Daytona Beach at top of list of Best Places to Live in Florida by U.S. News & World Report

Daytona Beach has another feather to add to its cap: Being named one of the top locales to put down roots in the Sunshine State.

The city and its surrounding area came in at No. 7 in U.S. News & World Report's Best Places to Live in Florida rankings for 2023-2024.

The report noted: "Many things that make Daytona Beach a popular vacation spot also make it a good place to live. Fishing is a popular pastime, and residents can be seen casting from a pier or the deck of a yacht. Fishing's land-based recreational counterpart is golf, and the area offers multiple courses on which to play. And then, of course, there's racing: Home to the Daytona International Speedway, the area regularly welcomes NASCAR fans from around the country."

The write-up goes on to highlight many of the cultural offerings Daytona Beach has to offer, including museums, theaters, performing arts centers, antique markets, restaurants, malls and colleges. Other arts amenities residents have access to are live music and theater productions at Peabody Auditorium and shows at the beachfront Daytona Beach Bandshell amphitheater.

Lori Campbell Baker, executive director for the Daytona Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, said she was not surprised to hear such accolades about the region.

"It’s always an honor to have our community recognized as a great place to be ― whether you’re visiting on vacation or making it your home," Campbell Baker wrote in an email to The News-Journal on Wednesday. "The amenities that attract more than 10 million visitors to our area each year ― gorgeous beaches and green spaces, world-class attractions, arts and culture, and unique eateries ― are the same ones that make residents thrilled to call this destination home."

U.S. News & World Report considered residents' proximity to assets of the greater Daytona Beach region including adjoining towns and communities like Port Orange, South Daytona, Ponce Inlet, Ormond Beach and Holly Hill.

The survey also noted another perk that comes with living in Daytona Beach: Driving is allowed on designated sections of the beach.

Daytona Beach was also recognized by U.S. News & World Report as the 49th Best Place to Live in the U.S., as well as the No. 8 Best Place to Retire. It was also recently recognized as one of the 10 Best Beach Towns to Retire in the U.S.

This article originally appeared on St. Augustine Record: Best places to live in Florida? Daytona Beach rates at top of list