If your visual go-to of Daytona Beach dates back to MTV’s famous (infamous?) reality series, Spring Break, it’s time to revise that mental image. While Bike Week and spring break both draw energetic crowds, the Daytona Beach region – a 23-mile shoreline stretch of lovely towns and historic neighborhoods — is a complex, charming, tranquil destination that’s worth a trip.
Grand events aren’t tough to come by — racing fans will want to check out the Daytona International Speedway, and family fun is abundant at the nostalgic boardwalk and pier. But there’s so much more than meets the eye! From the breezy rooftop cocktail scene at the Streamline Hotel and unforgettable homemade pasta at The Cellar to cultural gems and waterfront views, we’re highlighting some of the unexpected offerings in the area.
Read on for how to make the most of your visit!
We’ll start in Daytona Beach proper, then head to Ormond Beach, where Gilded Age luminaries like Henry Flagler, John D. Rockefeller, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and Harvey Firestone regularly seasoned. Next, we’ll head south to the pristine Ponce Inlet, where you can parasail, take a sunset cruise, and dine al fresco. Get ready to be inspired for your next vacation!
WHERE TO STAY
The Daytona Grande Oceanfront Resort is a chic, towering beachfront venue with views of the Atlantic or Intracoastal Waterway from every room. It also offers a 105-foot pool alongside a jacuzzi and bar.
Coral Sands Resort dates from the 1940s on idyllic Ormond Beach and offers three unique options. You can book a stay at a five-story beachfront high-rise with picturesque ocean views, enjoy a cozy, modern cottage, or set up at a beachfront RV park.
At Hard Rock Hotel Daytona Beach, everything nods to music (there’s even a guitar-shaped pool). At Wave Terrace, home to the Rock the Beach concert series, cocktails are served surfside. A gourmet brunch remixes items like a build-your-own Bloody Mary, salads, decadent desserts, and cocktails. Rock Spa and Sound Body are restorative on-site wellness options.
Prefer your own condo? Max Beach Resort is a glassy modern tower that houses one-, two-, and three-bedroom condos, each with a full kitchen, washer and dryer, and private balcony. Take in the sunrise and sunset there, on the rooftop terraces, at the Venn Bar, or while soaking in an oceanfront pool.
DAYTONA BEACH, DAYTONA BEACH SHORES, AND HOLLY HILL
At the One DAYTONA shopping center (a good stop en route to or from the airport), find locally owned epicurean delights, including Donnie’s Donuts, Four Rivers Smokehouse (serving succulent, perfectly-spiced brisket and impossibly yummy desserts), and Tiano’s Cuccina Italiana. Check out the hand-painted murals (part of the Daytona Beach Mural Trail) at the Victory Circle entrance.
The Cici and Hyatt Brown Museum of Art is a magnificent collection of 2,600 (rotating) works reflecting Florida‘s diverse natural habitats and cultures, including paintings by Thomas Hart Benton, Winslow Homer, and many others. This museum is one of seven sites in the region’s Smithsonian-affiliated Museum of Arts and Sciences (MOAS), including the Cuban Foundation Museum’s fine and folk art collection.
Daytona Beach’s new 1.3-mile-long Riverfront Esplanade in the Historic Beach Street District overlooks the Intracoastal Waterway and Halifax River. This green communal corridor with gentle waterfalls, fountains, and creeks is a cool spot to relax or walk with an organic coffee, espresso, or tea from Copperline Coffee + Café.
Don’t miss Angell & Phelps Chocolate Factory for chocolate-dipped potato chips, chocolate seashells, incomparable boxed truffles, and other confections. Riddell Angell and Cora Phelps founded Angell & Phelps on Beach Street in 1925, relocating from Mackinac Island, MI. Stroll to the back to glimpse the chocolate factory in action, and be sure to snag a sample!
Pop into McK’s Tavern & Brewery or Madeline’s Wine Bar for happy hour. The latter is a great place to share a charcuterie board.
At what is now Jackie Robinson Ballpark, Jackie Robinson, first baseman for the Dodgers, played in the first integrated Major League Baseball spring training game in 1946. The ballpark features a statue of Robinson, historical markers and a museum, and is home to the Daytona Tortugas. (For more nighttime recreation, check the events calendar at the Daytona Beach Bandshell.)
Millie’s Restaurant, featured on the Food Network’s Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives in 2020, is a tasteful dining room tucked into a small shopping center. Locally sourced shrimp is a highlight in shrimp and grits and shrimp fondue. Other savory items include the filet mignon, scallop pasta, a sous vide pork chop, and more.
ORMOND BEACH
Gilded Age luminaries appreciated the coastal beauty here routinely. At Rose Villa Southern Table, a pink 19th-century Victorian mansion (initially built for guests of Henry Flagler in Ormond Beach) offers portraits in each dining nook describing who ate in these same warm, artful rooms over a century ago. From biscuits to Brussels sprout Caesar salad to southern fried chicken (save room for Hummingbird Cheesecake), dining here is unforgettable and delicious.
Before dinner, stop into 31 Supper Club for a cocktail (this is also a stellar place to dine), created by an assemblage of salvaged Art Deco decor, some from illustrious venues like Hollywood’s Brown Derby.
There are dozens of antique and vintage stores throughout this region. Dunn’s Attic and Miss Priss are great venues for treasure hunting in Ormond Beach. At Dunn’s Attic, pick up a $1 mimosa at Rosie’s Café Tuesdays through Sundays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., and bring it along as you shop. Make time for a full breakfast or lunch at Rosie’s as well — the eatery redefines the meaning of cinnamon buns!
Ormond Memorial Art Museum & Gardens has a dual mission to “inspire the community through art and nature while honoring those who fought for freedom.” Contemporary artists and abundant arts programming happen alongside tropical gardens and walking trails punctuated by fishponds and fountains.
Between vintage shopping and art appreciation, stop at Soraya Café for a Turkish platter with carrot jam, hummus, pita, hard-boiled eggs, olives, feta, beef sausage, and a tomato-cucumber salad. You can also snag lentil soup, rotating seasonal quiches, and a thoughtfully crafted wine list.
The Casements, John D. Rockefeller’s former mansion (named for sizable hand-cut casement windows) is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a designated Florida Heritage Site as well as the Cultural Center for the City of Ormond Beach.
Once home to many indigenous communities, nearby Tomoka State Park is popular for canoeing, boating, and fishing. It’s a birdwatcher’s paradise with over 160 documented species and a habitat for the West Indian manatee. The River Grille on the Tomoka is great for Florida seafood (Cajun, grilled, or fried), a Southern crab boil, key lime chicken, jambalaya, and more.
PONCE INLET
This is the place to get out on the water. Start by taking in the scene from above by climbing the tallest lighthouse tower in Florida at Ponce Inlet Lighthouse & Museum. The National Historic Landmark, completed in 1887, offers 203 steps and a height of 175 feet, and you can take in 360-degree views of the Atlantic Ocean and Intracoastal Waterway.
The Marine Science Center (MSC) on Lighthouse Drive rehabilitates turtles, reptiles, and seabirds. Galleries offer an interpretation of Volusia County’s marine life, and a Bird Boardwalk allows visitors to meet a few “locals” firsthand.
Ponce Inlet Watersports offers kayak excursions and boat tours for a “birds’ eye” view of dolphins, waterbirds, and other wildlife and the pretty shoreline community. You can also book a wildlife, sunset, or charter cruise on the Intracoastal Waterway, thanks to Manatee Cruise. Alternatively, you can soar aloft with Daytona Beach Parasail.
Down the Hatch Seafood Company and Hidden Treasure Rum Bar & Grill both offer fresh and local seafood and other mainstays right on the Ponce Inlet/Intracoastal Waterway.
BONUS RECOMMENDATIONS
Racing’s North Turn
On the way to or from Ponce Inlet, stop at Racing’s North Turn, a fun restaurant with a lively patio scene and a rich history museum in the lobby. The north turn refers to the Daytona Beach and Road Course, a circular racing route from 1902 that ran north on the beach and then south on AIA. The turn north was right here!
Blue Spring State Park
Further inland in Volusia County, Blue Spring is an ethereal shade of blue-green and, as a designated Manatee Refuge, the winter home to an endearing population of West Indian Manatees. Rent a canoe or kayak, take a guided cruise, or just take a beautiful walk at this one-of-a-kind state park.
Happy exploring!
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