What else to do around Daytona?

[rp23g7]

So we usually arrive a few days before a cruise and do so tourist stuff.

 

We are arriving this next cruise on Oct 9 in Ft Lauderdale, staying in Daytona (free condo, and Richard Petty Driving Experience), and cruising on the 12th.

 

Last year we did Richard Petty and Cape Canaveral. Does anyone have suggestions for a Friday in Daytona or anything close by? Done South Beach and Miami many times

 

The everglades are pretty far, but Don Garlits museum is in Ocala I think, anything to do in Orlando besides Disney?

[Orlando Vic]

"anything to do in Orlando besides Disney?"

 

Huh? Are you serious?

 

 

Wekiwa Springs State park

http://www.floridastateparks.org/wekiwasprings/default.cfm

http://www.canoewekiva.com/

http://wekivaisland.com/

 

Blue Spring State Park

http://www.floridastateparks.org/bluespring/default.cfm

 

Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour

http://www.scenicboattours.com/

 

Rivership Barbara Lee

http://stjohnsrivershipco.com/

 

The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum Of American Art

http://www.morsemuseum.org/home.html

 

Leu Gardens in Orlando

http//:www.leugardens.org

 

Albin Polasek Museum and Sculpture Garden

http://www.polasek.org/

 

Bok Tower Gardens

http://boktowergardens.org/

 

The Orange County Regional History Center

http://www.thehistorycenter.org/

 

Orlando Museum of Art

http://www.omart.org/

Mennello Museum of American Art

http://www.mennellomuseum.com/

Orlando Science Center

http://www.osc.org/

Gatorland

http://www.gatorland.com/

 

Central Florida Zoo

http://www.centralfloridazoo.org/

 

Rivership Barbara-Lee

http://stjohnsrivershipco.com/

 

Orlando Premium Outlets (2 locations)

http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=94

http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=17

 

More shopping: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/destinations/southflorida/orl-travel-florida-shopping-orlando-profile,0,201112.story

 

Boggy Creek Airboat Rides

www.bcairboats.com

[capriccio]

Have you ever been to St. Augustine? It is just an hour north (about 50 miles) of Daytona Beach and can be a fascinating day trip.

[aria48]

Most of the suggestions above are miles & miles from Daytona, if you want to add something that's close to Daytona:

 

Go to the Ponce Inlet lighthouse (just a few miles south of Daytona on A1A)

http://ponceinlet.org/ . There's a little museum there & you can climb to the top and check the view.

Right next door to the lighthouse is the Volusia Marine Science Center which is interesting also, especially if you like sea turtles: http://www.marinesciencecenter.com/

Edited May 19, 2014 by aria48

[SeaPA1]

For something more nature-oriented, you could go to the demand area & rent a pontoon boat for the day (or part of the day). It's about a 30 minute drive, maybe a little more, depending on where in Daytona you are staying.

[SeaPA1]

For something more nature-oriented, you could go to the demand area & rent a pontoon boat for the day (or part of the day). It's about a 30 minute drive, maybe a little more, depending on where in Daytona you are staying.

 

Stupid autocorrect, should be de Land not demand.

[Orlando Vic]

Stupid autocorrect, should be de Land not demand.

 

Should be Deland! :)

[dolittle]

If you want close by there is a lighthouse and the old town that went with it on the south end of Daytona. I came across it by chance ,it is interesting and a great view.

[RanchoDeluxe]

If you are a lover of stained glass you will have an orgasm when you go to the Morse Museum in Winter Park. Admission to the museum is only $5. $5 – That’s almost free!!!! Just to go into the A/C is worth five bucks in the summer if you have been walking Park Avenue. I would expect to spend an hour minimum. http://www.morsemuseum.org/

Winter Park is on the east side of the metro Orlando area. The Museum is located on Park Avenue. Park Avenue is basically a little shopping and dining area that likes to think it's better than everyone else. You can find some great dining experiences and some awful ones that think they are great. Here is a link to Park Avenue activities and information. http://experienceparkavenue.com/

The museum's primary and permanent displays focus on Louis Comfort Tiffany. Included is the installation of the Tiffany Chapel initially built for the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago (World's Fair.) You must sit in the Chapel and absorb it for a while. The Morse Museum’s collection of Laurelton Hall objects, architectural elements, and ornaments is the largest single collection of surviving materials from Tiffany’s turn-of-the-century home, named Laurelton Hall (du'oh.) Some of the Laurelton Hall displays are salvage after a fire gutted the house. Gallery Highlights include The Daffodil Terrace, dining room components include six leaded-glass Wisteria transoms (you've seen copies of these) and a domed leaded-glass chandelier 6.5 feet in diameter. The living room installation showcases four leaded-glass panels depicting the four seasons.

This personal excursion will require you to have a car. I do not recommend this for children.

[RanchoDeluxe]

Another option for day tripping from Daytona is the Deland area. Deland is the home of Stetson University. (Winter Park mentioned above is the home of Rollins College.) A couple of outdoor options in this area are rentals from Hontoon Landing Resort & Marina, Sky Dive Deland, Hontoon Island State Park and Blue Springs State Park. http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g34178-Activities-DeLand_Florida.html

[/url]Hontoon Landing Resort & Marina My family has done several multi-day houseboat rentals from here in the past and we have always had good boats, good service and a great time. However I have not had personal experience with this company in over a decade. You would not be looking for a houseboat probably but the marina rents pontoon and other boats, and has river tours.

Hontoon Island State Park - I have to steal this review from Trip Advisor, “A lovely getaway on an island - you take a pontoon boat ride to get there - which adds to the adventure! We saw barred owls, lots of water birds, and enjoyed the peaceful serenity of the place.”

Sky Dive Deland – I expect that if you want to jump out of a perfectly good airplane you are going to have to book that in advance. I understand that you can just go here and watch other people jumping out of airplanes while you have lunch. Sky Dive Deland appears to be a big deal in the world of skydiving. (I’m saving this for my 60th birthday.)

Blue Springs State Park is known for its manatee population in the winter. Manatees migrate into the Florida spring runs in the winter because they need the warmer water temperature to survive. You probably will not see manatees in the warmer months. In Florida this is most of the year. However, a Florida blue spring is a beautiful site and very refreshing to swim in. http://www.bluespringspark.com/swimming.htm

Between Daytona Beach and metro Orlando. Good for children if your children are good. Good for couples.

[RanchoDeluxe]

Gatorland is the ULTIMATE gator farm visit. Forget all the other Gator Farm signs you have seen. Gatorland should be the one and only gator farm visit allowed. (Although if you are not coming as far south as Orlando the St Augustine Alligator Farm is not too bad.)

This place is original Florida kitsch that has survived to the present. A few years ago GL had a massive fire. The main entrance burned to the ground and the iconic giant gator mouth entrance had flames shooting out of it like a fire breathing dragon! Many of us were afraid that Gatorland would be lost forever. But like a phoenix it rose from the ashes and has become bigger and better. If it’s a hot day you will be hot, but it’s worth every drop of sweat. They will be happy to sell you overpriced food and beverages to keep your energy up. See the webpage at http://www.gatorland.com/index.shtml

Heck I was just looking at the web page and now I want to go do the Gator Night Shine.

p.s. Go Gators!

[Lois R]

Have you ever been to St. Augustine? It is just an hour north (about 50 miles) of Daytona Beach and can be a fascinating day trip.

 

I agree with you 100%....St Augustine is wonderful:) and for such a

small city they have some absolutley fantastic restaurants:D;):)

Edited May 25, 2014 by Lois R