Get away for a family escape in Daytona Beach, and you can expect a vacation filled with sunning, funning, exploring and a lot of wonderful value for your money. You know what else your tribe can expect? Plenty of awesome ways for your family to reconnect with the outdoors and each other.
There is a wide range of adrenaline-fueled adventures and value-added wonder awaiting your discovery in every nature park, waterway, science center and beyond. And, of course, there’s no end to the fun waiting to be had at the most exciting hands-on exhibit of them all — the beach.
One of the things that makes Daytona Beach the ideal destination for families is that there’s simply MORE to discover for all ages — more fun, more value and more adventures at a better rate. The potential outdoor excursions are seemingly endless, and the fun doesn’t stop there.
More Exploration
The world’s most famous beach is the perfect place to establish your family’s base camp, but any local sherpa will tell you the sandy path less taken leads to some of Florida’s most beautiful natural wonders. Daytona Beach is home to numerous inland state and local parks that can be to explored by land and water.
Exciting guided or unguided eco-tours, including a scenic network of hiking and biking trails, are ready and waiting for families to discover. Plus, kayak and stand-up paddleboard tours flourish like local flora and fauna around here!
Join environmental specialists at the Lyonia Environmental Center and hike Lyonia Preserve. If you’re looking for the perfect perch for birdwatching, Ponce Preserve is the place to be.
And, you won’t want to miss Florida’s most adorable gentle giants — the manatees! There are several year-round locations to view manatees, including Tomoka State Park, and nearby Blue Spring State Park is the manatees’ number-one warm-water refuge from November to March.
Video: Explore nature trails, learn about local wildlife, rent kayaks, canoes or paddleboards, visit our parks, and enjoy endless outdoor adventures.
More Discovery
Dive in hands-first at the Marine Science Center in Ponce Inlet for an up-close educational experience of the area’s diverse wildlife. Explore a variety of marine environments and exhibits, observe local rehabilitation efforts for sea turtles and seabirds, and meet the residents of an artificial reef aquarium.
Video: Leave the goggles behind and dive into an environmental journey at the Marine Science Center in Ponce Inlet!
More Excitement
When the members of your family expedition crave beach-style “wildlife,” set your fun compass for the Daytona Beach Boardwalk and Pier. The area’s dawn-to-dusk entertainment center blends classic thrills like the Joyland Amusement Center and Mardi Gras Fun Center with great food, drinks, movies and stores at the Ocean Walk Shoppes. And for a whole new level of marine life exploration, more than a million gallons of thrilling water slides and lazy rivers await at Daytona Lagoon Waterpark Entertainment Center.
Video: Endless entertainment awaits at the Ocean Walk Shoppes in Daytona Beach, just steps from our world famous coastline.
More Entertainment
From sophisticated orchestras to musical theatre productions, the Peabody Auditorium offers a wide range of entertainers. The list of includes names such as Travis Tritt, Kansas, Jim Belushi, Johnny Mathis and more! For something a little more laid-back, check out any one of the area’s most popular beach bars with live music. If you’re looking for a laugh, choose from one of Daytona Beach’s best comedy shows! From playhouse theatre for the tots to old-school revival tours, there’s something for everyone here.
More Foodie Finds
It should come as no surprise that the Daytona Beach area is a prime destination for seafood lovers. With such close proximity to the Atlantic Ocean and a myriad of inlets, rivers and estuaries, seafood around here is served up fresh! Whether you’re in the mood for grilled, broiled, fried, blackened or baked, you’ll find a delightful rendition of what you’re looking for in Daytona Beach. While you’re here, do a taste-test to compare the best fish sandwiches in Daytona Beach!
If you’re looking for dinner with a view, check out one of the area’s stunning riverfront restaurants. It’s the perfect place to cozy up with a cold drink and the people you love most to enjoy great conversation as the sun sets over the river. Surf ’n turf with a side of breathtaking views, coming right up!
Video: When all the fun works up your appetite in Daytona Beach, choose from a wide variety of delicious dining options right on the waterfront.
More Delightful Drinks
For those in your vacation crew over age 21, take your taste buds on an adventure along the Daytona Beach Ale Trail. Discover a wide range of offerings in the area’s exploding craft beer scene, and sip and sample the unique tastes of Florida. Each location along the Ale Trail has its own unique atmosphere — and all are owned and operated by those truly passionate people.
And if you’ve ever had a curiosity about the distilling process, do not miss your chance to explore Copper Bottom Craft Distillery. It’s Volusia County’s first licensed craft distillery, and the company reflects the deep roots that liquor distilling has in the area and showcases that story with pride. Try the award-winning vodka and take a full tour of the distillery!
More Relaxation
Whether you’re lounging poolside, drinking a cold piña colada on a patio or stretched out in the sun, there’s no doubt that Daytona Beach offers plenty of opportunities to relax. Discover one of Daytona Beach’s top spas and emerge from your vacation feeling totally refreshed and renewed. Finding serenity in paradise is easier than you think! Indulge in a Swedish massage, deep-tissue massage, organic manicure, luxurious facial and more — you’ll leave feeling rejuvenated on all kinds of levels!
Video: Craving a little luxury and relaxation? Pamper yourself at these Daytona Beach spas.
More Room to Roam
With a long, important history involving wide-open roads and civil rights action, Daytona Beach exudes all sorts of symbolic connotations for freedom. But a little more practically, Daytona Beach offers plenty of physical space for all to stretch out their arms and embrace.
Known worldwide for its wide shoreline, Daytona Beach offers 23 miles of uncrowded, white-sand beaches that average 500 feet wide at low tide. The expansive coast means you and your family will have plenty of space to sprawl out, soak in the sunshine and splash about. You can lounge under the umbrella, set up beach-sand sports like bocce, find out who’s fastest with a family footrace, or go for a serene stroll — all without worrying about tripping over other vacationers.
More Value
Daytona Beach means more fun and more value everywhere you go — from the beach to the Boardwalk and beyond. So if you’re looking for a whole lot of family fun for a whole lot less, grab hold and let the good times launch on Daytona Beach!
Start planning your trip today! Download our free official destination guide or sign up for our e-newsletter.
