As all of us in Florida know, we are the luckiest bikers in the world. We have year round riding weather! We may get wet, we may be hot and, at times, even need to don our leathers; but we can always ride without snow tires! So our riding brethren from all those cold parts of the USA love to invade Volusia County for Bike Week and Biketoberfest. [singlepic id=817 w=320 h=240 float=left]But what many, even who reside here, may not know is we have more to offer in Volusia than the beach and biker bars! We have polled Volusia County resident bikers and asked them to tell us the best biker friendly bars, restaurants and the roads they love to ride. Many you will be familiar with and many may cause you to go off your beaten path your next visit to Volusia County.

We have more Biker Friendly Bars than probably any other county in Florida some would argue we also have more bikers, but the favored list is as follows. (Note that the ones highlighted in color have ads with Thunder Roads and I would really like to see you frequent!)

In Daytona: On Main St. the list is Dirty Harry’s, Boot Hill Saloon, Main Street Station and Froggy’s. On International is the oldest strip club in our area which is Shark’s Lounge. There are also Lollipops and Molly Browns for those of you who like dancers. On US 1 we have a new gentleman’s club which is Cheaters Cabaret and there is Diamond Dolls, too. Although none of our clubs allow the girls to show what they use to get away with.  Some of the favorites on US 1 are Saints & Sinners, Iron Horse, Ormond Crab House and during Bike Week and Biketoberfest Broken’ Spoke. Smaller cool bars are Annie Oakley’s, and Kickstart Saloon.  Off of Flomich is an old bar Rowsey’s and off of Beach St. is an even older beer and wine bar Walden’s. On A1A there is Chillin at the Beach in Ormond Beach and going south towards Ponce Inlet is Crabby Joe’s on the Sunglow Pier on A1A.

Going south on US 1 you will run into the Last Resort, First Turn with a great outside deck and food, and in New Smyrna Beach Chase’s on the Beach with a pool and ocean view and Pub 44 right next to New Smyrna Harley.

Out in the western area of Volusia we have the infamous Cabbage Patch renowned for their Coleslaw Wrestling in Samsula. Dale’s Ales in Orange City and Crossroads, The Brass Rail and OB’s in Deland.

Great places to eat that are not chains are listed as: First Turn (Port Orange) for steak & seafood, Brick Yard (Daytona),The Dish on Granada, Lulu’s off Granada beachside, Babe’s Blue Room (Ormond Beach) and Iron Horse (Ormond Beach) for burgers and DB Pickles (Ormond Beach) for home cooked foods and excellent desserts. The best spot for sushi is Bamboo Garden in Ormond Beach. Another restaurant is a spot in Oak Hill called Country Kitchen.

[singlepic id=814 w=320 h=240 float=left] [singlepic id=811 w=320 h=240 float=left]The roads we were told to travel are A1A going north of Granada for the unobstructed beach view. The Loop starting on Beach although the bridge is out right now, it is suppose to be repaired in time for Bike Week.  Many enjoy riding through the Ocala National Forest.

No visit to Volusia County is complete for a biker without dropping in on Destination Daytona. Just browsing makes it a great place to spend a few hours. Places to make stops that may not be your typical biker destination, but things we think are worth your time are The Lighthouse in Ponce Inlet, take a ride ON the beach in Daytona (don’t forget to wash the salt off), the Speedway in Daytona, Tomoka State Park with the old Fairchild Oaks and the statue of Chief Tlmokie, Bulow Ruins, visit the manatees in Blue Springs, the city of Deland has a historic downtown area and you can cook your own breakfast at DeLeon Springs, but check with them if that is Sunday mornings only. Our county also has golf, horseback riding, sky diving, boat rentals, camping and fishing expeditions.

Many of the bars in our areas have bike nights and free BBQ to thank their biking patrons for choosing them as their riding destination. We offer wonderful homegrown musical talents so find a “Cool Joint” after a long day of riding and relax or dance the night away.  And thank you for visiting Volusia County!

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Thunder Cam Mar. 2011

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