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Daytona Beach is a sunny beachside city on Florida’s Atlantic coast, best known for its world-famous Daytona 500 NASCAR race that takes place annually at the Daytona International Speedway.
There’s a wide variety of popular attractions in the Daytona Beach area, including the Motorsports Hall of Fame, the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse, the Halifax Historical Museum, the Daytona Bandshell, and the golden stretch of hard-packed sand known fondly as The World’s Most Famous Beach.
Travelers who prefer to venture off the beaten path and escape the crowds will be pleased to know that there are plenty of lesser-known sights to explore in Daytona and the surrounding area. If you’re planning a getaway to this lively region of Florida, consider visiting some of these 22 hidden gems to really get to know what Daytona has to offer.
1. Sunglow Fishing Pier
Sunglow is the smaller alternative to the famed Main Street Pier and an excellent fishing spot. There are many amenities for anglers, including restrooms, a bait shack, rod and reel rentals, and fish cleaning areas. There’s also an oceanfront restaurant where you can eat fresh seafood as the sun sets.
2. The Bongoland Ruins
- Website: dunlawtonsugarmillgardens.org
- Address: 950 Old Sugar Mill Rd, Port Orange, FL
- Opening hours: 8 am – 5 pm daily
Bongoland is a former dinosaur theme park situated in the Dunlawton Sugar Mill Gardens. The theme park opened in 1949, long after the mill closed down, but after just a few years, it closed its doors. Since then, pretty botanical gardens have grown up around the concrete dinosaur statues, making for a uniquely beautiful attraction.
3. Daytona’s Lesser-Known Parks
There are lots of parks to enjoy in the Daytona Beach area, including some fantastic state parks, including Tomoka and Tomoka and Gamble Rogers, but these three are beloved by locals and lesser-known by tourists.
Andy Romano Beachfront Park
- Website: ormondbeach.org/facilities/Andy-Romano-Beachfront-Park
- Address: 839 S Atlantic Ave, Ormond Beach, FL
- Opening hours: Sunrise to sunset
This scenic four-acre park is one of the best beach parks to visit with kids. It has restrooms, covered seating areas, a seasonal splash pad, and a playground, and there’s a good range of restaurants and shops nearby.
Riverfront Park
- Website: riverfrontesplanade.com
- Address: 249 N Beach St, Daytona Beach, FL
- Opening hours: Sunrise to sunset
Riverfront is an urban park on Beach Street. It features an attractive lagoon, basketball courts, a baseball field, a play area for kids, and plenty of green space for picnics.
Tuscawilla Park
- Website: sportsvolusia.com/facilities/daytona-beach/tuscawilla
- Address: 1000 Orange Ave, Daytona Beach, FL
- Opening hours: Sunrise to sunset
Tuskawilla is a fun adventure park that’s loved by kids and adults alike. It has a disc golf course, a zipline assault course, and plenty of nature trails to explore.
4. Pirate’s Island Adventure Golf
- Website: piratesislandgolf.com
- Address: 3420 S Atlantic Ave #6349, Daytona Beach, FL
- Opening hours: 10 am – 10 pm daily
This pirate-themed miniature golf course is perfect for kids aged three and over. It has 18 holes that feature notorious pirates such as Captain Kidd and Blackbeard.
5. Tarragona Tower
Tarragona Tower is an iconic landmark built in the 1920s out of coquina stone. It’s reminiscent of a medieval castle, and it serves as a striking welcome to Daytona Beach on the south side of the International Speedway Boulevard.
6. K1 Speed Daytona
- Website: k1speed.com/daytona-location
- Address: 2455 W International Speedway Blvd Suite 300, Daytona Beach, FL
- Opening hours: 12 pm – 10 pm Monday to Thursday / 12 pm – 12 am Friday / 10 am – 12 am Saturday / 10 am – 10 pm Sunday
Racecar enthusiasts will love K1’s state-of-the-art go-karts, which reach speeds of up to 45 miles per hour. There are karts for kids and adults, as well as an arcade and a party room.
7. Bulow Creek State Park
- Website: floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/bulow-creek-state-park
- Address: 3351 Old Dixie Hwy, Ormond Beach, FL
- Opening hours: 8 am – sundown
Bulow Creek State Park lies five miles north of Ormond Beach and is home to one of the largest remaining southern live oak forests on Florida’s Atlantic coast.
The park’s most famed tree is the Fairchild Oak, which is believed to be more than 400 years old. There are lots of walking trails to explore in Bulow Creek — one of which leads to the ruins of a sugar mill that is now on the National Register of Historic Sites.
8. Veterans Museum and Education Center
- Address: 302 Vermont Ave, Daytona Beach, FL 32118
- Opening hours: 1 pm – 4 pm Tuesday to Saturday
The Veterans Museum has a huge collection of documents and artifacts from US armed forces members. It tells the personal stories of many American veterans who bravely served their country.
9. The Peabody Auditorium
- Website: peabodyauditorium.org
- Address: 600 Auditorium Blvd, Daytona Beach, FL
For a taste of Volusia County’s cultural side, be sure to catch a show at the Peabody Auditorium. A variety of shows take place here, including plays, live music, and stand-up comedy. Local acts perform regularly, but many famous figures have also hit the Peabody stage, including Frank Sinatra, Liza Minelli, Elvis Presley, and Liberace, to name just a few.
10. Main Street Station
- Website: mainstreetlive.com
- Address: 316 Main St Bridge, Daytona Beach, FL
- Opening hours: 4 pm – 11 pm Wednesday & Thursday / 4 pm – 12 am Friday / 12 pm – 12 am Saturday / 1 pm – 8 pm Sunday
Main Street Station is a former gas station turned bike-themed bar and live music venue. It’s a great place to catch some rock music over dinner and drinks and is a particularly popular venue during Daytona Beach’s two popular motorcycle rallies: Bike Week and Biketoberfest.
11. Daytona Slingshot
- Website: slingshotdaytonabeach.com
- Address: 25 S Atlantic Ave, Daytona Beach, FL
- Opening hours: 9.30 am – 12 am daily
South of the Daytona Boardwalk lies Screamer’s Park, an amusement park with a small range of exhilarating rides — one of which is the Slingshot. Prepare to be propelled at 70 miles per hour, 365 feet into the air. You’ll get some incredible views of the city and the Atlantic Ocean if you are brave enough to keep your eyes open.
12. Charles and Linda Williams Children’s Museum
- Website: moas.org/explore/charles-and-linda-williams-children-museum
- Address: 352 South Nova Road, Daytona Beach, FL
- Opening hours: 10 am – 5 pm Monday to Saturday / 11 am – 5 pm Sunday
The Charles and Linda Williams Children’s Museum is part of the renowned Museum of Arts and Sciences, and it’s the only interactive science center between Orlando and Jacksonville. Kids can learn about gravity, speed, electricity, and many other scientific concepts by engaging with the hands-on exhibits.
13. Southeast Museum of Photography
- Website: southeastmuseumofphotography.org
- Address: 1200 W International Speedway Blvd, Daytona Beach, FL
- Opening hours: 11 am – 5 pm Tuesday to Friday / 12 – 5 pm Saturday
Art lovers will adore the Southeast Museum of Photographs, which is situated on the Daytona State College Campus. It’s a vital resource for teaching and learning at the college, and its exhibits celebrate the work of local, national, and international photographers.
14. Daytona Ice Arena
- Website: daytonaicearena.com
- Address: 2400 S Ridgewood Ave #63d, South Daytona, FL
- Opening hours: 8 am – 11 pm Monday to Friday / 7.30 am – 10 pm Saturday & Sunday
If you’re looking for an indoor attraction to keep you busy on a rainy day, Daytona Ice Arena is a great option. The spacious ice skating rink is suitable for beginners and pros, and classes are available if you want some pointers on how to improve.
15. Stetson Mansion
- Website: stetsonmansion.com
- Address: 1031 Camphor Ln, DeLand, FL 32720
- Opening hours: 10 am – 1.30 pm, Wednesday to Friday
The Stetson Mansion is one of Florida’s oldest and most luxurious mansions, having been built in 1886 by John B. Stetson, inventor of the Stetson hat. A road trip out to this impressive site is a fantastic way to learn about America’s Gilded Age.
16. Cracker Creek
- Website: crackercreek.com
- Address: 1795 Taylor Rd, Port Orange, FL
- Opening hours: 9 am – 5 pm Wednesday to Sunday
Cracker Creek is a private section of Spruce Creek where you can rent canoes or kayaks and explore nature via the many hiking trails. Spruce Creek lies just west of the popular beach town of New Smyrna Beach, so be sure to drop in if you’re taking a day trip to the area.
17. Root Family Museum
- Website: moas.org/explore/root-family-museum
- Address: 352 South Nova Road, Daytona Beach, FL
- Opening hours: 10 am – 5 pm Monday to Saturday / 11 am – 5 pm Sunday
The Root Family Museum, which is set within the Museum of Arts and Sciences, boasts the biggest Coca-Cola memorabilia collection in the world. It also has other iconic pieces of classic Americana, such as race cars, mid-century train cars, and a huge collection of historic teddy bears.
18. Brownie’s Grave
- Website: browniethetowndog.org
- Address: Riverfront Park, 62-94 Orange Ave, Daytona Beach, FL
- Opening hours: 24/7
Brownie was a beloved stray dog who was considered the town mascot between 1939 and 1954. He was cared for by local residents who built him a house to shelter in, gave him food, and donated money for his vet bills. Brownie was buried in a peaceful park near the Halifax River, and it’s tradition for visitors to leave a painted rock at his grave in memory of their own pets.
19. Ormond Indian Burial Mound
The Ormond Indian Burial Mound is over 1,200 years old and is thought to contain more than 100 individual burials. The Timucua Indians thrived in this region of Florida in the 1500s, and the mound in Ormond Beach pays homage to them.
20. Ormond Beach Watchtower
During World War II, more than 15,000 watchtowers were built along the USA’s coastline to look out for incoming threats. When the war ended, the towers were abandoned, and few of them remained. The watchtower at Ormond Beach has been refurbished and serves as a monument to the civilians who manned the towers during wartime.
21. The Holly Hills Gnomes
Almost two decades ago, local resident Virginia Morris set out three gnomes underneath an oak tree beside the Halifax River. Others gradually added more and more gnomes, and today, there’s an entire community of gnomes that is constantly growing. This weird and wonderful little attraction highlights Daytona’s community spirit.
22. The Last Resort Bar
- Website: 5812 S Ridgewood Ave, Port Orange, FL
- Opening hours: 10 am – 8 pm daily
Renowned female serial killer Aileen Wuornos drank her very last beer in the Last Resort Bar. Today, she is somewhat memorialized in the bar, which has since covered its walls with pictures of her. This is a morbid but undeniably unique attraction that might appeal to fans of true crime.
Which Hidden Gems Will You Discover in Daytona Beach Florida?
Daytona Beach is packed with fun attractions, and when you venture off the beaten path, you can get a deeper understanding of this unique city. Which Daytona hidden gems will you check out on your next visit?
