Daytona Beach, famous as the “World Center of Racing” and home of NASCAR, is part of East Central Florida’s greater metropolitan area. Daytona Beach is also the best-known of the seven area communities. Although the broad 23-mile stretch of white-hot sandy beach is yet the biggest attraction here, with over 8 million visitants clustering to the region yearly, the metro region is speedily transferring from event Mecca to a home-tailored resort destination. Historical land sites like the Main Street Pier, the Oceanfront Boardwalk, and the Clocktower in Oceanfront Park add to the appealingness of this exciting metropolis.
Whether you are looking for one of our Daytona Beach hotels or resorts, Looking for info on the best spots to eat, things to do, finding new real estate, or even where the best spots are to shop, you have come to the right place. Daytona’s world-class beaches are melded with the best dining experiences, shopping, and activities for the entire family making it one of the United States’ top travel destinations. We hope you enjoy your Daytona Beach holiday and look forward to offering you travel info before and during your holiday.
Visitors come year-round to swim in the sparkling waters and scuba dive at the offshore reefs – but there’s, even more, to do once you leave the beach! During your stay, be sure to enjoy the extensive collection of quality golf courses, take in a Daytona Cubs game, and do some relaxing river kayaking.
Daytona Beach Boardwalk
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Enjoying a lovely sunny day on the beach is definitely a splendid way to enjoy rest days and vacations. The beach is the most attractive location for families, friends, and even lovers. And there is certainly no better beach than the Daytona Beach boardwalk. This beach is the best that the world could offer and there certainly is no better place to savor the best moments of life. It certainly has all the commodities and recreational centers that vacationers would need. This beach has hotels, amusement parks, coffee shops, and other recreational and amusement centers. Daytona is also the home of the most prominent racing events in the world which could eventually make an individual’s vacation more memorable and entertaining.
Children of all ages would certainly relish and appreciate the experiences boardwalk of Daytona Beach. The amusement rides are definitely the most enchanting and thrilling rides that an individual could have. Kids and adults would certainly have their respective memorable experiences in these amusement centers. Their beach is certainly the best in the world and the amusement centers would even complement such magnificence. These amusement centers, which are located on the Boardwalk, are available seven days a week and the prices for such rides are very affordable. Their rides are very safe and reliable which is one of the most substantial factors in an efficient amusement ride. Ferris wheels, miniature golf courses, go-karts, and lagoons are just some of the several enchanting recreational activities that are available in this area. There are various choices in terms of rides and activities to select from in this prominent location.
World-class hotels are also available in the location. Every vacationer would certainly enjoy the benefits of these magnificent and imperial hotels. They are inexpensive and the commodities are certainly very reliable and efficient. There are also several Beach houses and hotels that are located near the beach and seashore. Enjoying the ambiance and fresh air from the sea breeze would definitely create a lavishing and memorable vacation.
There are also several souvenir shops (Micheals on The Beach) in the area which is very essential in tourist spots. These shops have the best items and they would often promote affordable bargains during their peak seasons. They have the best quality in terms of memorabilia and their products are very alluring to shoppers. There are several food choices in the area which are basically cooked by the best chefs in the nation. Their foods are certainly very delicious and enticing which could give you total satisfaction in your vacation.
Bongoland – Dinosaurs in Florida
The Dunlawton Botanical Gardens is the current name of the site. Really, it is two, or three, things in one spot. It first started as a Sugar Mill in 1830. After being destroyed in the Second Seminole War (1835) several attempts were made to continue the Sugar Mill Plantation but it was ultimately abandoned.
From 1948-1952 the property was known as Bongoland – which is named after Bongo the baboon who could be visited at the attraction. Dr. “Manny” Lawrence, made the Dinosaurs out of chicken wire and concrete to the best of his ability. It once had a Seminole Indian Village Replica, train rides, and an odd variety of other entertainment.
Its newest form is that of a botanical garden. Local volunteers help maintain the grounds and they are doing a wonderful job. The front portion of the park is really beautiful and it shows me that all of those wonderful plants in my yard, really can look stunning when placed together in a more professional manner. (I have over 100 plants scattered about my property from the previous owner- I believe he just stuck plants in the ground at random.)
My kids got a real kick out of the Dinosaurs. Most of them were still fantastic. T-Rex…. is sort of laughable. He looks nothing like T-Rex should in the head. Very funny.
The back portion of the park is an afterthought but you have to go through it to see all of the dinosaurs. For some reason, they are not near the front of the park. We joked about being so far back that someone would come and lock us in not realizing we were still there. On our walk back towards the entrance, we had discussions on “What is our plan of action in case we get locked in…” It didn’t happen, but it was still an interesting conversation.
We hurried through the back end of the park so we could enjoy the beautiful gardens and visit the Sugar Mill Ruins. They had wonderful educational guideboards to explain the history of the grounds, sugar mill equipment, and native plants… I only had time to read a few but the few I read were really informative.
While you may not have heard of Port Orange, Florida, I am certain you have heard of Daytona Beach! This great attraction is only seven miles South of Daytona! That’s right, SEVEN MILES FROM DAYTONA BEACH! Who knew? We didn’t!… and we call ourselves locals… shameful!
Special Daytona Beach Events
Millions of tourists from around the world flock to the Daytona Beach area every year to experience its sun-kissed beaches, family-style recreation, attractions, and entertainment, shopping, fine dining, and entertainment.
It is of course synonymous with speed, a place that became the proving ground for man and machine. Today, Daytona International Speedway’s DAYTONA USA, a custom-designed state-of-the-art interactive motorsports attraction and museum, offers quality family entertainment for all ages. Daytona International Speedway also offers an informative fact-filled 30-minute tram tour of the speedway’s track, Victory Lane, and a pit stop for picture takers.
Special events that draw visitors to Daytona Beach include:
- Speedweeks (Daytona 500 NASCAR race, Rolex 24 sports car race, and others)
- Coke Zero 400, NASCAR race on or around July 4 (Traditionally called the Pepsi 400 or Firecracker 400)
- Daytona Beach Bike Week Daytona 200 motorcycle races, bike shows, and biker reunion in March
- Biketoberfest in October
- Turkey Run car show and events during Thanksgiving weekend (Traditionally called the Turkey Rod Run)
- Spring break (date varies, usually the first and second week of March)
No question, Daytona Beach’s biggest draws are the 23 miles of wide beautiful beaches and its car-racing heritage. But it is also rich with cultural arts offerings such as museums, theaters, and performing arts festivals that will especially delight those with an appetite for family entertainment.
And it is home to many points of interest that provide a unique fusion of history and nature. Visitors can explore an extraordinary mix of botanical gardens, historic ruins, state parks, waterways, and nationally recognized landmarks that serve as bridges to the area’s colorful past.
Museums
The Museum of Arts and Sciences is a must-see for museum lovers. Besides containing the finest example of a North American Ground Sloth, the museum houses one of the most extensive collections of modern Cuban art found in the United States; a fine collection of African cultural relics; a planetarium; rare early American collectibles; and a new wing featuring interactive educational displays. The Tuscawilla Preserve Discovery Center located there allows visitors to follow a network of boardwalk trails leading to interactive, outdoor exhibits. Learn about local flora and fauna, environmental protection, wetlands, and non-native plants.
The Halifax Historical Museum, located in downtown Daytona Beach, includes local area memorabilia and artifacts dating to 1883.
Other area museums include The Mary McLeod-Bethune Foundation, which houses the history of civil rights pioneer Mary McLeod-Bethune; the Ormond Memorial Art Museum and Gardens featuring monthly exhibits; the Bulow Plantation Ruins State Historic Site which features the ruins of a 19th-century coquina rock sugar mill and the Southeast Museum of Photography – Florida’s official museum of photography.
Daytona Beach
The Daytona Beach area is surrounded by several beautiful waterways including the Halifax and St. Johns Rivers and no matter what your interests are – scuba diving, deep-sea fishing, kayaking, or dolphin watching – the Daytona Beach area has something for every nature lover. Artificial reefs are one way to explore the area’s waterways. Fresh and saltwater diving and snorkeling opportunities are plentiful in the Daytona Beach area and throughout Volusia County. The Ponce de Leon Inlet Port Authority Artificial Reef Program includes a total of 28 artificial reefs that were constructed with the remains of ships, barges, airplanes, and locally demolished bridges. The area’s freshwater springs feature spectacular underwater sites such as manatees and limestone-walled caves.
Halifax River
Visitors can also discover the Daytona Beach area’s rich history via a leisurely cruise along the Halifax River. Passengers aboard one of the area’s many riverboat tours can explore the Halifax River and see downtown Daytona Beach’s historical sites, the area’s magnificent riverfront homes, beautiful parks, islands, and marinas. Passengers also get the chance to see and experience an assortment of wildlife such as pelicans, herons, egrets, and other waterfowl. Lucky passengers may even spot a manatee or dolphin.
Tomoka State Park
Tomoka State Park in Ormond Beach was once the site of the Timucuan Indian Village of Nocorocco. It later, in 1766, became the Mount Oswald Plantation. Today, the 1,540-acre park offers camping, fishing, nature trails, picnic areas, a boat launch, and canoe rentals for access to the beautiful Tomoka River. It is also home to the Fred Dana Marsh Museum and Visitor Center
Marine Science Center
Fun, environmental learning opportunities can be found at the Marine Science Center in Ponce Inlet, which is located at the southernmost tip of the Daytona Beach area’s barrier island. The Center sits in the shadows of the historic 1887 Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse, the tallest lighthouse in Florida and one of only a handful of lighthouses in the United States to have all of its original buildings still standing. With interactive exhibits on the area’s marine environment, a seabird sanctuary, and sea turtle rehabilitation facilities, the Center provides a unique and entertaining learning experience for young and old.
Pet-Friendly Hotels in Daytona Beach
Plan an extended stay at one of the top Daytona Beach pet-friendly hotels. With spacious, home-like suites, a restaurant, a fitness center, a sports bar, and more, our pet-friendly hotel in Daytona Beach allows you to bring along every member of the family, here is a list of hotels that will allow pets, we will plan more to add more hotels to this list:
Days Inn Speedway I-95 exit 261B
The Days Inn Daytona Beach offers affordable accommodations approximately four miles from Daytona Beach International Airport and about two miles from the beach.
Tel (386) 255-0541, Fax (386) 253-1468, Pets ($10 extra charge)
La Quinta Inn I-95 exit 261
The La Quinta Inn Daytona Beach is the place to stay for visitors to Daytona International Speedway. The guest can enjoy the Atlantic Ocean and sprawling sand beaches and can catch seafaring ships from the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse.
Tel (386) 255-7412, Fax (386) 255-5350, Pets
Ramada Inn
The Ramada Inn Speedway Daytona Beach offers economic accommodations for budget-minded travelers. This hotel is located across the street from the Daytona International Speedway
Tel (386) 255-2422, Fax (386) 253-1749, Pets ($25.00 extra charge)