11 Fun Things To Do In Daytona Beach, Florida

Daytona Beach, Florida is a famous vacation destination people enjoy coming back to time and time again. Thousands of people visit every year for business, pleasure and lots of partying. They mostly come to enjoy the beautiful 23 mile stretch of beach, the fantastic restaurants, the exciting nightclubs, bike week, and of course the Nascar racing. It's all here for every crowd imaginable. The young, the old, and the every thing else in-between.

If you haven't decided where to go on vacation , why not plan on Daytona Beach, Florida. You will not regret it. Or you may be planning a visit to Daytona Beach, Florida, so you will be looking for something to do while your there. Daytona Beach, Florida offers many diverse sights and sounds, you, your friends and family can enjoy the beach, the restaurants, the amusement parks, fishing, the motorcycles, and The Daytona International Speedway and so much more.

Having lived in Daytona Beach for several years I enjoyed the many things it had to offer. I have been away for a few years now and miss it terribly. I do go back on a yearly basis, and always find something fun to do. Some family fun things are listed below, some are free and some are not. So when you find yourself in Daytona Beach, Florida remember to take this list with you.

1. Take a tour of the world famous Daytona International Speedway. With plenty of race parks and speedways, including the world famous Daytona International Speedway, the Daytona Beach area is a must-see destination for race fans. The Daytona 500 isn't the only thing going on at The Speedway. The track also hosts the Coke Zero 400 each July along with the Rolex 24, America's premier endurance race, and the annual motorcycle races that are the centerpiece of Daytona's Bike Week.

http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/

http://www.officialbikeweek.com/

2. Visit the Daytona Lagoon. It is an impressive water park. It is a family entertainment center full of fun things to do, it includes laser tag, a go-kart track, miniature golf, rock climbing, an arcade and High Ballocity, a multi-tiered play area filled with more than 50,000 foam balls and various types of ball launchers. This is something you don't want to miss if you like having fun. It is open all year long. So it doesn't matter what time of year you go. I really liked this place, it is never boring. They have a thrill ride called the Phoenix, it flings you forward and back again, and then into the sky. I am not into the rides, so I didn't try it. But I can say those that came off of the ride said they loved it. The look on their faces and the squeals coming from the sky pretty much says it all.

http://www.daytonalagoon.com/

3. If you want to cool off a bit, why not try some ice skating. yes I said ice skating. South Daytona has an awesome ice arena with lots of col stuff to do for the whole family. Some of the programs Daytona Ice Arena offers are public Ice Skating, birthday parties, lessons, hockey, figure skating, hockey camps, broomball and dodgeball on ice. They also boast a pub overlooking the ice with 4 big screen TV’s to watch your favorite sports and TV shows while the kids skate. So lace up and skate your heart out after a long hot day at the beach. You will find the Arena at 2400 S. Ridgewood Ave. in South Daytona. Call for details 386-322-4848

http://www.daytonaicearena.com/

4. If you are in the mood to do some sightseeing while you are in the Daytona Beach area, then you might want to try the Ormond Scenic Loop. This loop is 22 miles long and will give you an idea of what Florida's natural beauty is all about. You can take your time while stopping to take pictures of the ocean, the sea life, the birds, and just about anything that attracts your attention. You can visit Ormond Park and The Fairchild Oak tree, which is one of the oldest living oak trees in Florida. You will want to take your time with this activity, no rushing, kick back and enjoy the scenery. Don't forget your camera, your will want to remember The Ormond Loop.

http://www.byways.org/explore/byways/75866/

5. Pack up all your beach gear, pack a cooler full of soft drinks and snacks and head off to the beautiful Daytona Beach sand, lounge in the warm glow of the sunshine. The lush blue ocean view, relaxing to sounds of a gentle breeze. Don't forget to bring your sunscreen along. You'll love the world famous 23-mile stretch of beach that many people visit every single day. The beach allows vehicle traffic during daylight hours and just about any water sport you can imagine. If you are just in the mood to relax, then you can still enjoy lying on the beach and soaking up the warm Florida Sun. Parking fees will cost you $5 a day. A season pass is going to be $20 for Volusia County residents and $40 for non-residents. The beach is always open and free to pedestrians and bicyclists. After 3 pm you can access the beach for $3.00.

http://www.discoverdaytona.com/usefulinfo.htm

6. Do some golfing. Daytona Beach has several amazing golf courses to choose from. Get that golf cart and golf clubs, head out to the nearest course and knock some balls around. If you prefer golfing in the evening, the course fees are a lot cheaper. Many of the golf courses offer driving ranges and practice holes or both. Rental equipment and lessons are available at most of the courses.

http://www.daytonabeachgc.com/golf/proto/daytonabeachgc/

7. Visit The Daytona Flea and Farmers Market. It is one of the largest in the world, with almost anything you can imagine for sale. I can tell you this, it is one of the most unique places I have ever been. The fruits and vegetables are fresh and beautiful, and the on-site eating and drinking makes for a preferred shopping experience. Pleasing, wide aisles make it comfortable to move around the booths, the vendors are super friendly willing to help with your questions and give direction if needed. I have never been to a better flea market.

If you're from out of town, the flea market is really easy to reach, just under a mile from the airport and directly off I-95 and I-4. Enormous amounts of merchandise, parking and entry into the flea market is free and fun shopping make this worth a unforgettable visit. Open Every Friday, Saturday, Sunday 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. Rain or Shine.

http://www.daytonafleamarket.com/

8. Visit Lighthouse Point Park. This is a stunning place of beauty. You can swim, sunbathe and watch the birds all in the same place. There are an enormous amount of birds on the beach, on the jetty and in the dunes, but they are the same birds you will see all along this stretch of coast. The 52-acre park features fishing, nature trails, an observation deck and tower, swimming and picnic facilities. If you look close enough you might spot some raccoons, possums, skunks, and armadillos. You can enjoy a full summer day at the lighthouse park. You'll even see some of the fishermen climb out onto the rocks looking for the best spot to cast their pole off of the jetty.

http://www.volusia.org/parks/lighthouse.htm

9. Deep sea fishing. I think this is one of the most enjoyable things I have done while in Daytona Beach or anywhere I have gone deep sea fishing. The excitement of throwing your first line and hopefully hooking your first big fish, or even the big little one is a okay too. Just being on the boat seeing all the sea life is something so amazing. Sea turtles, fish of every size, whales, an occasional shark, and the ever graceful dolphins. If you find that you are suffering from sea sickness try watching the horizon. It may sound silly but try to stay on deck if you can. Staying downwind of fumes is also advisable as they can make you feel worse.

http://www.nsbcharters.com/

10. Visit The Museum of Arts and Sciences. The museum is affiliated with the Smithsonian. Located on 90-acres in Tuscawilla. Visitors can traipse through the Frischer Sculpture Garden, explore Cuban art, be astonished at the Root Family Museum collection which includes an authentic mid-1800s pharmacy complete with the original vials of medicines. The Root family also collected Coca-Cola memorabilia, racing memorabilia, train cars, quilts, stuffed teddy bears and more. There's early American art, Chinese art, a planetarium, and African cultural objects.

There is also a 13-foot skeleton about 130,000 years old of a giant ground sloth discovered in 1975 only a few miles away. Its formal name is Eremotherium Laurilardi but it's also known as the Giant Ground Sloth and it dates to the Pleistocene fossil site called the Daytona Bone Bed.

http://moas.org/index.cfm

11. Have some fun enjoying Daytona Beach nightlife. Make the rounds hitting the night clubs, go dancing, listen to some good music.

• One of the most popular night clubs around is Razzles. It is one of the biggest and most famous in Daytona Beach. The dress code is neat and clean, no baggy pants and open shirts allowed here, no bandana's, no hats, their motto is "dress to impress". They play dance, trance and hip-hop. It is an extremely busy place. Beware, the lines are usually long.

http://www.razzlesnightclub.com/

• The Ocean Deck- The music is all live Reggae every night of the week. This club is very laid back. It is right off the beach. No shoes, no shirt, no problem. They have great seafood, steaks and sandwiches and even better drink specials. If you just want to hang out and relax in flip flops this is the place for you.

http://www.oceandeck.com/

• Froggy's Saloon-Froggy's Saloon is right in the heart of the World's Famous Daytona Bike Week on Main Street. Froggy's atmosphere is a bikers dream come true. The steady 20 hour a day party,(7am-3am) to the sound of bikes up and down main street almost continually.

http://froggyssaloon.net/

So there you have a small list of fun things to do if you should visit Daytona Beach, Florida. And if you haven't yet decided where to go, well Daytona Beach, Florida is one destination you should give a try.