Endless Adventures in Daytona Beach
Daytona Beach was named one of the “Best Florida Attractions” in the Top 10 Best Readers’ Choice travel award contest sponsored by USA TODAY
From endless activities to calm, quiet days spent sunbathing and beachcombing, visitors are finding just what they’re looking for in a Florida vacation along the 23 miles of world-famous shores of Daytona Beach. With area investments of more than $2 billion in progress and more hotel, attraction, dining and shopping options available, it’s a great time to experience all that Daytona Beach has to offer.
Daytona International Speedway has enduring appeal all year for all ages! Take a 60-minute Speedway Tour or the VIP Tour and discover what makes Daytona International Speedway the World Center of Racing. While there, visit the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, too! It honors racing in all its forms and is a fun, colorful and exciting exhibit the whole family will admire. The best part? It’s included in your tour admission! Or, choose a 2.5-hour VIP Tour offered on select dates, which features an exclusive stop at the NASCAR Archives & Research that is home to thousands of vintage and rare items, including Earnhardt memorabilia and images of beach racing history to famed moments of the DAYTONA 500, of which there are many!
Daytona International Speedway tours include a visit to the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America and an opportunity to experience spectacular displays honoring all forms of motorsports: Stock Cars, Sports Cars, Open-Wheel, Motorcycles, Drag Racing, Land Speed Records, Powerboating and Aviation. The 10,000 sf Hall of Fame, adorned with bronze plaques that feature the sculpted images of 230 inductees of the Hall of Fame, also has a long list of exclusive sights even non-race fans can appreciate: Dale Earnhardt stock car, “Big Daddy” Don Garlits' Swamp Rat Dragster, Bobby Rahal Indy Car, Bill Seebold Powerboat, Blueberry Racing Airplane, Sox and Martin Pro Stock Barracuda, Barney Oldfield "999" replica, Bill Elliott Stock Car, Jeremy McGrath SuperCross Motorcycle, Sir Malcolm Campbell's Bluebird Land Speed Record Car and the winning Daytona 500 car. Classic machines from those competitive arenas highlight the hall. Admission to the Hall of Fame is included in the Daytona International Speedway tour ticket price.
ONE DAYTONA is a lifestyle and entertainment center located across from the iconic Daytona International Speedway. Featuring a vibrant mix of unique dining, shopping and entertainment experiences, ONE DAYTONA is a destination within a destination for locals and visitors to explore and enjoy. ONE DAYTONA offers a one-of-a-kind showcase of first-to-market retail outlets and specialty shops, quick-bite and full-service restaurants, and energetic live entertainment, all set against the backdrop of the World Center of Racing.
Located on Daytona State College's campus is Florida's only museum dedicated to photography. The Southeast Museum of Photography exhibits, collects, preserves and interprets photography to facilitate teaching and learning at Daytona State College, and enhances the community's understanding and appreciation of culture, history, art and photography.
The Smithsonian-affiliated Museum of Arts and Sciences (MOAS), offers a state-of-the-art planetarium, vast permanent collections, restored railroad cars, decorative arts, Cuban art, African art, and the only hands-on science center between Jacksonville and Orlando - the Charles and Linda Williams Children's Museum. The Children's Museum houses professionally designed interactive exhibits that demonstrate various principles of science. Located on a 90-acre Florida nature preserve, the Tuscawilla Preserve, the facility hosts over 30,000 objects including the Dow Gallery of American Art, the Schulte Gallery of Chinese Art, the Bouchelle Collection and the Gallery of Decorative Arts, the Cuban Foundation Museum, showcasing one of the most significant collections of Cuban paintings in the United States; the Prehistory of Florida Gallery featuring Florida's Giant Ground Sloth skeleton and the Root Family Museum displaying restored railroad cars, antique automobiles and the largest collection of Coca-Cola memorabilia in Florida. The Helene B. Roberson Visible Storage Building exhibits thousands of objects from many donors.
The Cici & Hyatt Brown Museum of Art is home to the largest collection of Florida art in the world and features a rotating collection of 2,600 Florida-themed oil and watercolor paintings. The Museum's grand central gallery and mezzanine showcase the collection's signature pieces, while six smaller galleries feature beautiful changing exhibitions with Florida themes. The Brown Museum is more than just a traditional art museum; it is a history museum, with the history of Florida told through works of art. A gift shop and a café add to the Brown Museum experience and make for the perfect day-long visit to the Museum of Arts & Sciences campus.
Enjoy these English sugar mill ruins surrounded by lush botanical gardens, native trees, a butterfly garden and collections of bromeliads, ginger and cacti. A rare human sundial allows visitors to stand next to the current month's tablet and with arms raised, the shadow will point to the time. The gardens feature the ruins of a 19th-century sugar factory which contains the most complete sugar grinding machines in the country. Around every corner, there are huge dinosaur statues, remnants of an amusement park from 1949-1952, Bongoland. Open daily from dawn to dusk.
Enjoy spectacular, 360-degree views of the Atlantic Ocean, the Intracoastal Waterway and more! Completed in 1887, the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse is a National Historic Landmark and a fascinating piece of Florida history. It towers above others as the tallest lighthouse in Florida. This majestic facility, tucked away in the charming town of Ponce Inlet, stretches 175 feet into the sky. Feeling adventurous? Climb the 203 steps to the top for some truly breathtaking scenery and one-of-a-kind photo opportunities. The lush, surrounding grounds feature a wealth of historical and nautical treasures. Ponce Inlet Lighthouse’s on-site museum features a rare Fresnel Lens exhibit, artifacts on lighthouse life, shipwrecks, a gift shop and more.
Purchased by the Heritage Preservation Trust in 2009, Lilian Place was built in 1884 and is the oldest home on the beachside of Daytona Beach. It is open Wednesdays through Sundays, 1 to 4 p.m. for guided tours with the last tour leaving at 4 p.m. Lilian Place is a prime example of Italianate High Victorian architecture with its high ceilings, wood crown moldings and heart-of-pine floors. The 1905 Hotchkiss House is the original home of Eli Hotchkiss, "the Stapler King," and is now home to the Lilian Place Heritage Center. Both historic properties were saved through Volusia County ECHO grants with partial funding from Volusia County Cultural grants. These are two of the oldest and finest examples of late nineteenth-century architecture on the beachside.
Former winter home of millionaire and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller, The Casements is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and features the Rockefeller Period Room, Boy Scouts of America historical memorabilia, and a collection of Hungarian festival costumes and artifacts. Rockefeller Gardens, a beautiful area on the riverfront with wide paths for strolling, is also part of the attraction and serves as the scenic backdrop for several cultural festivals throughout the year. Free tours are offered Monday - Friday, 10 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. and Saturdays 9:30 -10:30 a.m.
This fascinating chocolate factory is known for high-quality, handmade chocolates made fresh every day. Angell and Phelps was named one of TripAdvisor's top 10 Sweetest Attractions in the U.S. Open Monday-Saturday 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Closed Sundays. Watch the chocolate-making process, enjoy a free sample and learn what makes their chocolate creations so good!
LPGA International, the premier golf club of Daytona Beach, boasts 36 holes of world-class golf designed by Arthur Hills and Rees Jones. Each is distinct in design and play, but are both great for all skill levels. Since 1994, LPGA International has been the home course of the LPGA Tour. The Club gained its notoriety as the host of numerous LPGA Tour Championships and is now the host of the final stage of the LPGA Tour Qualifying School. LPGA International is also home to a world-class practice facility featuring a double-ended range, a Rees Jones-designed 3-hole championship practice course, short game areas and putting greens.