The Top Things to Do with Kids in Daytona Beach

It’s super easy to plan fun things to do with kids (and toddlers!) in Daytona Beach. Of course, you can play at the beach, dive into a water park, play a round of mini golf. and much more!

Known for its expansive beaches, scenic waterfront dining and need for speed, Daytona Beach is the ideal place to escape for a sunshine-filled vacation, and if you've got kids, Daytona Beach offers a huge variety of activities that are fun for all the family!

From a day on the iconic Daytona Beach, and splashing around in Dayton Lagoon Water Park, and enjoying museums, arcades and more, there are plenty of fun activities in Daytona Beach to keep the entire family happy!

Here's a look at the top things to do with kids in Daytona Beach, have fun.

The Top Things to Do with Kids in Daytona Beach

Have fun on Daytona Beach

Top of any list for Daytona Beach has to be the beach! With 23 miles of beautiful, white-sand beaches, the Daytona Beach area offers plenty of room for your family to soak in some sun and fun in the seaside sands.

Enjoy taking walks along the beach, building sandcastles with the family, riding the waves on a boogie board or surfboard, or eating ice cream on the beach.

Daytona Beach Boardwalk and Pier

The Daytona Beach Boardwalk and Pier is the place to be for family fun! It features Ocean Walk Shoppes and the Daytona Beach Bandshell, gift shops, snack bars, restaurants, and a classic arcade - with ever popular Skee Ball and video game favorites - day or night!

Just north and across the street from the Boardwalk and Ocean Walk Shoppes, you'll find even more family fun and aquatic adventures at Daytona Lagoon!  And, just south of the Boardwalk on A1A, you won't be able to miss the sky-high thrill rides. Located at the aptly named Screamer's Park, the rides are open seven days a week, 365 days a year! The “Slingshot” propels you 365-feet into the air at 70 mph - just try not to scream! 

Every May through September, the Boardwalk and Pier are also home to the Daytona Beach Bandshell Concerts and Fireworks. With street performers, thrill rides and plenty of family-friendly activities, your time in Daytona Beach will be memorable!

Daytona Lagoon

Daytona Lagoon is a premier water park and family fun entertainment center. From thrill slides to chill polls, the waterpark offers attractions for the entire family to enjoy. For young children, the Pelican's Drift Lazy River, the Castaway Children's Play Area and the Treasure Lagoon Wave Pool are must-dos.

The Fun Park offers both indoor and outdoor entertainment with bumper cars, a mega arcade, laser tag, go-karts, a sky maze ropes course, miniature golf and a rock wall. 

The Fun Park is open all year and the Waterpark is open March through September. 

Ride Bikes on the Beach

Explore the area on two wheels! With 23 miles of hard-packed, white-sand beaches, Daytona Beach provides plenty of elbow room to ride bikes right on the beach.

Check the tide and take the family for an early morning cruise before the sun gets too high in the sky, or wind down your day of adventuring with an evening ride at low tide.

There are local shops that rent out bicycles by the day or week — many even deliver them right to your hotel! Biking on the beach is the perfect way to spend time together while stretching your legs and getting a little bit of vacation exercise!

Oceanfront Parks

When your vacation crew needs to burn off some energy, head to one of the 10 magnificent oceanfront parks in the Daytona Beach area.

Let your little ones enjoy the splash parks, playgrounds and more while you soak in a beachy breeze. Most of the parks feature shaded picnic areas, barbeque grills, restrooms, fishing areas and readily available parking, making them good places to set up with the whole family.

Explore the Waterways by Kayak

With innumerable marshes, springs, lakes, rivers, creeks and inlets, the region is brimming with fun-filled water activities. Explore the waterways, soak in some fresh air, and get to know Florida’s wild side by becoming immersed in it! Kayaking is a great form of exercise, but it’s not so rigorous that kids won’t enjoy it.

One of the best places to kayak in Daytona Beach is along the Tomoka River. Didn’t pack a kayak in your suitcase? No worries — you can take a guided tour or rent all the equipment you’ll need right at many of the area’s parks

Museum of Arts & Sciences – Children’s Museum

Daytona Beach is a hub for cultural and historical venues in Florida, including the Smithsonian-affiliated Museum of Arts & Sciences (MOAS). The museum could fill several days with discoveries, but one of its most popular features is the Charles and Linda Williams Children’s Museum.

There, your child will be able to enjoy hands-on learning activities that emphasize the local area, including the chance to build a race car! And, don’t miss the state-of-the-art planetarium at MOAS while you’re nearby.

Marine Science Center

Discover and learn about the area's rich marine life – the inhabitants and ecosystems that make this area unique – at the Marine Science Center at 100 Lighthouse Drive, Ponce Inlet.

Loaded with ecological wonders, the Marine Science Center is a treasure chest of sea and sky. A wide range of aquariums and exhibits filled with fascinating animals introduce visitors to the beauty and wonder of the marine life our our caost. In addition,  the center has two hospitals that treat and rehabilitate thousands of sick and injured birds and sea turtles every year. Take the nature trail and climb the tower to see a panorama of Ponce Inlet, pelicans and other migrating birds that fly through the Volusia County skies.

A Touch Pool allows daring visitors to reach out and stroke stingrays as they swim by (it’s okay, their stingers have been removed.). Two species of rays, Atlantic Stingrays and Cownose Rays, share their habitat with fascinating creatures like sea cucumbers and horseshoe crabs. All creatures in the aquariums are native to Volusia County.

The Center’s hospital staff is always on call for rescues. The Turtle Terrace provides an opportunity for visitors to look into the turtle rehabilitation facility and view the sick and injured sea turtles that are undergoing treatment. Outdoor habitats are home to injured hawks, eagles, owls and waterbirds that can’t be released into the wild.  Visitors will find it’s an unforgettable experience and affordably priced for the entire family.

Explore the Daytona Aquarium and Rainforest Adventure

The Daytona Aquarium and Rainforest Adventure is a huge aquarium offering an interactive educational experience featuring animals from both land and sea. The 55,000-square foot facility is located on the northwest corner of International Speedway Blvd. and Nova Road in the heart of Daytona Beach.

Visitors can explore close to 40 separate tanks including a 110,000-gallon shark tank and a 12,000-gallon stingray touch pool. There are also habitats for alligators and crocodiles, frogs, and lizards.

The indoor rainforest will be coming in phase 2 in 2025. The rainforest with have animals like, sloths, armadillos, tamarins, Toucans, and other various types of birds.

Daytona Ice Arena

Lace up the skates and head to the Daytona Ice Arena located at 2400 South Ridgewood Avenue, South Daytona  is a state-of-the-art ice skating facility offering recreational ice skating, figure skating, speed skating and a National Hockey League sized rink. Adult and youth ice skating lessons are available along with hockey programs and leagues.

Offering daily pubic skate sessions, whether you’re with family or friends, ice skating is an excellent activity for all ages and experience levels. Rental skates and skate aid scooters are available.

Indoor Arcades

Enjoy loads of indoor fun at one of the many restaurant/arcade destinations that offer the hottest arcade games and a full dining experience. Dave and Busters is located at the Tomoka Town Center while GameTime, which has 12 lanes of bowling in addition to over 100 interactive arcade games, is part of ONE DAYTONA.

Daytona Lagoon’s Fun Park includes a mega arcade, laser tag, a sky maze ropes course and a rock wall while Back Alley Lanes VR-Cade has a Virtual Reality Arena in addition to bowling lanes and an arcade. 

Indoor Go-Kart Racing

If you are searching for high-speed thrills, look no further than K1 Speed Daytona for indoor go-kart racing. K1, conveniently located less than half a mile from Daytona International Speedway, features state-of-the-art electric go-karts can reach speeds of up to 45 miles per hour, giving you the ultimate adrenaline rush on a large, elevated indoor track.

Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park also features indoor go-kart racing in addition to a wide variety of activities including laser tag, jump zones, ropes course and rock climbing.

Thanks to Daytona Beach Area CVB for all the info, to plan your vacation or day trip to Daytona Beach, click here.

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