Best Daytona Beach Attractions

Located in North Eastern Florida, the City of Daytona Beach has a population of approximately 64,000 residents and an economy largely based upon the tourism trade.

Daytona Beach Florida is home to a number of corporations, as well as NASCAR, and the Daytona International Speedway. Daytona Beach attractions are plentiful!

Daytona Beach Attractions

Here are several excellent Daytona Beach attractions:

Daytona Beach Kennel Club & Poker Room – You bet your money, you take your chances. The Daytona Beach Kennel Club and Poker Room has pari-mutual betting on simulcast harness, thoroughbred, jai-alai and Greyhound racing along with live on-site Greyhound racing.

The poker room is open 7 days a week from noon to midnight, and players can participate in 5 and 7 card stud,Texas hold ’em and other card games.

Museum of Arts & Sciences – The Daytona Beach Museum of Arts & Sciences has a nice collection of Cuban, American and African art, antique furniture and decorative arts. The Museum’s Planetarium offers a variety of Astrology and laser shows. One of the more interesting exhibits is a 13,000 year old Ground Sloth that stands 13 feet tall.

Kennedy Space Center– An hour drive South of Daytona Beach, visitors to the Kennedy Space Center can simulate a walk on the Moon or experience the force of gravity in a G-force trainer. Additionally, The Kennedy Space Center houses the Worlds largest collection of astronaut memorabilia, and an Astronaut Hall of Fame.

Daytona Beach Symphony Society – Presenting a number of musical and cultural programs, The Daytona Beach Symphony Society features artists like Itzhak Perlman, Andre Watts, Van Cliburn, The Boston Pops, The Czech Philharmonic, The Pittsburgh Symphony and The Cleveland Orchestra.

Community outreach programs include family discounts, annual free children’s concerts, and a free of charge pre-concert lecture series.

Daytona Beaches – Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, Daytona Beach offers 23 miles of awesome white sand beaches. Particularly friendly to tourists with disabilities, surf chairs are supplied at no cost with a reservation.

The Daytona 500 Experience – Featuring stock car motion simulators, visitors can also get a close look at the banked turns of The Daytona Speedway.

There is also a video arcade with racing games, and a gift shop offering NASCAR collectibles and clothing. Keep in mind most of the State of Florida is home to college students during spring break, so it may be the wrong time of year for a family visit.

The Daytona Beach Boardwalk and Pier is the place to be for family fun! It features Ocean Walk Shoppes and the Daytona Beach Bandshell, gift shops, snack bars, restaurants, and a classic arcade – with ever popular Skee Ball and video game favorites – day or night!

Every May through September, the Boardwalk and Pier are also home to the Daytona Beach Free Bandshell Concerts and Fireworks. With street performers, thrill rides and plenty of family-friendly activities, your time in Daytona Beach will be memorable!

Just a few short miles south of Daytona Beach, at the southernmost tip of the peninsula, is the off-the-beaten-path area of Ponce Inlet and the home of the tallest lighthouse in Florida. A visit to the lighthouse, rain or shine, is always a cherished experience. Along with a historic display that touts Ponce Inlet’s place in the early days of automobile and motorcycle racing on the nearby beach, you may encounter special historical exhibits and events.

The Daytona Beach area boasts numerous historic sites and ruins paying tribute to our Timucuan, African-American, and racing heritage. Exploring the area’s rich history is a great opportunity to explore the outdoors, too. Retrace the steps of settlers on trails that lead to ancient turtle mounds, sugar mill ruins, and historical villages.

Where to eat in Daytona Beach: traditional ethnic eateries, and waterfront restaurants to the vibrant social atmosphere along the Daytona Beach Ale Trail, the area is bursting with flavors to savor! Whether you’re craving grass-fed filet mignon, fresh seafood, Asian fusion fare, the local catch, fine dining, or just a good old American cheeseburger, Daytona Beach has you and your taste buds covered. Lots of outdoor dining options, too!

While you can find a fine cake, sufficient brownies and passable cookies at nearly any grocery store — and even on the snack aisle at most convenience stores — sometimes nothing but fresh-baked goodness will satisfy your culinary cravings.

In the Daytona Beach area, there is no shortage of local shops baking up delicious Danishes, quintessential crullers, tempting turnovers and a whole lot more — with many of the shops even specializing in international delicacies.

Some spots you should check out for sweet treats:

Herbert’s Bistro & Bakery – 3781 South Nova Road, Port Orange

La Gourmandise French Bakery & Pastry Shop – 359 West Granada Boulevard, Ormond Beach

Mon Delice French Bakery – 557 East Third Avenue, New Smyrna Beach

Rosie’s Italian Bakery & Café – 168 North Beach Street, Daytona Beach

Vittoria’s Italian Coffee & Pastry – 3106 South Atlantic Avenue, Daytona Beach Shores

Cakery Creation – 11 West Granada Boulevard, Ormond Beach

Donnie’s Donuts – 200 East Granada Boulevard, Ormond Beach

For nature lovers who really love to get away from it all, the Daytona Beach area offers a wide selection of state parks— six in total — offering fun and family-friendly activities for vacationers with a broad range of outdoors-oriented interests. In addition to 23 miles of beautiful coastline, the area’s state parks include a diverse range of other offerings, including pet-friendly facilities, boating and swimming opportunities, hiking and biking trails, historic attractions, and more.

When you and your vacation crew plan to head to the Daytona Beach-area, keep these Daytona Beach attractions in mind when you’re putting your to-do list together.