Escape to the Beach: A Guide to Daytona Beach, FL

Ponce Inlet Lighthouse and Museum: The lighthouse is the tallest in Florida and you can climb the 203 steps to the top for incredible views. The surrounding grounds contain several historical buildings, including a rare Fresnel lens exhibit and a display of small boats used to escape to Florida from Cuba.

The Casements: This incredible home is just north of Daytona Beach in Ormond Beach. It was the winter home of J.D. Rockefeller. It has been beautifully restored, and tours are free!! We felt like special guests as we were shown around the home.

Daytona International Speedway: Has many things for race fans to do even when there isn’t a race happening. You can take a 60-minute Speedway tour, visit the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, or for thrill seekers, you can enjoy a NASCAR Racing Experience!

The Atlantic shore: Plan time to just enjoy the endless beaches here! We love to rent an umbrella and some chairs that are available on the beach to soak up the sun, watch the surfers, and enjoy the sound of the breaking waves.

Drive or bicycle on the beach: The sand is very compact and firm in this area, unlike many other beaches, so you can actually drive on the beach in certain areas. As far back as the early 1900s, Daytona Beach became famous for car and motorcycle racing on the beach. Land-speed records were set on the sand here.

Tomoka and Bulow Creek State Parks: These two parks are just north of Daytona Beach. There is a short but beautiful bicycle trail there, or you can rent kayaks or canoes, fish or hike. We love stopping at the Outpost for fresh-squeezed lemonade. Bulow Creek State Park includes the Fairchild Oak, which is over 400 years old and still contains ruins of old sugar mills.

Crabby Joe's: Seafood restaurant right over the water on the famous Sunglow Pier. Enjoy fresh seafood and specialty drinks from the bar while listening to the ocean waves crash below you!

Genoveses’ Italian Cafe: This great Italian restaurant has been here since 1981. The pizza dough is hand-tossed “New York Style” and the delicious sauces are all homemade from family recipes, according to their website. It’s our favorite place to go when craving Italian!

Cracked Egg Diner: Want to eat like the locals? You’ll see plenty of them here for breakfast or lunch. Try their Eggs Benedict or Southern Scramble!

Two Jerks Seafood: Do you enjoy cooking your own seafood? This great little seafood market has a great variety of fresh catches. We always swing by there to pick up some fresh scallops for supper!