Fun things to do in Daytona

A guide to attractions,
experiences and other
phenomena in this
famous resort
[ Water Activities
1. GO FISH! Head out with Captain
Scott Cornelious of The Good Life
Charters to find redfish in the serene
and shallow waters of the Tomoka River.
Check out open waters and hidden
fishing spots in the narrow man-made
channels. This expert guide will help
you reel in a big one. 2099 North Beach
Street, Ormond Beach
2. SURFING. Never surfed before? No
problem. Pure Life Surf School says that
they get 95 per cent of first-timers up
on the board and catching a wave
before the day is out. Surfs always up in
Daytona, and the soft white sands make
for a gentle landing should the waves
FLORIDA
get the better of you. 2705 South
Atlantic Avenue, Daytona Beach
DAYTONA
BEACH

10 km

95

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PORT
ORANGE

92

DREAMSTIME PHOTO

[ Surprises

DAYTONA
BEACH

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4
7

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PONCE
INLET

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5 9

DeLAND
LOLA AUGUSTINE BROWN/TORONTO STAR

12
7 ORANGE CITY
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3. PADDLEBOARDING. Paddle in the

surf on Daytona Beach, or take an easy
paddle along the Halifax River that runs
just behind the beach. (If youre lucky,
youll paddle alongside manatees and
dolphins.) Three Brothers Boards offer
guided tours of the river and along the
beach, and are adept at teaching
newbies how to stay afloat. 212 South
Beach Street, Daytona Beach

[ Beach Stops

[ Wildlife

4. BOARDWALK AMUSEMENTS.
Right on the boardwalk, youll find a
throwback fairground, complete with
30-metre tall Ferris wheel and the Sand
Blaster Rollercoaster, which shoots you
around the track at 65 km/h. Both rides
offer fantastic views out over the ocean.
There are also go-carts, a slide, a
tilt-a-whirl and other fun rides. 25
Ocean Avenue, Daytona Beach
5. PONCE DE LEON INLET
LIGHTHOUSE. Climb the 203 steps of
the tallest lighthouse in Florida (at 53
metres) to be treated to incredible
views over Daytonas beaches, resorts
and waterways. Built in 1835, the
lighthouse also serves as museum, with
fascinating exhibits on the lighthouse,
and the culture of the surrounding area
and its history. 4931 South Peninsula
Drive, Ponce Inlet
6. DRIVE THE BEACHES! As a
throwback to the days when the
Daytona 500 raced on the hard-packed
white sands of Daytona Beach, youre
allowed to drive your car on the beach
and park on the sand. Access ramps are
clearly marked all along Atlantic
Avenue, and a great place to start is at
the Ponce Inlet Jetty.

7. SEARCHING FOR MANATEES ON

THE ST JOHNS RIVER. On a leisurely
four-hour kayak tour through mirror-like
still waters beneath Spanish moss
covered trees with Kenny Boyd of Kayak
Central Florida, youll get up close with
huge manatees, alligators, turtles, and
bird species including black vultures,
bald eagles, great blue herons, wood
storks and red-crested pileated
woodpeckers. 2100 W. French Avenue,
Orange City
8. MARINE SCIENCE CENTER. This
cool little aquarium-museum enables
you to learn about Florida marine life
and hand-feed stingrays, and it has a
turtle hospital and rehab centre behind
glass walls, and a seabird rehabilitation
centre and sanctuary. Get close to bald
eagles, storks and pelicans! 100
Lighthouse Drive, Ponce Inlet
9. SMYRNA DUNES PARK. Many
species of shorebirds call this protected
haven home. There are more than 2 km.
of raised walkways over the dunes, and
lots of beach access. Expect to see
pelicans, herons, storks, snowy egrets
and terns. 2995 North Peninsula Avenue,
New Smyrna Beach

10. DAYTONA FLEA AND FARMERS

MARKET. More than 1,000 stalls offer
up everything from tattoos, antiques,
exotic birds you can pose with,
bullet-proof vests, clothing, produce,
and everything you never knew you
needed. Look for cheap souvenirs or
people-watch. 1425 Tomoka Farms Road,
Daytona Beach
11. DAYTONA BEACH DRIVE-IN
CHRISTIAN CHURCH. For more than
60 years, the devoted of Daytona have
been able to attend Sunday service on
the grounds of the old Neptune
Drive-In, watch the sermon from the
balcony where the theatre screen used
to be, and tune in their radios to hear
what the Reverend says. 3140 South
Atlantic Avenue, Daytona Beach
12. CASSADAGA SPIRITUALIST
CAMP. Kooky Cassadaga is a unique
120-year-old community of spiritually
minded people. Want your palm or
your aura read? This is the place to do
it. Dozens of spiritualists call
Cassadaga home. Watch for lawn signs
outside their homes, find them at the
visitor centre, or book appointments
through the historic Cassadaga Hotel.
1112 Stevens Street, Lake Helen

[ Cars
13. TOUR THE SPEEDWAY! NASCAR
fans will love the tours of the Speedway.
Youre taken around the track and can
see just how steep the corners are, pose
at the victory lane podium, and explore
the garages. And theres a museum
where you can pose next to last years
winning car. 1801 W International
Speedway Blvd, Daytona Beach
14. DRINK WHERE NASCAR
STARTED! At Racings North Turn, you
can eat, drink and be merry right on the
spot where the Daytona 500 started on
the beach. This historic bar has tons of
cool memorabilia to look at. 4511 South
Atlantic Ave, Ponce Inlet
REPORTING BY LOLA AUGUSTINE BROWN
GRAPHIC BY BRIAN HUGHES/TORONTO STAR