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Hi Daytona Beach, hope you’re having a great weekend! In today's in-case-you-missed-it edition: Street traffic shakeup, Pickle Fest, and Hadestown: teen edition + the top stories from this week & a sneak peek at next week.
Some family trips fade. This one didn't. Twenty years later, I still remember standing under that giant tipping water bucket, waiting to get soaked. That was Great Wolf Lodge, and my family spent the whole weekend like that, drenched and laughing, climbing back up for one more slide. The water park is entirely indoors, kept at 84 degrees year-round, and included with every stay, so the forecast doesn't matter. You can book a discounted family getaway right now.* |
01 — Worth knowing Most popular stories this weekThe three top stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
Street layout under review: Daytona Beach business owners urge restoring two-way traffic on Seabreeze, Wild Olive, Hollywood, and Oleander. The Beachside Redevelopment Board recommended city consider conversions, but Seabreeze changes would require FDOT approval -- read the full story.
New Daytona race rules: NASCAR will run the Aug. 29 Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona with the rear spoiler trimmed to 4 inches and about 465 horsepower to curb fuel-saving and reduce drag -- see what’s changing at Daytona.
New law takes effect: Governor Ron DeSantis signed the Officer Jason Raynor Act, mandating life without parole for killing a law enforcement officer in Florida, honoring Raynor and strengthening penalties for attacks on officers -- see Raynor Act penalties.
Watch your credit card balance drop. Here's a rare one: this card lets you skip interest charges until nearly 2028, and you won't pay a cent in annual fees to do it. On top of that, every purchase earns at least 1.5% cash back, with some categories as high as 5%. Spend a little early on and there's up to a $200 bonus waiting too -- take a look.*
Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC bill: If your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest -- this one's 50% off right now.*
The bill all retirees should double check: Car insurance. If you’ve been on the same plan for years, you might be paying way more than you need to. It’s an easy one to forget about, but switching could save you up to $600 this year. Case in point: I shopped around and ended up cutting my premium in half -- this free comparison tool makes it easy.* All the crowd favorites: |
02 — From our sponsor Some family trips fade. This one never did.Twenty years later, I can still put myself in that water park: standing under the giant tipping bucket with a crowd of other kids, waiting to get soaked, then climbing the stairs with my family for one more run down the slide. We spent the entire weekend like that, drenched and happy. Most childhood vacations blur together. That one stuck. What I understand now, as the adult who'd be planning it, is why it worked so well. Great Wolf Lodge is an indoor water park resort, kept at 84 degrees every day of the year, and the water park comes with every overnight stay. No separate tickets, no watching the forecast all week, no rained-out weekend. The big slides keep the older kids busy, the shallow splash areas keep the little ones happy, and nobody has to sit out. Everything else is under the same roof too: an arcade, interactive adventures, daily kid programming, and places to eat. You park the car on Friday and don't think about it again until Sunday. The suites are built for families, with themed rooms and enough space that everyone actually sleeps. Clean, safe, and simple, which on a trip with kids counts for as much as the slides. Your kids will remember the bucket. You'll remember how easy it was. *Plan a getaway they'll never forget → |
03 — On our radar
This week's top findsLocal spotlights your fellow readers loved last week.
Putts, pizza, repeat: Long week? Reset at Mulligan’s Lagoon Pizza Pub & Putt, where an 18-hole tropical course meets brick-fired pizza, cold beer, and a chill fire pit. It’s the rare spot where date night, kid energy, and your competitive streak can all happily coexist.
Global comfort, local hangout: This week, treat yourself to The Red Bud Cafe, an art-filled, cozy spot serving sweet and savory crêpes, coffee that hits the reset button, and globe-trotting plates from the Balkans to Australia... which is a long way to say your taste buds won't be bored.
Serious comfort cravings? Put Soul Foods on your midweek save list. Crispy fried chicken, turkey wings over rice, and sides like baked mac and cheese or candied yams do all the heavy lifting, so you can coast into the evening like a local who knows where the good plates live.
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04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial walk-in-the-door fee to x-rays, surgery, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could save thousands on your next vet bill with *Lemonade →
Shop for new floors without ever needing to leave the house: No showroom, no second-guessing. All from the comfort of your own home. Empire Today® has flooring experts that will bring you samples and provide you with a free in-home estimate. Trusted and backed by over 3 million satisfied customers and over 65 years of quality service. *Check out their current offers today →
The fitness trend that doesn't require leaving your living room: Chair yoga is having a moment, and for good reason. It's low-impact, easy on the knees and back, and you do the whole thing seated. No floor, no equipment, no studio. A quick quiz turns it into a personalized plan built around your body and goals, then adjusts as you build the habit. *See your plan →
A blown engine can cost more than your car is worth: And it almost never warns you. One day it runs fine, the next you're staring at a $7,000 repair on a car you still rely on every morning. That's the kind of bill an extended warranty exists to absorb, the engine, transmission, and electrical failures that wreck a budget overnight. You bring it to any certified mechanic, pay a deductible, and the rest is handled. Enjoy a free year of Elite Benefits and a 30-day money-back guarantee on top. *See everything it covers →
A window quote that takes an hour and costs you nothing: No showroom, no sales runaround, no obligation to buy anything. A design consultant comes to you, measures your windows, walks you through the options, and leaves you with an exact price and timeline, that's the whole visit. Keep the quote as long as you like and decide whenever you're ready, or don't. Booking takes about a minute. *Book your free visit → |
Have an event to share? We (and our readers) can't wait to hear about it! Submit an event → |
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05 — The event calendar Sneak peek at next weekPlan ahead for the next seven days. Dates, times, and locations are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
🧘 Buck Full Moon Beach Yoga & Sound Bath @ Andy Romano Beachfront Park (Ormond Beach) | Wednesday (7/29) at 7:00 PM – Beach yoga and a sound bath under the Buck Full Moon is serving up the kind of reset my chiropractor keeps hinting at. Stretch into the sand, let the waves do the talking, then float home lighter, clearer, and pleasantly salty. Yoga + sound, $30.
🎭 Hadestown: Teen Edition @ Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center | Friday (7/31) at 7:00 PM – Halifax Rep is taking us down to Hadestown: Teen Edition, where Orpheus and Eurydice tangle with Hades and HR’s toughest attendance policy. Folk, jazz, and blues meet serious teen talent, crisp staging, and just enough doom to make date night feel cultured.
🤠 Garth Brooks Tribute @ Daytona Beach Bandshell | Friday (7/31) at 7:15 PM – Sounds of Summer is serving a Garth Brooks tribute, free and courtesy of the City of Daytona Beach. Bring a lawn chair, save your inside voice for one song, then sing Friends in Low Places with strangers, sea breeze, and no cover.
🧒 Kid's Entrepreneur Business Fair @ Daytona Flea & Farmers Market | Saturday (8/1) at 9:00 AM – The Kid's Entrepreneur Business Fair is popping up with pint-sized CEOs, handmade goods, and pitches sharp enough to cut through your Saturday errands. Think Shark Tank without the sharks, just proud parents, wildly creative ideas, and allowance-backed start-ups you will actually want to support.
🎒 The Adorno Foundation's 4th Annual Back Pack Drive @ The Spread, LLC (Port Orange) | Saturday (8/1) at 11:00 AM – The Adorno Foundation’s 4th annual backpack drive returns to stock local kids’ backpacks, permission to buy gel pens. Businesses can sponsor, with drop-offs at Salty Drip IV, Gary Yeomans Ford, Saplings Port Orange, The Beville Salon, and PRC Alliance in Port Orange and New Smyrna.
🖼 Ormond Art Walk @ Ormond Memorial Art Museum & Gardens (Ormond Beach) | Saturday (8/1) at 3:00 PM – Nothing beats First Saturday Art Walk at OMAM when crowds behave and the shuttle saves knees. Meet Krissy Kay, peek at her pop-up full of stitched layers, found bits, maybe fire, and a gallery talk, then reward your curiosity with wine, beer, and free admission.
🫧 Bubbles Up By The River @ Coastline Coffee Bar (Port Orange) | Saturday (8/1) at 5:00 PM – Trade your suitcase for a coffee cup and travel the Riverwalk at Coastline Coffee Bar. Grab a passport, collect stamps from local artisans, score prizes, and sip island-inspired drinks, including the Coconut Cove Latte. Riverside music, dancing, and prime golden hour, no TSA.
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — From our sponsor Heads up for pet parentsTogether with our sponsor Lemonade. Nothing prepares you for a late-night emergency at the vet. I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. From the initial exam fee just to be seen, to x-rays, surgery, medication, and follow-up visits… the bill racks up fast (to say the least). And at that moment? You’re not thinking about your savings, you’re just saying yes to whatever keeps them thriving. As soon as we got home, I dug around online and ultimately signed up for Pet Insurance. It was too late for me, but you could save thousands on your next vet bill with *Lemonade. |
07 — Daytona Beach report Weather forecastToday — High: 93°F — Low: 77°F — Precip: 52%
A chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Mostly sunny. High near 93, with temperatures falling to around 88 in the afternoon. Heat index values as high as 106. West northwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Later: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 11pm and midnight, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between midnight and 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 77. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Tomorrow — High: 91°F — Low: 76°F — Precip: 71%
A slight chance of rain showers between 7am and 11am, then showers and thunderstorms likely between 11am and 5pm, then showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Heat index values as high as 103. West southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Later: Showers and thunderstorms likely before 8pm, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8pm and 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 76. South southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Most popular house this weekThis 3-bed, 2-bath Ormond Beach coastal home claims a rare 0.26-acre corner lot with sweeping Atlantic views and true shoreline access. With riparian rights extending beyond the roadway, the property offers space for a private beach walkover or shaded pergola. Inside, 2,229 square feet includes a roomy kitchen with a large island, double ovens, stainless appliances, and custom cabinetry.
Take a peek inside → |
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