9 best things to do in Daytona Beach

The Museum of Arts and Sciences is home to Daytona Beach’s planetarium, The Lowell and Nancy Lohman Family Planetarium. Adults and kids will enjoy the many seminars and shows that take place inside, including weekly laser shows. While the majority of the museum is dedicated to art, the exhibitions rotate out frequently so you really never know what you’re going to see. One thing not to miss though, is the weekly yoga classes that take place in the art gallery every Wednesday night.

NASCAR enthuisiasts, petrolheads and fans of all motorsports for that matter, will want to drive a little bit away from the beach to check out the Daytona International Speedway. This is the home of some of the most famous races in history, including the Daytona 500. The speedway offers daily, hour-long tours of the facility and track that start at 9:30am. until 3:00pm. You can also have the experience of a lifetime with the NASCAR Racing Experience, where you can drive a real race car on the track where race legends are born.

The Daytona Beach Bandshell is an outdoor amphitheater where a variety of acts take place throughout the year. During the summer months, the amphitheater hosts family-friendly acts every Saturday night and tops the night off with a bang from fireworks. The Bandshell is located at the north end of the Daytona Beach Boardwalk, so you may want to plan your visit to coincide with the time you want to enjoy the boardwalk to get both done at once.

One of the major attractions in Daytona Beach is the Boardwalk. Think of this as Florida's version of the iconic Northeastern boardwalks in New York and New Jersey. There’s a variety of shops offering everything from souvenirs to sun block, together with restaurants, diners and outdoor eateries selling hot dogs and other boardwalk favorites. There’s even a cool arcade where you can take on your friends in a round of skee ball or reminisce at the helm of a retro 80’s videogame.

Adults who love animals, or those traveling with kids will want to be sure to add the awesome Marine Science Center to their list of things to do in Daytona. Here, you can see a large variety of wildlife that calls Daytona Beach and Volusia County home. You can tour the bird and sea turtle rehabilitation centers, get up close and touch stingrays, and marvel at all of the fish that inhabit an artificial reef at the center. Touring the Marine Science Center is best done first thing in the morning before it gets too busy, so you can really focus and not get frustrated by crowds.

While visiting Daytona Beach, it’s an absolute must to visit the actual beach. There are 23 miles of white, sandy shores to enjoy and it's all open 24 hours a day and free to pedestrians. For those wanting to drive, you can even park on the beach in certain areas from sunrise to sunset each day – but it's dependent on the tidal conditions. Along the beach you can look for shells, enjoy the surf and bask in the warm Florida sun. From May through October, you might even be lucky enough to see a sea turtle nest hatch and watch baby turtles make their way to the ocean.

However, always be sure to keep your distance, especially if you're unsupervised. Accidental damage and interference from tourists and visitors is a constant threat to the wildlife here.

Widely considered as one of the best baseball parks in Minor League Baseball, Jackie Robinson Ball Park is a historic site in Daytona Beach. The ballpark opened on June 4, 1914, and is the fourth oldest park still used for professional baseball. This is where baseball legend Jackie Robinson played his first professional baseball game and broke the color barrier in the sport. Outside of the gate, there is a statue of Robinson that baseball fans love taking pictures with to remember the icon and their time at the ballpark.

Lilian Place is the oldest victorian-era home in Daytona Beach and was built in 1884 by one of the city's first settlers. Now the home is a museum and historic site, where guests can take daily tours to learn about the history and legend of the people who once lived there. The house is even said to be haunted, so be sure to watch for any paranormal activity. The museum is open from 1:00pm until 4:00pm for guided tours, while the grounds are open from 9:00am until 5:00pm for you to wander about and explore at your own pace.

Daytona Lagoon is part water-park and part arcade. The seasonally open site features eight different attractions from water slides to a lovely lazy river at the water park. Inside, guests can take part in group laser tag or play arcade games. For fun time in the sunshine, there’s an outdoor go-kart track or a smaller bumper car area for kids. It's always worth double-checking the opening times before you go as these can sometimes vary.