What to See & Do in Daytona Beach, Ormond Beach and New Smyrna Florida areas
The Daytona Beach area has an expansive selection of activities and entertainment for people of all ages. Daytona Beach is famous for its beaches, but there is so much more. Some of the other things to do in the Daytona Beach area are; motorsports, shopping, nightlife, cultural events, historical sites and sporting events.
Enjoy hands-on activities that appeal to all ages. Daytona Beach is the perfect place for family fun. Some of the many activities include the beach, water park, go-kart tracks, arcades, laser tag, parasailing, surfing, miniature golf, the planetarium and much more! The wide range of things to do is what makes Daytona Beach the perfect family vacation spot.
Below are just a few of the things to see and do while you are visiting Daytona Beach.
23 Miles of White Sandy Beaches
The beaches in the Daytona Beach area are always open and free to the public! (24/7 all year round) Spend a day relaxing on "The World's Most Famous Beach" and find out why people love to vacation at Daytona Beach.
Cars are allowed on the beach in designated areas from sunrise to sunset depending on tidal conditions. And the Daytona beaches are also easily accessible for visitors with disabilities. Surf Chairs can be reserved at no cost, allowing visitors to explore the beautiful beaches and sparkling waters without having to use or damage their own equipment.
From May 15 through October 31, Daytona Beach is host to a special and rare marine visitor - the sea turtle. They emerge from the ocean at night to lay their eggs in nests dug into the dry sand, then return back to the ocean. About two months later, near a hundred new baby turtles (hatchlings) rise from each of the nests and crawl their way into the ocean. The sea turtles have been repeating this cycle for thousands of years.
You can learn more about the sea turtles and even view them up close at the Marine Science Center, located at 100 Lighthouse Dr. in beautiful Ponce Inlet (386) 304-5545). You can see rescued sea birds and visit the kid-friendly teaching lab with microscopes at the Marine Science Center.
Dining Shopping & Nightlife
Daytona Beach offers a wide range of shopping, dining & nightlife activities. Your choices range from quaint antique stores, gift shops, fine boutiques, the downtown area or major shopping centers and malls. You'll have no trouble finding the perfect Dayton Beach souvenir or restaurant.
Whether you are looking for a casual seafood restaurant along the scenic waterways, or a trendy new venue, or even something upscale, you'll find plenty of great restaurants to choose from in the Daytona Beach area. There are over 400 restaurants to choose from in the Daytona Beach area.
After the sun goes down, there is even more to do at Daytona Beach! Nightlife options include over 100 stylish bars, nightclubs, comedy clubs, sports bars and coffee houses. There is also live entertainment including reggae, contemporary rock, blues and high-energy dance music.
Motorsports
Come test your pit crew skills at The Daytona 500 Experience (formerly DAYTONA USA) or drive a nitro-powered dragster from 0-75 mph in seconds. There are plenty of race parks and speedways in the Daytona Beach area. The most popular is the world famous Daytona International Speedway. The Daytona Beach, Ormond Beach and New Smyrna areas also have other must-see destination for race fans.
Watersports
You can choose from waterslides, kayaking, parasailing, air boat ride, jet boat rides or even surfing lessons. The Daytona Beach area has some great surf locations with regular swells and a soft, sandy bottom. Some of the best area swells are found in and around Ponce Inlet and New Smyrna Beach.
But if you're not up for sports and you just want to sit back and relax, you can take a scenic riverboat tour or deep sea fishing trip. You'll marvel at the variety of wildlife and beautiful homes along the Atlantic Ocean and Intracoastal Waterway. We've got activities for the young-- and the young at heart.
Historical Sites & Tours
History buffs will be fascinated with the Daytona area's fascinating past. There are dozens museums, galleries and attractions that blend the area's rich history with educational activities. Haunts of the World's Most Famous Beach Ghost Tours is one of these activities, blending history, scientific data and haunting tales. Turnbull Ruins/Old Fort Park, Dummett Sugar Mill Ruins, DeLand Naval Air Station Museum, Sugar Mill Botanical Gardens and New Smyrna Beach Museum of History are just a few of the sites to see in the Daytona Beach, Ormond Beach and New Smyrna areas.
One of the most well known sites is the Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse, located at 4931 S. Peninsula Dr., Ponce Inlet. It was completed in 1887 and the tallest lighthouse in Florida, this majestic facility stretches 175 feet into the sky. The surrounding area features a historical and nautical museum and a Fresnel Lens exhibit that contacts artifacts on lighthouse life, shipwrecks, a gift shop. You can call (386) 761-1821 for hours of operation.