We were hosted by Daytona Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, as always opinions are our own.
If you’re still looking for somewhere to go on summer vacation it is not too late. Daytona Beach is a fun destination year round and being in sunny Florida definitely has its perks!
Overview
Daytona Beach is 23 miles of beautiful, white sand beaches with endless activities to keep you entertained on a vacation be it a long or short stay.
It is also the home of world-famous, Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway which we highly recommend visiting.
From sandy beaches, to electrifying motor races, nature reserves, food, rich culture and history – you will find something for everyone in this beachside city!
Bonus:
Watch our Daytona Beach vacation video on YouTube!
Getting There
There are direct flights and numerous connecting flights to Daytona Beach, making it an ideal beach base camp for Central Florida.
If traveling by plane, you will fly to Daytona Beach International Airport (DAB). Some airlines even offer non-stop flights from major hubs such as Atlanta (Delta), Charlotte and NYC (American Airlines), and Toronto on a seasonal service via Sunwing Airlines.
If you’re traveling by car, you can easily get to Daytona Beach on I-95 and I-4.
In fact, if you are coming from Orlando and want to visit for a day or more, it’s only an hour’s drive.
Where to Stay
We stayed in two hotels during our week long visit. Hard Rock Hotel Daytona Beach and Marriott’s The Daytona Hotel. Each with its own unique flair offering an amazing experience for their guests.
Both are new, boutique hotels in the area. Hard Rock Hotel Daytona Beach opened in spring of 2018 and The Daytona Hotel opened in April 2019.
The Daytona Hotel is a race car fan’s dream! There is a race car theme throughout the hotel, including full size car displays in the lobby on the 2nd floor. But not only that! The hotel is located across the street from Daytona International Speedway!
For more information about our stay, read our Daytona Hotel blog post.
Hard Rock Hotel is known for taking huge pride in their appreciation for music and it shows at their hotel in Daytona Beach.
The property itself is an open museum of music, including fun perks such as a Fender guitar and record player rental (with vinyls) included at no additional cost available for hotel guests.
If traveling with kids, you can also take advantage of their free childcare at Hard Rock Roxity Youth Club. Tristan really loved it!
Both hotels have onsite restaurants and access to plenty of nearby entertainment and activities.
Read more about our stay at Hard Rock Hotel Daytona Beach on our blog post.
Transportation
Votran is Volusia County’s public transit system. Since we had our car during the trip, we did not need to use public transportation. But you can find out more information about routes and fares on Votran’s website.
We saw a lot of people using their cars and walking. Depending on where your hotel is located, for instance downtown, you might be able to walk from your hotel for dining and other attractions.
If staying in the new One Daytona district, you literally do not have to go far for food and entertainment. One Daytona has restaurants, Game Time entertainment center, a movie theater, shopping and of course – The Daytona Hotel.
And if you don’t have a car, you can hire a taxi or rideshare service like Uber. Also, if you are driving, there are many parking garages but they charge various rates.
We parked at the garage next door to Daytona Beach Lagoon (Volusia County Parking Garage) and it cost us $4 because we had our Daytona Beach Lagoon ticket stub that day. They offer half price parking with a stub, otherwise, parking is $8 per day.
Tip: Before booking your hotel, check Google Maps to see where your interests are for things to see, then determine if you’ll need to rent a car, use your own car or get around on foot or taxi.
Where to Eat
We ate so much on this trip! None of the food we ate was a disappointment. We also made sure to check out places that are a local favorite and had some of the best meals at local eateries.
Below are the places we ate a meal and recommend you should try. Some we’ve gone to more than once!
Crabby Joe’s Deck at Sunglow Pier – This is the restaurant we ate breakfast at twice. It is located on the pier and you can literally look down and see the water from their open air windows. The best breakfast experience with a view and we were obsessed with their French Toast.
3701 S Atlantic Ave, Daytona Beach Shores, FL 32118
The Cracked Egg Diner – We were told it’s a local favorite and they were right! We ate a delicious homemade breakfast and although it wasn’t on the menu anymore, the chef made us a Fruity Pebbles French Toast that I saw photos of on Google. It was so good!
3280 S Atlantic Ave D, Daytona Beach Shores, FL 32118
Sessions – Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner; Sessions is an upscale restaurant located at Hard Rock Hotel Daytona Beach providing world class dining, cocktails, live entertainment and outdoor/indoor dining amongst contemporary decor. Order the mussels, it’s amazing!
918 N Atlantic Ave, Daytona Beach, FL 32118
Riptides Raw Bar & Grill – Live music on the deck, all you can eat crab legs and meals with a beach view; this place makes a great spot for relaxing with friends and family.
869 S Atlantic Ave, Ormond Beach, FL 32176
Rock Bottom Brew Restaurant & Brewery – We loved having dinner and drinks on their rooftop terrace. If you enjoy a good beer, definitely go here. They brew it on-site so it’s always fresh from the tap!
1864 Victory Circle Bldg K, Daytona Beach, FL 32114
Hull’s Seafood Restaurant & Market – One of the employees at Hard Rock recommended we check out this seafood place where he and his friends love to go for lunch. It’s outside of the tourist area, so it’s reasonably priced. They get their seafood fresh daily and serve decent sized portions.
111 W Granada Blvd, Ormond Beach, FL 32174
Ocean Deck Restaurant & Beach Club – I had the best White Russian cocktail here! But don’t just go here for the drinks, with a laid back beach bar vibe, the food is good and the bartenders will keep your drinks flowing.
127 S Ocean Ave, Daytona Beach, FL 32118
Sir Malcolm – We had their weekend breakfast buffet and also ate breakfast on a weekday from their regular menu. French toast was almost a staple for us at each breakfast oaths trip. Maybe because we rarely eat it at home. But if you are a fan, get their Orange Bourbon French toast – it’s so addictive!
Off The Hook at Inlet Harbor – We ate a deliciously fresh seafood lunch here after our morning of sightseeing in Ponce Inlet on an eco boat tour, visit to Ponce Inlet Lighthouse and Marine Science Center. Their oysters are also very popular and we loved their Key Lime Pie!
133 Inlet Harbor Rd, Ponce Inlet, FL 32127
Things to Do and See
Daytona Beach is bustling with things to do and see on your visit, so there is no way you could get bored. These are the places we went to in Daytona Beach and surrounding areas.
Daytona Lagoon – You could definitely spend an entire day here! It has arcade games, laser tag, a rock wall, mini golf, go karts, water park, and dining. It’s one of Tristan’s most favorite places from the trip.
601 Earl St, Daytona Beach, FL 32118
Museum of Arts & Sciences (MOAS) – Home to 30,000 objects, this Smithsonian affiliated museum is a fun visit! It has gardens, nature trails – even a planetarium where you can watch shows (we love space stuff!) Tristan really liked the interactive Children’s Museum where kids could spend hours playing especially on a rainy day. Another highlight is the Root Family Museum where you can view two mid-century train cars and a collection of Coca-Cola memorabilia. Also, make sure you pop in and see the 13 foot skeleton of the Giant Ground Sloth!
352 S Nova Rd, Daytona Beach, FL 32114
Daytona International Speedway – We recommend taking the 30 minute Speedway Tour. We learned about the history of the Daytona International Speedway and the open air tram will take you on the field to get a close look at the 31 degree banking turns. Your ticket also covers the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America – a museum dedicated to motor sport vehicles. The tours are held rain or shine. Get there early to buy tickets if you are not buying them online.
1801 W International Speedway Blvd, Daytona Beach, FL 32114
Daytona Beach Boardwalk – The boardwalk has great ocean views, shops to satisfy your sweet tooth, arcade games and live performers.
25 Ocean Ave, Daytona Beach, FL 32118
One Daytona – A premiere dining and entertainment hub with stores, dining, a cinema, and Game Time. You could spend most of your day in this entertainment district.
One, Daytona Blvd, Daytona Beach, FL 32114
Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse & Museum – This is Florida’s tallest lighthouse. Located in Ponce Inlet, it stands at 175 feet overlooking the inlet. You can experience a wonderful view of the waterways once you’ve climbed all 203 steps to the top! Before you make that climb to the top of the lighthouse, take a tour of the Principal Keeper’s Dwelling. With furnishings from the 1900s, it is the largest out of three dwellings.
4931 S Peninsula Dr, Ponce Inlet, FL 32127
Marine Science Center – Not only is this a marine science museum, but it’s a working facility that has an ongoing rehabilitation program for turtles and seabirds. Kids also love the aquatic touch pool where they can touch stingrays and hermit crabs. The center is located right around the corner from the lighthouse so you can visit both on the same day.
100 Lighthouse Dr, Ponce Inlet, FL 32127
Angell & Phelps Chocolate Factory – Take a free 20 minute factory tour and taste carefully crafted chocolates while learning how they’re made. Parking is free and the tour is held daily throughout the day. See their website for exact tour times.
154 S Beach St, Daytona Beach, FL 32114
Ponce Inlet Water Sports – Their 90 minute eco tour was so much fun and the captain let Tristan drive the boat for a few minutes! They are located in Ponce Inlet (within a minute’s walk from the lighthouse so you could easily do both.) We saw feisty natured blue crabs, native birds, and dolphins. And so excited to finally see dolphins up close and in the wild! They were spotted from our hotel balcony a couple of years ago in Myrtle Beach but it’s a memorable experience seeing them up close.
4936 S Peninsula Dr Suite C, Ponce Inlet, FL 32127
Congo River Golf – Try your hand at an adventurous way to mini golf! It’ll take you on an expedition through waterfalls, caves, tropical forests, and beautiful views.
2100 S Atlantic Ave, Daytona Beach, FL 32118
The Beach – No beach trip is complete without a beach day, right? The cool thing about staying at Hard Rock Hotel is the easy access to the beach. You don’t have to worry about parking your car somewhere and walking to the beach. Just leave your hotel room and there it is!
Shopping – There are loads of places to shop, even though we didn’t do much of it. Tanger Outlets and Volusia Mall are a couple to name. One Daytona has some cute stores, including Pink Narcisuss – a Lilly Pulitzer signature store.
When to Visit
Honestly, I don’t see how you could go wrong visiting during any of the seasons. It’s Florida, so for the most part, the weather will be fairly warm (or really hot especially during the summer.) We went in early summer (June). It was hot, but there were also a lot of pop up storms or rain showers. They didn’t last all day, they were usually just passing through not lasting more than 10 minutes or so. It was pretty funny to see it raining in one area while the other side of town didn’t get any rain at all!
Daytona Beach is a fun destination, and you can visit solo, with friends, family, significant other – doesn’t matter, I’m sure you’ll have a fantastic time!
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