Daytona Beach FloridaATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Daytona Beach, Florida.
1. Daytona International Speedway
RACING HISTORY AND TOURS
Daytona International Speedway is the iconic racing venue known worldwide as the home of the Daytona 500. Visitors can immerse themselves in racing culture through track walks, tram tours, and a museum rich in motorsports history. The speedway provides a unique vantage point to experience the sport's Mecca and learn about its storied legacy.
2. Beach at Daytona Beach
FAMOUS DRIVABLE WHITE SANDS
The Beach at Daytona Beach is a world-famous 23-mile long stretch of white sandy shore where vehicles can drive during daylight hours. Visitors can enjoy nearly every water sport imaginable along this expansive Atlantic coastline. The beach area also offers a lively atmosphere with easy access to the popular boardwalk and pier attractions.
3. Daytona Beach Boardwalk and Pier
AMUSEMENT AND OCEAN VIEWS
The Daytona Beach Boardwalk and Pier is a mile-long beachside entertainment hub built in 1938, originally named the 'Broadwalk.' This bustling attraction features family-friendly indoor and outdoor activities, including a Ferris wheel, go-carts, free concerts in the bandshell, and various shops and eateries. The 1,000-foot-long pier extends into the Atlantic Ocean, offering fishing opportunities and spectacular views.
4. Museum of Arts and Sciences
ART, SCIENCE AND HISTORY
The Museum of Arts and Sciences (MOAS) is Central Florida's primary institution for art, science, and history exhibitions. As the area's largest museum, MOAS is nationally accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and offers diverse collections spanning multiple disciplines. The facility includes a planetarium, providing visitors with an enriching cultural and educational experience.
5. Daytona Lagoon
FAMILY WATER PARK FUN
Daytona Lagoon is a premier family entertainment center offering water attractions and dry activities for all ages. The facility features water slides, a lazy river, and a wave pool, alongside laser tag, go-karts, mini-golf, and an arcade. This versatile attraction provides year-round fun regardless of weather conditions, making it a perfect destination for families visiting Daytona Beach.
6. Ponce Inlet Lighthouse
HISTORIC MARITIME LANDMARK
The Ponce Inlet Lighthouse stands as Florida's tallest lighthouse at 175 feet, offering panoramic views of the surrounding coastline and waterways. Visitors can climb the 203 steps to the top for breathtaking vistas and explore the well-preserved keeper's dwellings and museum exhibits below. This National Historic Landmark, completed in 1887, provides fascinating insights into maritime history and lighthouse keeping traditions.
7. The Loop
SCENIC NATURAL DRIVE
The Loop is a picturesque driving route that winds through old Florida landscapes of moss-draped oaks, marshlands, and coastal scenery. This scenic byway spans approximately 22 miles through Ormond Beach and neighboring areas, offering glimpses of wildlife and unspoiled natural beauty. Travelers can enjoy this peaceful drive year-round, with the canopy of trees providing a particularly stunning display during the cooler months.
8. Sugar Mill Botanical Gardens
HISTORIC RUINS WITH NATURE
Sugar Mill Botanical Gardens combines fascinating history with botanical beauty on the site of a 19th-century sugar mill ruins. Visitors can stroll through themed gardens featuring native and exotic plants while discovering the remains of the Dunlawton Sugar Plantation. The gardens also feature whimsical dinosaur statues, a legacy from the property's past as Bongoland, making it an intriguing destination for history buffs and nature lovers alike.
9. Marine Science Center
SEA TURTLE REHABILITATION FACILITY
The Marine Science Center serves as both a rehabilitation facility for injured sea turtles and seabirds and an educational center for visitors. Guests can observe recovering marine animals, interact with touch tanks featuring local marine life, and learn about coastal conservation efforts. The center's exhibits and programs highlight the importance of protecting Florida's diverse marine ecosystems and the creatures that inhabit them.
10. Jackie Robinson Ballpark
HISTORIC BASEBALL LANDMARK
Jackie Robinson Ballpark is a historic baseball stadium where Jackie Robinson first played in an integrated professional baseball game in 1946, breaking the color barrier in America's pastime. Today, the venue serves as home to the Daytona Tortugas minor league team while preserving its rich civil rights history. Visitors can tour the adjacent museum dedicated to Robinson's legacy and enjoy the nostalgic atmosphere of one of America's oldest ballparks still in use.
11. Cici & Hyatt Brown Museum of Art
FLORIDA ART COLLECTION SHOWCASE
The Cici & Hyatt Brown Museum of Art houses the world's largest collection of Florida-themed art, with over 2,600 works spanning two centuries of the state's visual history. The museum's distinctive architecture resembles a traditional Florida cracker-style home, featuring a grand central gallery and seven smaller themed galleries. Visitors can explore changing exhibitions that showcase different aspects of Florida's landscape, people, and development through various artistic styles and periods.
12. Stetson Mansion
GILDED AGE ARCHITECTURAL GEM
Stetson Mansion is Florida's first luxury estate, built in 1886 for famed hat maker John B. Stetson as his winter residence. This meticulously restored Gilded Age mansion features intricate parquet floors, 16 patterns of rare antique window glass, and elaborate wood carvings throughout its elegant rooms. Guided tours offer visitors a glimpse into Victorian-era opulence and the life of one of America's most successful entrepreneurs, with special holiday decorations making Christmas tours particularly popular.
13. Angell & Phelps Chocolate Factory
SWEET TREATS AND TOURS
Angell & Phelps Chocolate Factory has been crafting premium chocolates in Daytona Beach since 1925, offering visitors a behind-the-scenes look at their confectionery process. The free factory tours allow guests to watch skilled chocolatiers hand-dip chocolates and create various sweet treats using traditional methods. After the tour, visitors can sample complimentary chocolate and browse the shop's extensive selection of handmade chocolates, truffles, and specialty items.
14. New Smyrna Speedway
LOCAL RACING EXCITEMENT
New Smyrna Speedway is a high-banked half-mile asphalt oval track hosting exciting short-track racing events throughout the year. The venue is particularly known for its annual World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing, which attracts drivers from across the country during Daytona Speedweeks. Visitors can experience the thrill of grassroots racing in a family-friendly atmosphere, with affordable ticket prices and close-up views of the action.
15. Daytona Aquarium & Rainforest Adventure
IMMERSIVE WILDLIFE EXPERIENCE
The Daytona Aquarium & Rainforest Adventure offers visitors an immersive experience with marine and tropical rainforest animals from around the world. This interactive facility features aquarium displays alongside exotic wildlife exhibits, creating a unique educational opportunity for guests of all ages. Visitors can observe diverse ecosystems and participate in animal encounters that highlight the importance of conservation efforts for these fragile environments.