Thank you to The Foxtail Estate for hosting our stay! As always, all opinions are my own.
Daytona Beach is my home. I’m a 4th generation Floridian and the 3rd generation to be born at Halifax Health. I was raised just south of Daytona, in Port Orange, and I have a strong pride for our little beachside town. I’ll be the first to admit I stay away from the Spring Breakers and Bikers, but there is so much more to love about Daytona than what first comes to mind.
Not only can you drive on our beaches, but the sand is also some of the prettiest in the world. We get approximately 230 days of sunshine a year and we’re home to attractions for all ages. A weekend in Daytona Beach could be filled with bar hopping and racecars, but also relaxation, good food, and family-friendly entertainment.
And as much as I love Daytona Beach and the surrounding cities, it’s not often that we spend a lot of time exploring the town. Because we like to travel so much, we can be major homebodies when we’re here. But as soon as I found The Foxtail Estate on Instagram, I knew I needed a staycation in the heart of Daytona Beach. The older I get, the more I appreciate smaller resorts and boutique hotels. This bed and breakfast chose to take a modern twist by combining original features with updated details, and that’s exactly the kind of style I look for in a place to stay.
The Foxtail Estate
The Foxtail Estate was originally built in 1875 and glided through the years as a general store, private home, and even served as the city’s unofficial city hall for a time. In 1987 the home was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Can you imagine the history and stories that those walls hold? As a local, I think it’s incredible to turn something so rich with history into a contemporary bed and breakfast.
I have to admit, the name “The Foxtail Estate”, was one of the first things that caught my attention. It just sounds like an inviting atmosphere (and I’m a little partial to anything related to foxes). Amira mentioned their love for foxes and later found out about foxtail ferns in the area. And so, The Foxtail Estate was born. The exterior of the bed and breakfast captures a “coastal garden” vibe. With lush greenery and palm trees surrounding the home, you can even get a peek at the Halifax River across the street. It’s warm, inviting, and just a happy place upon arrival.
The Living Area
With a picket white fence inviting you to the entrance of the boutique bed and breakfast, you’ll be greeted with a bright foyer when you walk in the front door. A sitting area with a colorful rug and chairs captures the new century charm of the renovated space.
Heading into the living room, an unplayable piano has been turned into a coffee bar. The once dark and dingy fireplace is now a light, white wash brick. If you stay during Florida’s winter months, you’ll be lucky enough to enjoy your morning coffee by the fire. The comfortable furnishings carry in the coastal garden vibe to the interior. Neutrals and blues capture the essence of a charming Florida home on the water. The common living area is the kind of space you’d want to curl up with a good book or a glass of wine. In the dining room, there’s a breakfast bar, dining table, and built-in shelves that hold games, books, and more.
Amira and her husband live in the home, too, as bed and breakfast owners are required to be on-site. As guests of The Foxtail Estate, you can expect to become the top priority. It’s a unique quality that bed and breakfasts can offer that many huge resorts don’t. Your stay becomes personalized to you and your needs. It was so nice knowing Amira would be there as much or as little as we preferred during our stay. In the morning, she would turn on the coffee pot at our requested time and serve a light and healthy breakfast at our convenience.
The Guest Rooms
Upstairs, three guest rooms are bright and airy, each featuring a comfortable king size bed. The room in the back of the home, The Rhodes Room, is the only room with a balcony that overlooks the backyard. The middle room, The Robinson Room, is the smallest, but still a decent size for any length of stay. Bold stripes and tropical leaves compliment each other in the room’s decor, reminding you of the Florida magic. The bathroom isn’t connected to the Robinson Room, but it’s just a few steps across the hall and has a private key. Check out a full tour of the different rooms over on Foxtail Estate’s website.
And then there was our room at the front of the house, The Thompson (or Honeymoon) Suite. The room, large and stunning, is everything you dream of for a boutique bed and breakfast. With original floors, just refinished, it had the creaks and squeaks of a 100+ year old home, but the beauty of being brand new. Large windows overlook the marina and allow natural light to pour into the room. A separate sitting room holds a couch and vanity area. It was the perfect spot to do my hair and makeup in the morning.
Blackout curtains kept the room dark enough that I actually got to sleep in past 7:00am. I loved the modern, chic decor, like the mirrored nightstands, mixed with some original features like the soaking tub and light fixture. Our room had it’s own Alexa which was absolutely amazing. We always travel with a Bluetooth speaker so this amenity was right up our ally. The bed, a memory foam mattress, was incredibly comfortable and we both slept like babies. I can also confirm that the bed and breakfast is not haunted. 😉
The [Future] Wedding Venue
Not only is The Foxtail Estate a beautiful lodging option to Daytona’s downtown, but it’s also on it’s way to becoming another wedding venue in the area. While the backyard was recovering from drainage issues while we were there, I could already envision tea lights strung across the garden and a beautiful backdrop for vows. Amira provided me with a photo she had snapped on her phone of the backyard when it was lush and green. You don’t need much of an imagination to see how beautiful it will be for a ceremony.
You can also rent out the entire bed and breakfast at a discounted rate. The Honeymoon Suite is exactly the kind of space that bride’s dream of getting ready and photographed in.
The Location
The Foxtail Estate, located at 426 S. Beach Street, is walking distance to plenty of restaurants, shops, and entertainment. Because it was cold and really windy the two days we were there, we drove to the restaurants, but normally you wouldn’t need to. A few of our favorite places in the area include:
- Ronin Sushi & Bar: Probably the best sushi in the county, I’ve been going here for special occasions, girls’ nights, and date nights for over a decade.
- Zappi’s Italian Garden: Cozy indoor and outdoor dining offers a charming atmosphere for the best Italian on Beach Street.
- The Dancing Avocado Kitchen: Real food that’s really good, this restaurant is a great spot for breakfast and lunch.
- Wine Me: This local wine bar features weekly wine tastings, live music, and date-night vibes.
- McK’s Tavern: A casual spot with everything from wings to steaks.
- Cinematique of Daytona: This theater shows art films and serves up casual food and drinks.
- Angel & Phelps Chocolate Factory: I’m pretty sure every kid from my generation had at least one school field trip here. Offering tours and some of the best fudge in town, it’s a sweet little place.
- Halifax Historical Museum: If you’re looking to dig a little deeper into the city’s history, this is the place to go!
- Daytona Arcade Museum: Featuring retro video games, MTV music videos from the 80’s, a bar and casual food, this is another fun indoor activity. Not to brag or anything, but I have the current high score for Ms. PacMan.
There’s literally something for everyone just along this one street, and the World’s Most Famous Beach is just a 5 minute drive from The Foxtail Estate.
I can genuinely say that The Foxtail Estate is one of the best additions to Beach Street and Daytona Beach. It’s a little slice of paradise in the historic downtown area and the perfect option for those seeking a personalized experience. Head to their website to book your stay!
