Learn to Kayak — Whether you rent a kayak and go out on your own or take a kayak tour, nothing beats getting up close and personal with the water and its wildlife, like you can in a kayak. Check out 8 places to explore by kayak or canoe among the area’s countless marshes, springs, lakes, rivers and waterways. And see the full lineup of launch sites and rental companies here.
Take a Bike Ride on the Beach — If you’d rather do your exploring on dry land, rent a bike and cruise along our 23 miles of beaches. If you want to go a little farther in your explorations, rent an electric bike and cruise at 10 mph or pedal on your own power as you take in the sights and sounds of Daytona Beach. On or off the beach, here are 3 Must-Ride Biking Trails in the Daytona Beach area.
Hike More — Daytona Beach has more than 60 miles — and growing! — of showcase nature trails. Some don’t-miss favorite hiking destinations include the St. Johns River-to-Sea Loop and Lyonia Preserve, a 360-acre restored scrub ecosystem with a population of curious and friendly Florida Scrub Jays. You can check out all the area trails using the Volusia County Parks and Trails app.
Take Time to Enrich Yourself with Culture — Where to start? Whether your imagination is fired up by fine arts, revved up by science, or heated up by heritage and history, Daytona Beach offers endless choices. The Museum of Arts & Sciences is a great place to start, because there’s so much art, science and history under one roof in the facility that sits on a 90-acre pristine ecosystem. You can also make your own cultural agenda, starting with the Arts and Culture page at daytonabeach.com and the Daytona Beach Area Arts Map.
Learn About the History of Auto Racing in Daytona Beach — Ever since Major Henry Segrave set his final land speed record in 1929 right on our white, sandy beaches — today the speed limit in the beach driving zones is 10 mile per hour — Daytona Beach has been ground zero for every kind of motor speed racing, from the Daytona 500 to motorcycle and go-cart races. Get your motor running with tour of Daytona International Speedway which includes a visit to the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, then plan some time at the Legends of Auto Racing Museum and a self-guided walk through the oceanfront Birthplace of Speed Park that commemorates the first beach race held in 1903.
Learn About Manatees — Also known as “sea cows,” these funny-looking but much beloved critters are marine mammals. As distant cousins to dolphins and whales, they have to come to the surface every few minutes to breathe, so they are not hard to spot. Take your pick from several boat tours along the Intracoastal Waterway to see manatees, dolphins and other wildlife. Or visit Blue Spring State Park on the St. Johns River, the winter home for a growing population of manatees.
Fish More — There’s no such thing as too much fishing. From pier fishing off of two of Florida’s iconic wooden piers in Daytona Beach to deep-sea fishing to reeling in a bass from the St. Johns River to fishing from a kayak in the Intracoastal Waterway, Daytona Beach offers abundant angling options to scratch your fishing itch — which never does seem to stop needing a good scratch, right?
Ready to start checking a few must-dos off of your Daytona Beach 2021 Bucket List? Start planning your coastal getaway today! We’ll be looking forward to seeing you and your vacation crew soon for some Wide. Open. Fun.
