By Dalia Colón
Daytona Beach offers a lot for families, from surf lessons to carnival rides at the pier. And one of the best ways to explore the shore is on two wheels.
The area’s hard-packed sand is ideal for a scenic bike ride. Savor the warm breeze as you glide along the coast, and when you’re ready to cool off, buy an ice cream cone from a vendor and take a dip in the Atlantic. Then hop back on your beach cruiser and explore some more.
“Anyone can do it at any age,” said Shannan Burk, owner of Blue Coast Shop in Daytona Beach Shores, which rents sand-friendly bikes and other beach gear.
“We have a bike for every age group, so nobody would ever be excluded from riding a bike on the beach,” Burk said. Tandem bikes are ideal for kids who aren’t quite ready to ride solo, and the littlest beachgoers can enjoy the view from a trailer.
Trailers also comes in handy for stashing cold drinks and a picnic lunch, if your family decides to make a day of it. From Blue Coast Shop, head north to the Daytona Beach Main Street Pier, or go south toward Ponce Inlet, where you can climb the lighthouse and touch stingrays at the Marine Science Center.
A day of beach biking brings recreation, education and the most fun your family can have on two wheels.
Tips for biking on the beach
Mind the tide. You’ll have the easiest time riding at low tide, which changes times daily. Before scheduling your bike day, look up the tide chart online so your plans don’t get washed out.
Start on the right foot. Trekking shoes make the perfect footwear for a beach biking excursion. They’re close-toed, which is great for biking, but waterproof for when you feel like splashing in the ocean.
Be patient. Biking on sand takes some getting used to, especially if you’re riding tandem with a child or pulling a toddler in a trailer. But once you all get your sea legs, the cooperation will bring you closer together as a family.
