Get ready to soak in the warm Florida sunshine in Daytona Beach, Florida – host city for the 2024 SFMA Conference and Exhibition. With its fun atmosphere and its close proximity to dining and entertainment, Daytona Beach is an ideal warm-weather destination. Satisfy your craving for salt air by grabbing a quick bite on the oceanfront. With 23 miles of Atlantic shoreline, the Daytona Beach area has some of the most accessible beaches in Florida. More adventurous visitors can get out on the water with fishing, boating, paddleboarding, kayaking or sailing; while fans of the links can take their pick from more than 20 golf courses, including the 36-hole LPGA International and a pair of courses on the Florida Historic Golf Trail.
BEACHES
The best way to stay up to date with everything beach related is to download the Volusia Beaches app, available for free on Google Play on Android and the App Store on iOS. The app provides real-time updates on the status of beach ramps and staffed lifeguard towers, as well as beach conditions, off-beach parking and more. For more information about area beaches, visit https://www.daytonabeach.com/things-to-do/beaches/
ARTS AND CULTURE
At the Smithsonian-affiliated Museum of Arts and Sciences, guests can walk through galleries featuring everything from art to industry to prehistory, and then step out into the boardwalks of the 90-acre Tuscawilla Preserve. Dig into Daytona Beach’s rich and colorful past at the Halifax Historical Museum. A walk through downtown Daytona Beach or Ormond Beach will take you through an abundance of art galleries and public art, with even more galleries, museums and history centers nearby. Visit The Charles and Linda Williams Children’s Museum, which houses professionally designed interactive exhibits that demonstrate various principles of science.
FUN THINGS TO DO
- Daytona International Speedway: Daytona International Speedway has enduring appeal all year for all ages! It doesn’t have to be Speedweeks to get your blood racing. And you don’t have to be a race fan to get spellbound by a Speedway Track Tour. It’s a massive multi-sports facility that leaves visitors in awe with every visit. 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.
- Daytona Beach Boardwalk and Pier: The Daytona Beach Boardwalk is a combination of the Joyland Amusement Center, Mardi Gras Fun Center, Pizza King & Lisa’s Gift Shop, all located right on the beach! This area entertainment center is south of Ocean Walk Shoppes and the Daytona Beach Bandshell.
- LPGA International – Hills Course & Jones Course: LPGA International, the premier golf club of Daytona Beach, boasts 36 holes of world-class golf designed by Arthur Hills and Rees Jones and both courses are great for all skill levels.
- Riverfront Esplanade: Spanning a mile of Intracoastal waterway, the Riverfront Esplanade is a premier gathering space and botanical garden in the heart of Daytona Beach. Composed of more than a mile of waterfront running trail with comfortable benches and swings overlooking the Halifax River.
- Jackie Robinson Ballpark and Statue: Relive history in this minor league baseball park where ground-breaking African American baseball player, Jackie Robinson, 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, a Cincinnati Reds affiliated minor league team.
- Daytona Lagoon Premier Water Park and Family Fun Entertainment Center: The Daytona Lagoon features 12 water rides, including the 54-foot-tall Kraken’s Revenge four-lane mat racer and the Shaka Half-Pipe ‘pendulum slide,’ a giant wave pool and lazy river.
- Sun Splash Park: Sun Splash Park is a state-of-the-art 3,500-square-foot splash pad that features 42 water jets shooting water four- to six-feet in the air from a decorative play surface overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
- Miniature golf: Enjoy numerous options for a round of mini golf among scenic streams and waterfalls. Each location has a different theme.
- Angell & Phelps Chocolate Factory: A must see for anyone with a sweet tooth. Visit the store to learn all about the history of this famous brand of chocolate.
- Daytona Beach Zipline Adventure: Enjoy a treetop adventure at Daytona Beach Zipline Adventure, up in the trees of Tuscawilla Park! Our aerial adventure courses are deftly woven into the forest.
- One Daytona: This lifestyle and entertainment center is located across from the iconic Daytona International Speedway, and features a vibrant and growing mix of unique dining, shopping and entertainment experiences.
- Tanger Outlets: Shop more than 75 designers and brands in a relaxed, lush and modern oasis.
PONCE INLET
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. Highlights of Ponce Inlet are as follows:
- The beach: Stretching nearly four miles to the mouth of the inlet, it’s hard to resist the relaxing waters, white sands and spectacular sunrises and sunsets found along Ponce Inlet’s beach.
- Ponce Inlet Lighthouse: The Ponce Inlet Lighthouse is one of the most well-preserved lighthouses in the country. Climb the 203 steps to the top for spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean, as well as the Halifax River.
- Marine Science Center In Ponce Inlet: Experience first-hand how sea turtles and seabirds are being rescued and rehabilitated to one day be returned to the wild.
- Ponce Preserve: The Inlet’s largest park features approximately 41 acres stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Halifax River. Sitting at the heart of the park is the Green Mound State Archaeological Site, an ancient Indian midden, as well as an ancient live oak tree estimated to be more than 350 years old.
- Ponce Inlet Watersports: Everything you need for great family fun including dolphin and manatee boat tours.
- Dining: Grab Lunch Or Dinner At Off The Hook At Inlet Harbor Raw Bar And Grill & Down the Hatch
ORMOND BEACH
The Ormond Beach Scenic Loop is a picturesque roadway that has become a favorite among locals and visitors. Twist and turn underneath the cathedral ceilings formed by live oak tress amid the native Florida wildlife and enjoy the beachfront glimpses and a refreshing sea breeze. Along the nearly 34-mile route, you’ll pass a few historic sites, countless wild birds and miles upon miles of natural beauty dripping in Spanish moss.
- Tomoka State Park: Take a pit stop to stretch your legs at Tomoka State Park, where hiking trails, canoe and kayak rentals, picnic tables and wildlife await. The park protects a variety of wildlife habitats and endangered species, such as the West Indian manatee, and is a bird watcher’s paradise with more 160 species sighted. Onsite you will find The Tomoka Outpost. Enjoy an ice-cold soda, snacks, beer/wine and their famous Cup-ah Cajun with a fantastic view!
- Ormond Memorial Art Museum &Garden: This museum showcases paintings, drawings, video, mixed media, photography and three-dimensional works of art. Adjacent to the museum are lush tropical gardens that offer a beautiful setting complete with gazebo and nature trails, fish ponds and fountains.
- The Casements: Formerly the winter home of multi-millionaire John D. Rockefeller, The Casements now serves as the City of Ormond Beach’s cultural center and museum containing art and historical exhibits.
- Andy Romano Beachfront Park: This four-acre park offers beach access, free off-beach parking, restrooms, splash pad, playground, shaded pavilion, concessions, grills and restrooms.
DINING
Outdoor or waterfront dining is more popular than ever, and the Daytona Beach area has plenty of great options – from casual beachfront cafés and waterfront decks to fine dining under the stars. From traditional ethnic eateries to Asian fusion, and from fine dining to the finest burger, Daytona Beach is ready to tickle your taste buds. An abundance of waterfront restaurants will satisfy your craving for fresh seafood, along with amazing views. The Daytona Beach Ale Trail highlights local craft beers and artisan spirits in a diverse string of establishments owned and operated by people who are passionate about their brews. So, 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 covered. For more information about Daytona Beach food and beverage options, visit https://www.daytonabeach.com/food-and-drink/.
SHOW YOUR BADGE
Daytona Beach area restaurants, shops and attractions are ready to welcome you with special offers and discounts when you participate in the “Show Us Your Badge” program. Visit https://bit.ly/3HwMqwT for details (#MeetInDaytonaBeach #LoveDaytonaBeach #DaytonaBeach).
WHAT TO WEAR
When you pack for a winter getaway in Daytona Beach, you can leave the parka and warm gloves at home. The weather here during the winter months is considerably milder than it is in much of the nation. Though you’ll most likely have warm temps (the average January high is 68 degrees Fahrenheit), it’s best to pack light layers. A T-shirt and cardigan will typically do the trick, but it’s a good idea to toss in a warmer windbreaker in case you want to go for an evening stroll on the beach. And don’t forget your bathing suit — even if you think the ocean is a bit brisk this time of year, many hotels have heated pools!
– All information provided by the Daytona Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.