  |
         |
Venue / Location Attractions |
Daytona Beach Boardwalk Built in 1938, the Daytona Beach Boardwalk on North Ocean Avenue earned this name because of the width of the walkway and the fact that it was made of concrete and not wooden boards. Today most people simply call it the Boardwalk. It is lined with many bars, hotels, restaurants, shops, and the City Walk shopping and entertainment complex. The Daytona Beach Boardwalk also features many forms of entertainment and attractions. There are arcades with games, indoor and outdoor amusement rides like a roller coaster, a Ferris wheel, and many more. There is a bandshell on the boardwalk, and free concerts often take place here during the summer. MOAS - Museum of Arts and Sciences With more than 30,000 objects, the Museum of Arts and Science (MOAS) is one of the largest museums in central Florida. Some of its exhibits include Cuban art, Chinese art, Early American furniture and art, displays related to Florida history, and a large collection of Americana. Opened in 2008, the Charles and Linda William's Children's Museum is a 9,000-square foot facility with many hands-on science exhibits. The museum also has a planetarium and auditorium. The Beach The Beach at Daytona is a 23-mile stretch of white sandy beach and one of the top places to visit. It is known for its hard-packed sand that allows cars to drive in certain restricted, and the beach was used for car and motorcycle racing as early as 1902. Starting in 1936, it became the location for the Daytona Beach Road Course; this ended in 1958 with the creation of the Daytona International Speedway. Today, the beach is known for being family-friendly and having beachfront parks with picnic areas, pavilions, boardwalks, and restrooms. Some of the most popular beachfront parks include the Michael Crotty Bicentennial Park, the Lighthouse Point Park, and the Smyrna Dunes Park. Daytona International Speedway Take a tour of Daytona International Speedway, home of the annual Daytona 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series motor race. There are many choices of tours that last from 30 minutes to three hours. After the tour, visit the new Motorsports Hall of Fame of America that is now housed in the DIS Ticket and Tours Building, showcasing spectacular displays honoring all forms of motorsports: Stock Cars, Sports Cars, Open-Wheel, Motorcycles, Drag Racing, Land Speed Records, Powerboating and Aviation. Lighthouse Point Park Lighthouse Point Park is a public park located on South Atlantic Avenue in Ponce Inlet just south of Daytona Beach and Daytona Beach Shores. It is a 52-acre park located at the southern tip of Ponce Inlet and has many appealing activities, amenities, and facilities such as swimming, fishing, pavilions, an observation deck, nature trails, and much more. The park is known for its natural beauty and wildlife. If you are wondering what to do in Daytona Beach with active kids, this is a great spot. Visitors can see dolphins along the shoreline, and in the sandy areas there are many different kinds of animals such as armadillos, gopher tortoises, possums, raccoons, and several types of birds like birds of prey and shore birds. Ponce de Leon Lighthouse & Museum The Ponce de Leon Lighthouse & Museum is a historic lighthouse on the Ponce de Leon Inlet. Standing 175 feet (53 meters) high, it is the tallest lighthouse in Florida and one of the tallest in the United States. The first lighthouse was built in 1835 to prevent shipwrecks from taking place along the coast; the current lighthouse was completed in 1887 on what was then called Mosquito Inlet. Abandoned in 1970, the lighthouse was restored to service in 1982. The museum consists of the lighthouse, three keepers' dwellings, and several historic objects such as the 1867 lens installed in 1887. Marine Science Center The Marine Science Center features many interactive exhibits that help visitors learn about the marine habitat and marine wildlife. Some of the exhibits include a 5,000-gallon artificial reef aquarium, a stingray touch pool, the Mary Keller Seabird Rehabilitation Sanctuary, the Nature Trail, and a bird observation tower. The seabird rehabilitation center has treated and cared for over 4,500 wounded and sick birds since it opened in 2004. If you are wondering what to see in Daytona Beach, Florida, the Marine Science Center is a great place to visit with the whole family. The Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Department opened in 2002 and has cared for thousands of sea turtles, freshwater turtles, gopher tortoises, and other reptiles. Beach Street Beach Street is a historic shopping street between Bay Street and Orange Avenue in the downtown area of Daytona Beach, and the nearby Halifax River gives the riverfront restaurants and shops a special atmosphere. The restaurants offer a wide variety of cuisines such as American, French, Italian, Japanese, Mexican, and many others. Shops sell antiques, art, books, clothes, jewelry, and much more. In addition to the restaurants and shops, there are many service providers such as salons, health care, and automotive services. Beach Street is also an entertainment area with many attractions like the Cinematique Theater, the Halifax Harbor Marina, the Halifax History Museum, and theater performances at the News-Journal Center. Richard Petty Driving Experience Richard Petty Driving Experience is a company that offers drivers the opportunity to drive a racecar around the world-famous Daytona International Speedway. Guests can drive a 600HP NASCAR racecar around the 2.5-mile speedway, the home of the Daytona 500. Another option is the Ride-along Experience, where guests ride instead of drive around the track, and a professional and experienced racecar driver drives the car. The company also offers a Junior Ride-Along at Daytona International Speedway for young adults. The number of laps depends on the option chosen. Jackie Robinson Ballpark Jackie Robinson Ballpark is a historic baseball field on City Island in the Halifax River. It has historic significance because it was the site of the first integrated baseball game. Opened in 1914 as the City Island Ball Park, the stadium was rebuilt in 1962. In 1946, Daytona Beach was the first city in Florida to allow Robinson to play a game at the stadium, thus making history; it is listed on the U.S. National Register of History Places. There is a statue of Jackie Robinson as well as a museum and historic markers at the ballpark. Congo River Golf Congo River Golf is a fun adventure-themed miniature golf course with many additional attractions. The miniature golf course is filled with exciting features like caves, rain forests, waterfalls, and much more. There is an interactive alligator exhibit with over 25 alligators, which is where guests are able to take part in an alligator feeding experience. Another attraction is the Congo River Mining experience, where visitors can sift for arrowheads, fossils, gemstones, and more. The arcade room has a large variety of games for children and adults. The Exploration Game is a scavenger hunt with prizes for successful participants. Southeast Museum of Photography This is a hidden treasure in Daytona, a service of the Daytona State College: it's the only museum in Florida dedicated solely to photography. This vibrant modern gallery with excellent lighting and facilities doesn't shy away from provocative subjects in its rotating exhibitions. Gamble Place Twenty minutes south of Daytona, the winter estate of the Gamble family (of Procter & Gamble fortune) lies in a sun-dappled glade. The "Florida cracker-style" house and several whimsically-named cottages (including a replica Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs house) are closed to the public unless you're on a guided tour (10-person minimum), but you can walk the grounds of the estate for $3.00. In addition to the buildings, visitors can observe wildlife, ancient cypress trees and beautiful azalea blossoms. |