"From my first experience there, even though I was only 4, I knew that place was an adventure. It seems every time I've gone there since it keeps getting better and better. The place I'm talking about is Daytona Beach." - Aaron Walton, age 15.

On his journey from toddler to teen, my son Aaron loved most the path that led to Daytona Beach, and so I recently asked him to write about his memories of our frequent visits. His account made me realize: The reason our family returns so often is that the area has something new every time we go.

Aaron was intrigued that first time we veered off Interstate 95, returning from holidays in Virginia, intrigued that we could drive on the beach and at the amusement park atmosphere of its famous boardwalk.

Aaron and I returned shortly thereafter. We toured the world-renowned Daytona International Speedway by tram. We climbed to the dizzying top of Ponce Inlet Lighthouse, all 203 steps, and Aaron got a certificate to prove it. We then rode the chair lift over Main Street Pier.

Four years passed before our next family foray. DAYTONA USA was open next to the Speedway and we watched Dad compete with other wannabe race-car mechanics in the pit. Aaron "talked" to race car drivers on interactive computers. Things were starting to change on the beach. Modern hotels were on the rise and new parks were being built. Aaron and Dad hit the gnarly waves on boogie boards. Aaron kept trying to stand up on his, so we figured it was time for the big board.

"This is a venturous beach where I caught my first wave, explored a tall lighthouse, and went zooming down a race track at 75 mph. Is there anything you can't do there? They have everything from water parks to arcades to thrill rides," writes Aaron.

At age 11, Aaron stood up on a surfboard for the first time at  Daytona Beach, ever to go down in his annals of life history as a major landmark. He had officially hit his extreme years, so it worked well that a water park with awesome slides had opened near the beach. We stayed at Ocean Walk Resort, the new wave of things to come on Daytona Beach. There was talk of it expanding into a whole new shopping-entertainment district. When we weren't on the beach, we were seeking thrills at Speed Park Motorsports, across from the Speedway, revving dragsters up to 75 mph in three minutes.

"I recently visited the pier on Daytona and rode a lot of thrill rides and played arcade games. It seems like I could spend forever in Daytona. My friend and I made a vow to head over there once we get our drivers' licenses," Aaron concluded his Daytona memory jog.
Aaron, Jean-Michael and I finished our last visit to this place we call kid-heaven with a late lunch in Ocean Walk Shoppes, colorful and representing what's freshest in Daytona Beach's family-fetching image.

He and friend Jean-Michael had just turned 15 when we rode through last summer, amazed at the way Daytona Lagoon water park and Ocean Walk Shoppes added luster to the classic fun-on-the-beach arena we had watched evolve through the years. They made the teen scene while I poked around into Daytona's newest and oldest corners, where surprises for everyone in the family lurked and sprung. Near the inlet, the Marine Science Center adds an ecotourism dimension. Everything from the Museum of Arts and Sciences to LPGA International Golf School offer big people enriching play time.

For the wee ones, a lot of local resorts have devised cool activities to keep kids happy - from bingo and putt-putt to popsicle boat races, plus cool pools and even lazy rivers and interactive water playgrounds. Some accommodations even offer special kids' rooms with bunk beds and Internet access, not to mention plenty of video games.

Aaron, Jean-Michael and I finished our last visit to this place we call kid-heaven with a late lunch in Ocean Walk Shoppes, colorful and representing what's freshest in Daytona Beach's family-fetching image. The boys did indeed vow that as soon as they were driving, this is the place they would head, where life seemed to them, now as it did back when we first visited, like one big, happy playground.