Here are some suggestions for day trips:
1. Day Trip to St. Augustine via the scenic route
Sure, you could take I-95 to St. Augustine in a little under an hour, but why not take A1A? It's a beautiful, scenic ocean side drive. The condos are going up fast, but you can still see long stretches of untouched beaches, especially in Flagler Beach. Take A1A North toward St. Augustine. Along the way you will drive through beautiful Ormond Beach, Flagler Beach, Palm Coast, and eventually end up in St. Augustine. Stop for lunch at High Tides at Snack Jacks. Snack Jacks is a popular ocean front restaurant that is very popular with the locals, and serves excellent fried seafood and cold beer. 2805 S. Oceanshore Blvd, Flagler Beach. If you love nature don't miss
Washington Oaks Gardens State Park . 6400 N. Oceanshore Boulevard, Palm Coast. Stop at Washington Oaks State Park . If you didn't eat at Snack Jacks, definitely bring a picnic to the park. It's a beautiful place to picnic, walk, and experience Florida nature. Arrive in beautiful, historic St. Augustine, the nation's oldest city. Driving over the historical Bridge of Lions into St. Augustine is a beautiful site. While in St. Augustine don't forget to take a sightseeing tour on one of the trolleys.
2. Kennedy Space Center
Awesome, amazing, and fun for all ages. Don't miss the
Kennedy Space Center. From the KSC website: "the only place on Earth where you can tour launch areas, meet an Astronaut, see giant rockets, train in spaceflight simulators, and even view a launch". The drive is about an hour and 15 minutes from Daytona Beach. Directions to Kennedy Space Center from Daytona Beach: Traveling from the north (Daytona Beach), continue along I-95 and take Exit #215 (SR 50). Turn left (east) onto SR 50. The next intersection is SR 50 and SR 405. Turn right (east) on to SR 405 and follow the signs for Kennedy Space Center. You will travel approximately 11 miles on SR 405. The KSC Visitor Complex will be on your right.
3. Ponce Inlet Ponce Inlet is a very short drive from Daytona Beach, but you can definitely spend the day here. Pack a picnic and spend the day on the beach, tour the lighthouse, or check out one of the prettiest restaurants in Ponce Inlet-
-Inlet Harbor Restaurant.
Take Atlantic Avenue (AIA) South toward Ponce Inlet. Before you reach the Lighthouse you can go to the beach at a popular local spot--Winter Haven Park in Ponce Inlet, Florida. There isn't any driving on the beach here, but there is plenty of parking, bathrooms, picnic tables, and barbecue grills. You can let your children play without worrying about traffic. Of course, always keep a close eye on your children, swim in front of the lifeguard, and educate yourself and your children about rip currents. Another beautiful place to go to the beach is at the
Lighthouse Point Park . Lighthouse Point Park is closer to the
Ponce Inlet lighthouse , and is a lovely place to spend the day. Walking out on the jetty is a must. This is a beautiful area to sunbathe, take a nature walk, swim in the ocean, watch the dolphins and boats, and have a picnic.
