The Braden family loves Perry's. We were introduced to it by Bonnie's mother, who used to visit there.
- Shortly after Bonnie’s father retired from the Army, he and his wife Claire (GiGi) separated and GiGi made her home initially in Melbourne and later in Daytona Beach.
- Claire and a close friend liked the beach and would frequent some of the beach-side resorts. Kind of like showing up, buying a day pass, and using the facilities ... except for the part about about buying a day pass.
So it is likely that GiGi steered us towards Perry’s. Continue reading and learn why we came to love it!
What makes Perry's special - a resort that you would go back to year after year? Well, it is on the Atlantic Ocean at Daytona Beach, so that might be enough in itself. It was family-owned that that friendly atmosphere seemed to permiate the resort. And Perry's has all the standard amenities: pools, shuffleboard courts, a golf putting green, a basketball hoop, lawn chairs and tables. Plus free parking!!!
But there are a couple of things that make it extra special.
- First and foremost is what it calls its Garden Apartments. These are two floors of rooms with kitchens that surround a large atrium area that has a large pool and a large hot tub. When the facility was constructed, the atrium area was parking lot. When it was turned into an atrium, the apartments surrounding the pool included a few with one-bedroom and maybe two-bedroom places that were good for families with kids. And the atrium made the resort good for anytime-of-the-year visits. The pool is not only large, but heated to what we call Florida standards, for all of us whose blood has turned thin. The pool temperature is always at about 88 degrees, and the spa hovers between 102 and 104 - warm! This means that the kids - big kids and small kids - can swim no matter what the weather is outdoors. Too much sun today? No problem; go inside and have swimming fun. And because we stay in the Garden Apartments, we get to sit outside our room and eat, play board games, or just watch the kids having fun.
- Second are the morning coffee, donuts, and juice that are offered complimenmtary from 7 to 10 AM daily.
- Third are the activities that are scheduled: Bingo, make-your-own-sundae, horse racing, etc. Somethings each day to look forward to.
- Fourth, it doesn't hurt to have a Winn Dixie right across the street for easy food shopping.
Yes, we know we sound like we are on commission for the place. And there are many people we see who also come year after year to Perry's. No, it isn't a pristine Hilton, but it is clean and it has a comfortable and welcoming environment for guests. Every Perry’s trip included:
- A family walk up the beach (north) to the boardwalk area for lunch on the pier.
- A drive at night to the boardwalk area to play a few games at the arcades and to enjoy a treat.
- A short drive south to Ponce Inlet to the end of the island to visit the lighthouse and to feed the fish off the pier.
As with all beaches, we played a game at the water's edge when the tide was coming IN. We had teams; and each team had a similar object, like an empty soda can that would be placed on the ground as water from an incoming wave receded. Then team members would quickly pile up sand all around their can to keep the next surge of water from knocking it over. Of course the task was impossible because the incoming tide would always win eventually, but it was fun competition to have the last can standing. Mix in some swimming, hot tubbing, kickball on the beach, board games, pony races, arts and crafts, good food and snacks, flag football on the beach, Bingo, feeding the sea gulls, and marshmallow gun wars with the family and have a great time!
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