District Guide

Daytona Beach and the surrounding areas have been major tourist destinations for over a century. With miles of beaches and plenty of natural attractions, Daytona is full of photo opportunities and has been a popular choice for spring break groups and family vacations. Additionally, Daytona Beach is home to the Daytona 500, a major racecar event attended by thousands of people each year. These days, many tourists come to Daytona to cheer on their favorite driver or athlete, but stay for the beaches and the area's beauty. Even for those without a need for automotive speed, this coastal area of Florida has a lot of interesting attractions and historical sites, plus shopping, dining, and entertainment. Each town in the area has a unique mix of offerings to tempt visitors, providing memories that will last far beyond the vacation's end.

Daytona Beach/ Holly Hill

Daytona is located on the Atlantic Coast of Florida, about an hour's drive northeast of Orlando. The area has 23 miles of beaches, and a number of family-friendly attractions. Visit one of Daytona's most famous destinations, the Daytona 500 Experience, the official NASCAR attraction at Daytona International Speedway. Another popular attraction is the Daytona Lagoon, a waterpark located on the narrow strip of land between the mainland area of Daytona and the Atlantic Ocean. For some evening entertainment, just head down the street to the Pelican Bar on North Atlantic Avenue. Or cross the street to get to the Boardwalk and the Daytona Beach Pier, for great beach and ocean views.

Cross the Intracoastal Waterway on the Main Street Bridge to get to mainland Daytona, where you can walk the grounds of the Bethune-Cookman University campus. While there, visit the former house of the university's founder, Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, and see a show at the Mary McLeod Bethune Performing Arts Center. To the north is Holly Hill, affectionately known as "the City with a Heart." This area is known for the lovely views of the Halifax River that one can witness along Riverside Drive.

Ormond Beach/Ormond-by-the-Sea

Ormond Beach is located to the north of Daytona Beach, primarily situated on the mainland but expanding across West Granada Boulevard across the Intracoastal Waterway and over to the strip of coastal land. Slightly to the north of Ormond Beach is Ormond by-the-Sea, a small, quaint town along the same strip of land between the mainland and the ocean. Around the turn of the 20th Century, the Ormond area was frequented by the rich and famous, some of whom bought houses in the area. Among these men were railroad magnate Henry Flagler and multimillionaire oil industrialist and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller. Rockefeller's old house, the Casements, is now a museum that offers free tours. Another great historical site in the area is the Bulow Plantation Ruins State Historic Site, a 19th-century plantation that was destroyed during the Seminole Indian War. Wander around Bulow Creek State Park and visit the Fairchild Oak, one of the largest live oaks in the southern U.S.

The sand on Ormond Beach is packed very hard, and it's one of the few places in the world where a car can drive on the sand. There are annual events that pay tribute to the beach races that used to take place on this stretch of sand. The oceanfront Birthplace of Speed Park at Granada Boulevard and Atlantic Avenue commemorates the first races that were held on the nearby beach, way back in 1903. This park is up the street from Billy's Tap Room & Grill, and fairly close to other great dining options like Barnacles, a beachside seafood and steak restaurant.

South Daytona/ Daytona Beach Shores/ Port Orange

Located just south of Daytona Beach proper, South Daytona sits along U.S. Highway 1 and the Intracoastal Waterway. One of the main attractions in this town is the Living Legends Auto Racing Museum, which aims to recognize and honor the pioneers of stock car and beach racing. It's conveniently located in the Sunshine Park Mall, and admission is free.

Port Orange began as a community for newly-freed slaves after the Civil War. Little remains of the original settlement, but the Freemanville Historic Site provides some information on this important part of this area's history. Other attractions in the area include the Dunlawton Sugar Mill Botanical Gardens, the pride of Port Orange residents, which is a lovely place to spend some time on a sunny Florida day.

New Smyrna Beach/Ponce Inlet

New Smyrna Beach and the nearby community of Ponce Inlet have a multitude of attractions, restaurants and historical sites. One of the most famous and visible landmarks here is the Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse, the tallest lighthouse in Florida. Just across the street is the Lighthouse Landing Restaurant, which even has docks for those customers coming in on boats. Just down the street, up Lighthouse Drive, is the Marine Science Center, an important center for sea turtle and birth rehabilitation that also features an aquarium and interactive displays.

Just across the inlet is New Smyrna Beach, a larger community with a lot of interesting sights to offer. There are cute ocean-side bed and breakfasts like the Night Swan Intracoastal Bed & Breakfast, and restaurants such as the Grille at Riverview, a nice place attached to the Riverview Hotel & Spa. There are also interesting historical sites like the Old Stone Wharf Archeological Site, or for a broader look at the past, the New Smyrna Museum of History. The best places to shop are Flagler Avenue and Canal Street, so be sure to take a walk or a drive through these areas.