The “World’s Most Famous Beach” enticed famous explorer Ponce de Leon way back in the 1500s, and for decades, Daytona Beach has welcomed motorsport speedsters and low-key sunseekers alike. From the early 20th century until 1958, car races were held on the beach. Then, in 1959, with increasing participation and crowds, car races were moved off the beach, and held at the new Daytona International Speedway, home of the most prestigious race in NASCAR, the Daytona 500. Today, Daytona Beach residents still enjoy the tradition of being able to park their cars on the beach, but the hard-packed sand is also delightful for bicycle riding, running, long walks or simply soaking up the sun.
There is more to this sunny locale than sand, sun, and speed. Indeed, woven within the fabric of the Daytona Beach area is a tapestry of arts, culture, and heritage sites. With the Ocean Center, Daytona Beach is host to many festivals, competitions, concerts, and performing arts presentations. Botanical gardens, parks, trails and wildlife preserves provide an appreciation for both the beauty and the environmental concerns of the area … and then there are many ways to get outside to play! Here are some of the features and interesting things to see and do in and around Daytona Beach:
Enjoy the Beach!
Yes, there is something very special about Daytona Beach with its beautiful 23 miles of hard-packed, white sand. The shoreline is expansive at low tide, 500 feet wide! Whether at sunrise or mid-day, low tide or high, the beach is fabulous. Enjoy the shorebirds, hunt for sea shells, enjoy the art in the sand … There’s nothing like the calming, refreshing effect of a walk on the beach.
The Daytona Beach Boardwalk
At first glance, the Daytona Beach Boardwalk, is combination amusement center and Mardi Gras fun center with fast food and surf shops right on the beach. Look a little closer, and there is a beautiful coquina bandshell, a fun venue for open-air concerts and community events. Along the boardwalk, take a self-guided tour by following commemorative plaques with the history, milestones and fun facts related to racing on Daytona Beach.
Shopping!
Daytona Beach is a shopping mecca! From the boutiques and antique shops on historic Beach Street, to the department stores at local malls, to designer brand stores at the Tanger Outlets, options abound! There are the colourful specialty shops and restaurants just off the beach at the Ocean Walk, and the new, upscale showcase of shops, restaurants, and entertainment at One Daytona. The choices are endless!
Daytona International Speedway
Yes, it’s possible to get an up-close, behind the scenes tour of the World Center of Racing! The Daytona International Speedway
opened in 1959, born from Bill France’s vision for the future of racing in Daytona Beach. In 2016, that vision was rejuvenated with a renovation making it even more accessible and comfortable for fans to experience the thrills of motorsports. Experience a track tour, and see the home of the iconic NASCAR race, The Daytona 500.
The speedway is also home to The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America
and showcases spectacular displays honoring all forms of motorsports: Stock Cars, Sports Cars, Open-Wheel, Motorcycles, Drag Racing, Land Speed Records, Powerboating and Aviation, and includes classic machines from these competitive arenas.
Ponce Inlet Lighthouse
Step back in time take your Florida vacation to new heights! Climb 175 feet at the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse and Museum, one of the tallest lighthouses in the United States! Constructed in 1887, the Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse has guided mariners along the Florida coast for more than 130 years. At this museum, learn about the life of the lighthouse keepers, and the historical significance of this particular lighthouse.
Dunlawton Sugar Mill Botanical Gardens
The Dunlawton Sugar Mill Botanical Gardens
provide a beautiful place for visitors. Special plant collections educate local gardeners about what can be grown in the area, featuring projects done by Eagle Scouts. While enjoying the grounds, there are still artifacts and ruins that attest to the storied history of this transformed plantation and sugar mill.
Museums
The nationally accredited, Smithsonian-affiliated, Museum of Arts & Sciences
(MOAS) is Central Florida’s primary art, science and history museum. MOAS is also visited for its state-of-the-art planetarium, the Prehistory of Florida gallery, and The Root Family Museum
which features popular Americana: restored train cars, Indy Series race cars, teddy bears, and the largest collection of Coca-Cola® memorabilia in Florida. The Cici and Hyatt Brown Museum of Art, another feature of the MOAS campus, is home to the largest collection of Florida-based art in the world.
The Marine Science Center
At The Marine Science Center, discover and learn about Volusia County’s rich marine life; the inhabitants and the ecosystems that make this area unique. Through innovative experiences, visitors can view seabird and sea turtle rehabilitation, get hands-on in a teaching lab, explore exhibit galleries and meander along a nature trail to observe and learn about marine life in this region.
Visit St. Augustine
Founded in September 1565 by Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles of Spain, St. Augustine is the longest continually inhabited European-founded city in the United States – more commonly referred to as the "Nation’s Oldest City." In St. Augustine's more than four centuries of history, much is owed to the Spanish, English, Greeks as well as the Native Americans and African Americans. Stroll the narrow lanes with galleries and shops, explore through the museums, or visit landmarks such as Castillo de San Marcos
and Ponce de Leon's "Fountain of Youth".
A fun way to get around and enjoy an overview of the city is to join an Old Town Trolley Tour. The “Hop On/ Hop Off” feature allows visitors to stop and explore, and during the ride, an entertaining and knowledgeable guide will provide interesting stories while pointing out the highlights of the city.
Opportunity to visit Kennedy Space Center
From the dawn of space exploration to current and ongoing missions, you can get an up-close, hands-on feel for the story of humans in space at The Kennedy Space Center. A ship like no other, the space shuttle launched like a rocket and landed like a glider while transporting astronauts to space and back for thirty years. Explore shuttle missions that secured the future of Hubble Space Telescope and the International Space Station. Learn how to dock and land the shuttle with training simulators, and discover the legacy of NASA's Space Shuttle Program. Through new interactive and engaging exhibits, relive the wonder and excitement of the Apollo era. This one-of-a-kind attraction celebrates the unprecedented achievement of putting humans on the Moon and the awe felt in that moment by all mankind.
Play Outside!
There are many options to get outside and play! The Daytona Beach area is one of Florida’s best and most value-laden destinations for golf! Websites such as GolfNow
can help find tee times, and the staff at the Bahama House are sure to have helpful recommendations.
If you enjoy tennis, there are courts, free to the public, at the nearby City Island Tennis Center. Farther up the beach, The Ormond Beachside Tennis Center has friendly pros and drop-in clinics. For the more serious player, there is The Florida Tennis Center, with a pro shop and many options to improve your game or meet new people for a friendly match.
Enjoy exploring the Inland Waterway with a kayaking
or stand-up paddleboarding tour. Perhaps you’d like to cover more ground on the beach than walking permits? Maybe you’d like to rent a bicycle
or try a Segway tour.
