The Whole-Hog on Bike Week

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Bikers from all over attend Daytona Bike Week

Photo Credit: Michael Odom

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The streets hum with motorcycles during Bike Week

Photo Credit: Contributed Photo

Bike Week is heralded as the biggest 10-day motorcycle festival in the world. Here's your introduction to this famous fest.

Clinging to the back of a Harley rumbling down Main Street was somewhat overwhelming.

I needed to yell to be heard over the throaty growl of the motorcycles and the rhythms of country, rock and bluegrass.  I was engulfed in a sea of freewheeling people who were taking a break from the everyday grind to enjoy the open road.

Think of me as your guide. I’m here to give you the whole hog on Bike Week, a tradition in Daytona Beach since 1937.

The attendance is up to half a million, and activities are more adult-oriented, so you may want to leave the kids at home with the babysitter for this event.

Here are some must-sees during your stay:

• With more than 12,000 rooms, the Daytona Beach area has something to suit everyone's budget and taste: hotels, motels, condos, luxury living, bed and breakfasts, plus lots of camping.  But you have to make your reservations early.

• Enjoy scenic area rides like the famed “loop” --- a leisurely 22-mile stretch that winds under a cathedral of trees, traverses the Intracoastal Waterway (the Halifax River) and skirts the edges of Bulow Creek State Park. Besides the natural beauty, the loop provides a shortcut to some of the area’s favorite hang outs and attractions. This Bike Week web site (http://www.officialbikeweek.com/) provides a map and directions.

• Visit Daytona International Speedway with its free infield access.  You can drive a demo, check out the displays and vendors, or even setup a tent and stay the night. 

• Don’t forget the Speedway’s daily motorcycle races. Bike Week and Biketoberfest are the only major motorcycle festivals that include racing, and they do it in a huge way.

• The 70th Daytona 200 is the season-opening event to the AMA Pro Racing season. It’s the most historic motorcycle event in the county and will be held under the lights for the first time on Saturday, March 12. Hang on to your helmet, because there’s more!

• The Daytona Supercross, America’s most arduous, demanding Supercross event, will be held on Saturday, March 5.

• Harley-Davidson at Riverside Park also offers lots of action, with its motorcycle and truck displays, concerts, women’s ride and truly, too much else to list.

• If you’re overdosing on activity, Daytona Beach's 23 miles of golden- and white-sand beaches can provide the cure. They are open to pedestrians 24/7 with free access. Cars and motorcycles are permitted in designated areas of the beach from sunrise to sunset.

• Feel like doing more than just relaxing by the waves? Try riding them instead! The beaches feature soft, sandy bottoms and regular swells that make them ideal for surfing. Some of the best area swells are found in and around Ponce Inlet and New Smyrna Beach. Check out the Daytona Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau for more fun ideas.

And here are a few  things to remember when planning your trip:

• Expect crowds. If you’re in need of some quiet time, the world's largest 10-day motorcycle rally is hardly the place to go. Ditto if you’re in a hurry. The sightseeing is part of the fun, and trying to get around fast will get you nowhere but frustrated.

• Save Time. Dial 511 for Central Florida’s latest traffic information. It provides information for 15 major roadways.

• Shop Smart. Stick your driver’s license in your pocket along with your credit card; many of the vendors require it.

• Be Prepared. The official Bike Week website lists a complete schedule, so you can pick out events, locations, and bands beforehand. They also offer a “survival guide” to ensure you leave the festival with a smile.

• Caution! Although families visit, some of the sights and experiences are only appropriate for adults.

If You Go:

The official Bike Week web site: www.BikerBeach.com
The Daytona Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau: www.daytonabeach.com
The surf report: www.volusia.org/beach
The Daytona International Speedway: www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com
Daytona Lagoon: www.daytonalagoon.com