Daytona Kids
Daytona Headlines
Sat, May 18 2013
No Napping Here: Pastor's sermons fire up the faithful at Daytona Beach ... - Daytona Beach News-Journal
No Napping Here: Pastor's sermons fire up the faithful at Daytona Beach ... - Daytona Beach News-Journal
The Beach
Daytona Beach is a 23-mile span of sand that's wide enough to walk, drive and park on. Main Street Pier and nearby Ocean Walk Village are the focal points of beach activities and contain concessions, arcades, water-sports equipment rentals, restaurants and shops are all within walking distance. You can even fish from the pier.
New to the beach-front is Ocean Walk Village, an upscale shopping and entertainment area. This Oceanside district, rich in history, is leading the revitalization effort in the waterfront area.
The granite blocks paving the walkway recount historic racing events. Most of those races were held on the beach before the International Speedway was built in 1959.
Daytona Beach Boardwalk
Behind Ocean Avenue between Main Street and Auditorium Boulevard, Daytona Beach.
(386) 673-2080
Step back in time and enjoy the old-fashioned arcades, then test your driving
skills at the mini go-cart track. Visit the souvenir shops for fascinating
trinkets and souvenirs. Main Street Pier is a beach landmark. Brightly colored
cable cars run along the pier. There is musical entertainment at the historic,
sun-washed oceanfront Bandshell, which hosts open-air live musical acts, from
reggae bands to pops-style band music, from April to December. Call for more
information on the Bandshell Concert Series
Daytona International Speedway
1801 W. International Speedway Blvd., Daytona Beach.
(386) 253-7223. Toll-free
1-800-PIT-SHOP.
Daily 9 am-6 pm. Fees vary by activity.
This 2.5-mi/4-km track is home to the Daytona 500, Pepsi 400 and several other
major events sanctioned by NASCAR, which is headquartered in Daytona Beach. When
there is no racing, the visitors’ center offers guided tram tours of the track.
The Daytona USA attraction has NASCAR history exhibits as well as several
interactive activities, including Daytona Dreamlap: a wild simulator ride based
on the Daytona 500 race. Check out the Richard Petty Ride-Along. You can ride
in a stock car for a few laps around this world-famous race course for a fee.
With proper instruction, you can even drive the course yourself.
Museum of Arts and Sciences
1040 Museum Blvd., Daytona Beach.
(386) 255-0285
Monday-Saturday 9 am-5 pm, Sunday noon-5 pm. Admission charged.
The only portrait of Argentina’s Eva Peron painted while she was alive is housed in this interesting and diverse museum. Among its permanent exhibits are collections of art from China, Africa and Cuba. There is also an extensive fossil record of Florida’s Pleistocene mammals (included are a rare elephant and a 13-foot-tall giant ground sloth). Changing exhibits too. The museum operates a planetarium and maintains a sculpture garden.
Marine Science Center at Lighthouse Point Park
100 Lighthouse Drive, Ponce Inlet.
(386) 304-5545.
Monday-Thursday and
Saturday, 9-5 pm, Friday 9 am-8 pm, Sunday noon-5 .
Nestled in Lighthouse Park, amidst nature trails and a boardwalk, the Marine
Science Center displays wonders of the aquatic world. Explore the 5,000-gallon
artificial reef aquarium, interactive displays and a wet-dry lab. The museum
highlight is the sea turtle rehabilitation program.
Bulow Plantation Ruins State Park
Old Dixie Highway north of Ormond Beach
(386) 517-2084.
Open daily 9 -5 . Admission
charged per vehicle.
Explore the peaceful grounds of a plantation and sugar mill, founded in 1821 and
destroyed during the Seminole Indian War. Visit the ruins and open-air museum
and hike nature trails.
Ocean Walk Village
If you’re visiting Beach Front Park, this lively shopping and entertainment
center is a refreshing experience. Ocean Walk Village offers restaurants, a
margarita and fajita bar and the best mai tais outside of Hawaii. If you’re
hungry, grab a bite at Bubba Gump’s Shrimp Co. Restaurant & Market. For a sweet
treat, try their gumpberry cobbler. The Village also includes Cold Stone
Creamery, Starbucks, a Harley Davidson storefront and a 10-screen, all-stadium
movie theater. 100 N. Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach.
Riverfront Marketplace
This shopping center offers a variety of desirable shopping and dining options.
Parking is free. 300 N. Beach St., Daytona Beach. Phone 386-671-3272.
The Casements
25 Riverside Drive, Ormond Beach
386-676-3216.
Free admission, donations
welcome.
Guided tours Monday-Friday 10 am-2:30 pm, Saturday 10-11:30 am. Museum opens 9
am Monday-Saturday. Closed Sunday.
Wander freely through the first and second floors of the former winter home of
John D. Rockefeller, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Here
you’ll discover eclectic assortments of museum quality items. The Casements is
a cultural center for Ormond Beach, offering classes, exhibits, events and a
gift shop.
Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse
Ponce Inlet, Florida
(386) 761-1821.
Open daily. Summer hours
(Memorial Day-Labor Day) 10 am-9 pm, final entry 8 pm. Admission charged.
Rising from the scenic fishing village of Ponce Inlet is the second tallest
brick lighthouse in the U.S. The Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse is a National
Historic Landmark. Visitors can climb the 230 spiraling stairs to reach the
lighthouse gallery and a stunning view of the inlet.
Lighthouse Park at Ponce Inlet
Open daily 6 am-9 pm. Admission charged per vehicle.
(386) 304-5520.
After visiting the Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse south of town, head to
neighboring Lighthouse Point Park and enjoy the peaceful beauty of this 52-acre
preserve. Stroll down nature trails or visit the beaches. There are two: one
solely for people and the other specifically for the family canine members.
Sports
Daytona Beach is known as the best sports beach around. Local rental companies make many choices possible:
Rent an all-terrain vehicle, a bicycle or a surfboard.
Several charter boats offer deep-sea fishing trips, and parasailing is available.
You can also water ski, windsurf and ride Jet Skis. Popular surf clinics are available through local surf shops.
Nearly 20 golf courses surround the city, including the Indigo Lakes Golf Course, considered among the best in the state. Moreover, Daytona Beach is home to the Ladies Professional Golfing Association. LPGA International features two public 18-hole golf courses and a three-hole golf academy.
Arts and Entertainment
Seaside Music Theatre
Two locations: 176 Beach St. and 1200 W. International Speedway Blvd., Daytona Beach.
(386) 252-6200. Toll free 800-854-5592.
Daytona Beach’s only professional theater offers entertaining musical shows. Productions are staged in the summer and winter months and feature a full-pit orchestra. Intimate plays and musical revues are the fare in the winter season, while summer brings five musicals and a children’s production.
