Here’s a fun fact as you consider where to plan this summer’s family trip: Daytona Beach sits on 23 long miles of Atlantic coastline. Not only that, but it has a shore so wide that stock cars raced on the sand long before NASACR came to town in the mid-20th century.
These days, that same stretch of sand makes room for a different kind of speed, the kind powered by kids on boogie boards and siblings racing each other to the waves. A quick drive east of Orlando, Daytona Beach is the perfect backdrop for a family vacation, with adventures in and out of the water always on the agenda. Here are a few ideas to kickstart your planning.
Catch a wave or try skimboarding in the shallows…
Photo: Daytona Beach Area CVB
Daytona Beach’s warm, clear waters wash ashore on hard-packed, golden sands. It’s the perfect pairing for wading, as well as more active pursuits. Mellow beach breaks with something to ride year-round make this a particularly great place to try a surf lesson. You’ll start on the sand, learning how to stand up on your board before testing your new skills on a gentle breaker.
Another option is to rent a skimboard from a local surf shop. Tossing one out when the water retreats to glide atop a thin layer of ocean will make your kids feel like they’re on a magic carpet ride.
…then trade the surf for waterslides and go-karts.
Photo: Daytona Beach Area CVB
Nothing beats a beach day in Daytona Beach, but when it’s time to towel off from fun in the surf and on the sand, consider heading to the Daytona Lagoon. Your family will love bonding over old-school entertainment like go-kart races, laser tag, and bumper cars. Don’t forget to bring your swimsuits, too. The kids can splash around in the waterplay area or go flying down thrilling waterslides with names like Blackbeard’s Revenge.
Climb 203 steps for 360-degree views.
Photo: Daytona Beach Area CVB
With its brick-red tower looming 175 feet high, the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse is Florida’s tallest, as well as one of the tallest climbable lighthouses in the country. Your reward for scaling the 203 spiraling steps to the lookout deck comes in the form of panoramic views. Gaze out at the Atlantic Ocean, the ribboning Intracoastal Waterway, and the namesake Ponce Inlet, the natural pass running between sand-spun barrier islands. Pop into the museum’s gift shop to browse nautical-inspired souvenirs and educational toys for the little ones.
Meet sharks, gators, and stingrays…
Photo: Daytona Beach Area CVB
Though rare in these parts, rainy days are a good excuse to duck indoors and get up close and personal with some of Florida’s most iconic wildlife at Daytona Aquarium & Rainforest Adventure. Expert keepers lead feeding sessions with reef sharks and American alligators, and you can try hand-feeding stingrays on your own at interactive touch tanks.
Kids will love the chance to strap on a headset to enter a VR world where sharks, manta rays, and whales swim by. But reality is just as exciting here, too, with a rainforest habitat you can stroll through. It’s filled with chirping lorikeets, playful monkeys, and tree frogs as vibrant as anything you could dream to color in with crayons.
…then visit turtles, raptors, and more.
Photo: Daytona Beach Area CVB
From May 1 to October 31 every year, loggerhead and green sea turtles lumber ashore at Daytona Beach to lay their eggs. But you can see turtles any time of year at the Marine Science Center, home to a Sea Turtle Hospital with several pools perfect for viewing turtles on the mend.
Afterward, stroll through the Mary Keller Seabird Sanctuary to see resident birds that can no longer live in the wild. Red-shouldered hawks and screech owls are among the feathered friends you might encounter during a raptor presentation. Also make time to meet the center’s resident pine snake through one of their educational reptile talks.
Take your gang to a historic ballpark…
Photo: Daytona Beach Area CVB
Order kid-friendly snacks like nachos and pretzels from the concession, then settle into the stands for a minor league baseball game with your family. The Daytona Tortugas take to the field at historic Jackie Robinson Ballpark, the oldest ballpark in the minors that’s been racking up grand slams since 1914. In 1946, Jackie Robinson played in the first integrated spring training game in professional baseball there, making Daytona Beach the only city in the segregated South willing to let him take the field that season. Today’s games kick off in April and continue into September, with fireworks nights, giveaways, autograph sessions, and Family Fun Days planned throughout the season.
…and end the day with an oceanfront concert.
Photo: Daytona Beach Area CVB
A sense of community threads through everything in Daytona Beach. And the Daytona Beach Bandshell is a favorite outdoor hangout to gather among locals for festivals and concerts once you’ve toweled off for the day. Made from Florida coquina rock, the historic seashell-shaped amphitheater overlooks the beach. Free live concerts play out under the stars on Friday and Saturday nights, all summer long, with fireworks displays afterward that light up the sky.
Pick your home base.
Photo: Daytona Beach Area CVB
With so much for your family to do in Daytona Beach, you’ll want to stay a while – and you’ve got options. The Hard Rock Hotel Daytona Beach keeps kids entertained at the Roxity Youth Club, while The DAYTONA, Autograph Collection is located inside ONE DAYTONA, an entertainment complex with the kid-favorite GameTime arcade. The Shores Resort & Spa has luxurious rooms so close to the surf they might make you feel like you’re on a ship at sea, an oceanfront pool set behind the dunes, and complimentary s’mores kits to round out your beach days. Elsewhere, the suites at Bahama House come with kitchenettes and a complimentary daily continental breakfast.
Condo-style accommodations at Max Beach Resort are another solid choice, especially if you like the idea of a terrace that looks over the beach. Or consider booking your family’s dream seaside vacation home through Salty Dog Vacation Rentals for amenities like private pools, hot tubs, and game rooms to enjoy after another fun day on the sand. Really, though, picking where to stay is the easy part. It’s packing up to leave Daytona Beach that’s the challenge. 