wood paneling, a spacious center with round ottoman-style seating, two-person chess, checkers and backgammon game table and comfy conversation niches along one wall.

The second floor spa is also an unexpected pleasure. Their new Bamboo massage takes the hot stone technique and broadens the areas of pressure with warmed bamboo "rollers" of varying circumferences. Lots of aahs, believe me.

Outside, the large pool and surrounding deck is always active, from cabanas and lounges to the bar and dining areas.
 
Tip: Kelly, pool man supreme, will take very good care of you. He may look as if he never eats but take his word on food recommendations; the man knows. The grilled cheese sandwich is the best ever and worth clogging an artery or two.

Wine Dinners

A friend and I were hosted by the hotel for one of the chefs' popular Wine Dinners at Azure, held the third Thursday of each month (except August when they take a break).

I've been to a number of wine dinners and either you leave with a blur of flavors and wines or with an urge for something substantial and singular in flavor like a hamburger. Not here. My taste buds still vividly recall the textures and flavors of each course, (there were four) including the wine.

Each dinner has a theme; ours was a summer grill, perfect for the June Florida climate. From the opening Grilled Fennel and Peach Brochette to the Char-Grilled Atlantic Swordfish with Blood Orange and Thai Basil Salad with Summer Vegetable Couscous and the outrageously rich as satisfying dessert, the meal was a winner.

Also organic and sustainable, a theme that followed through with the Benziger family wines. Even better, the wine dinners are $45 per person, a far cry from much less satisfying but much more common $100 a plate fare.

Tip: You can read more about the courses and wines, plus get the recipes in the coming weeks at my other blog, Food Afar - Recipes from a Travel Writer.

In short, if you want the fun of broad beaches, an ever-changing ocean and Daytona's speedway with an ample serving of luxury and almost no steps, The Shores Resort & Spa is the place to go.

My friend, also a Leveler, loved it summed up the experience with a comment on the staff's attitude, "No one looks through you here."