Known for its expansive beaches, scenic waterfront dining and need for speed, Daytona Beach is the ideal place to escape for a sunshine-filled vacation. Luckily, the adventures don’t end there — the area offers a wide range of activities that are fun for all ages! If you have a vacationer who’s too small to paddleboard, drive a race car or enjoy the ziplines, try one of these fun, toddler-friendly things to do!
1. Museum of Arts & Sciences – Children’s Museum
Daytona Beach is a hub for cultural and historical venues in Florida, including the Smithsonian-affiliated Museum of Arts & Sciences (MOAS). The museum could fill several days with discoveries, but one of its most popular features is the Charles and Linda Williams Children’s Museum. There, your child will be able to enjoy hands-on learning activities that emphasize the local area, including the chance to build a race car! And, don’t miss the state-of-the-art planetarium at MOAS while you’re nearby.
2. Marine Science Center
A favorite of area visitors of all ages, the Marine Science Center is an especially fun place to explore for those with young children. Take your child on a fun and educational journey through marine life. Along the way, pet stingrays, see sea turtles up close in the rehabilitation hospital, view a variety of exhibits and meet the creatures of the artificial reef system. It’s always a hit with the kids, and adults love it, too.
3. Daytona Lagoon
The recently renovated Daytona Lagoon is a premier water park and family fun entertainment center. From thrill slides to chill polls, the waterpark offers attractions for the entire family to enjoy. For young children, the Pelican's Drift Lazy River, the Castaway Children's Play Area and the Treasure Lagoon Wave Pool are must-dos. The Fun Park offers both indoor and outdoor entertainment with bumper cars, a mega arcade, laser tag, go-karts, a sky maze ropes course, miniature golf and a rock wall.
The Fun Park is open all year and the Waterpark is open March through September.
4. Oceanfront Parks
As exciting as playhouse theaters and interactive art displays are, sometimes the most fun for toddlers is found in simply playing outside. When your vacation crew needs to burn off some energy, head to one of the 10 magnificent oceanfront parks in the Daytona Beach area. Let your little ones enjoy the splash parks, playgrounds and more while you soak in a beachy breeze. Most of the parks feature shaded picnic areas, barbeque grills, restrooms, fishing areas and readily available parking, making them good places to set up with the whole family.
Whether you’re wandering through a nature preserve with your children or enjoying some much-needed “me time” at one of the area’s most relaxing spas, you’ll have no trouble finding the perfect activity for all ages during your stay in Daytona Beach.
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