65+ Things to do in Volusia County and beyond with kids
Here is a list of museums that are in and around Volusia County. They provide a fun activity to do for families, especially when it's hot outside and you want some indoor fun. There are activity ideas below for Port Orange, New Smyrna Beach, Ormond Beach, DeLand, DeBary, Daytona Beach, and surrounding areas. Have a fun summer!
In no particular order, here are 60 things you can do with the kids this summer in the Daytona Beach area and beyond:
- Cheap movies. Spend time indoors at the$2 Kids Movies at Regal in Port Orange or the $1 Kids Movies at Epic in Deltona.
- Take a camp. There are some great summer camps offered in Volusia County.
- Drive-in movies. The Daytona Beach Drive-in Church is hosting a few free drive-in movie nights this summer.
- Get cold. Take the kids ice skating at the Daytona Ice Arena. Even if they can’t skate they will have fun (they can use a walker).
- Start jumping. The kids can burn off some energy as they jump on the trampolines, play in the foam pits, and play some dodgeball at Sky Zone in Daytona Beach.
- Learn more. Take a free Explore Volusia class and learn about our natural environment.
- Visit a nearby spring. Within an hour or so drive you can find some awesome springs. Check out this ultimate summer springs guide for a list of 21 springs within 3 hours of Daytona Beach. Keep in mind that the springs are busy on the weekends, so if you can go during the week it will be better. If you go on the weekend, try to arrive early, before the park reaches capacity.
- Let them build. Give them some time to use their skills building at iBuild Academy in Orange City.
- Play indoors. Bizy Beaver indoor playground offers a cool place for kids to play in Port Orange.
- Go swimming. There’s the beach, public swimming pools. They all provide great places to cool off and take a dip. Also, be sure get the kids swimming lessons.
- Bike trails. There are some great biking trails in the Volusia County. During the summer months it’s best to get out on them early in the morning, or wait until the evening, so that you are not biking in the hottest part of the day.
- Create art. There are some great places in town that offer the ability to do art projects that the kids can take home (adults, too!). Check out Whim Wham Art Studio, One by One Designs, The Hub on Canal, Art Rageous, Jane's Art Center, and Arthaus. There are some great creative art opportunities in Ormond Beach, Port Orange, and New Smyrna Beach.
- Bowling. Take the time to do some bowling and crate family memories. Check out the list of places to bowl in Volusia County and beyond.
- Race slot cars. Kids can have fun racing slot cars at Slot Car City in Daytona.
- Learn self defense. Get kids involved in learning self defense at kids $9 karate classes or let them try it for a low fee for four weeks at Villari's Martial Arts.
- Take a class. There are some great classes offered at The Hub in New Smyrna Beach. From foreign languages and art classes to yoga for tots and more.
- Off to see the Wizard. Visit the Wizard of Oz Museum in Cape Canaveral. Watch the movie before you go!
- Play some games. The family can have fun playing games at Dave and Busters or Game Time, both in Daytona Beach.
- Build something. Take the kids to iBuild Academy in Orange City to engage in STEM activities.
- See photos. Take a stroll through the Southeast Museum of Photography on the Daytona State campus.
- Beach day. Have a day at the beach, but know the flag warning signs. Check out traffic free beaches.
- See reptiles. If you haven’t visited the Reptile Discovery Center in DeLand, put it on your to-do list. The kids and adults will both find it interesting.
- Learn more. The Lyonia Environmental Center is a great place to visit to learn more about our environment and animals that live in it. They offer a variety of free programs all year long.
- Go skating. Take the kids for some skating at Astro Skate in Ormond Beach, The Rink in DeLand, or Sk8tona in Deltona.
- Beach day. Spend some time at the beach. Find info on no-drive (traffic free) beaches here, along with beach safety info.
- Start surfing. Take a surf lesson with Pure Life Surf School.
- Go back in time. Visit the Pioneer Settlement in Barberville for a glimpse of days gone by.
- Go tour. Take a tour of The Casements in Ormond Beach. They also offer a variety of classes there, including those in cooking, movies on the Halifax, summer enviro camp, and more.
- See art. Visit the African American Museum of Art in DeLand. They also offer lectures, a free summer camp, and more.
- Eat chocolate. If you will be anywhere near Beach Street, pop into Angell & Phelps for a view of the chocolate being made, and get a sample.
- Go boating. There are several places in the area where you can take the kids out on an eco-boat ride. They can get out on the water and learn more about it, too. Check out the tours at Cracker Creek and the Marine Discovery Center. Also check out taking an airboat ride.
- Check out marine life. Visit the Marine Discovery Center in New Smyrna Beach to learn more about marine life. They offer classes, tours, and more.
- Go turtles. The Marine Science Center in Ponce Inlet offers a way for kids to learn more about turtles and other marine life.
- Skate park. There are some skate parks in the area that your kids can check out if they are interested in skating, including these Local Skate Parks (skateboarding).
- See animals. There are several zoos within a short drive that are popular, including the Central Florida Zoo, Brevard Zoo and the Jacksonville Zoo.
- Live theater. It’s a good thing to introduce kids to live theater. Check out places like the Athens Theatre, Daytona Playhouse and The Little Theatre of New Smyrna Beach to see the schedule. You can also introduce your children to acting in theater!
- Splash around. Check out one of the areas splash pads to cool off and play.
- Go indoors. Head to St. Augustine for the day to check out indoor activities, such as visiting the Pirate Museum or Ripley’s Believe it or Not.
- Resort style. Check into a resort for a day or two and chill by the pool. We have had a good time doing that here in Orlando, and at Perry’s locally.
- Orlando day. There are a few things you can plan to do in Orlando (beyond theme parks, of course), including the Orlando Science Center, Ripley’s, and Wonderworks.
- Planet wise. Check out a show at the planetarium in Daytona Beach.
- Go to the museum. There are a few museums you can check out in the area, including the Museum of Art and Science in Daytona Beach. Plus, the first Tuesday of each month is free admission day.
- Climb steps. Plan a morning trek up the 203 steps of the Ponce Inlet lighthouse.
- Hit the library. The library system in Volusia County is wonderful. Not only do they have loads of books and movies to check out, but they offer lots of free classes. There are story times, reading programs, game and craft events, movie days, and more. Comb through their events calendar and make a trip to the library at least once per week.
- SunRail. Take a short trip on the Sun Rail to Winter Park. When you arrive, take the sightseeing boat tour that is a short walk down from the SunRail stop, and have lunch.
- Ride the train. If your child is into trains, take a ride on the Orange Blossom Cannonball, which offers special excursions and numerous short rides to choose from. There are depot locations in Tavares and Mount Dora.
- Putt-putt. Plan an evening of having the family play miniature golf. There are several in the Daytona Beach area to choose from. Be sure to check their website first to see if they have coupons you can use.
- History lesson. The Orange County Regional History Center in Orlando is a great place to take the kids for the day (even us adults enjoy it). An indoor museum, you will be cool and get a chance to see a variety of the areas historical references.
- Soar high. Take the kids to go on The Orlando Eye, so they can get a birds-eye view of the city. Visit their site for the Florida resident discount information.
- Get speedy. If it’s too hot outside for go-karts then check out the K1Speed indoor go-kart place in Orlando. Locally, there are outdoor go-karts at Daytona Lagoon and Go Kart City in Port Orange.
- Dine-in Theatres. Orlando has a dine-in movie theatre, giving your family the ability to eat dinner as you watch a movie. It’s located in Disney Springs, so you can also check out other things going on there as well.
- Take swings. Check out the batting cages at Go Kart City.
- Go eco. There is a new Environmental Discovery Center in Ormond Beach that you can take the kids to check out.
- Appreciate art. There are some art places that you can take the kids to that will keep everyone cool and entertained, including the Gateway Center for the Arts in DeBary, and the Ormond Beach Memorial Art Museum & Gardens.
- Get fit. There are a lot of classes and events offered by the Redline Daytona.
- See speed. The New Smyrna Speedway holds some races that kids 11 and under can get into for free. Check out their schedule for the upcoming events.
- Kayak. If it is summer, it means you need to get out and kayak early to help beat the heat, but it can be done and can be fun. Check out kayaking at Cracker Creek, the Marine Discovery Center, and Tomoka State Park.
- Rent a water slide. If your yard is big enough you can have a day of fun for all the kids on the block! Rent a water slide from The Jumpy Place or Big Red Pony Parties.
- Start tasting. There are cooking classes for adults and children offered in New Smyrna Beach and some for adults at The Casements in Ormond Beach.
- Space out. Plan a trip to the Kennedy Space Center for a tour or for the kids to have lunch with an astronaut.
- See wildlife. While summer is too warm for hiking (unless you hit the trails very early in the morning), you can still see some beautiful nature and wildlife by cruising one of the wildlife drives in the area.
- Road trip. Take the kids on a road trip to Tallahassee so they can see the State Capital Building, among other things they can check out in the capital city.
- Relax for a few nights. Rent a hotel room at a resort that offers a nice pool area and just relax. We've done that a few times at the Renaissance SeaWorld (across from SeaWorld), and it's great.
- For the moms. Check out the ladies night, poetry slam events, or comedy club night at the Cinematique Theater of Daytona. Also, be sure to check out date night ideas and treat yourself to a relaxing massage!
- Learn about space. Visit the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral. Get an up close view of a rocket launch by watching it from Jetty Park.
- Take the rail. Hop on a rail ride going from Orlando to somewhere else in the state.
- Take a boat ride. Take a family boat ride in the Orlando area that has a captain. This is offered by Orlando Family Boating.
- See big statues. Visit the White Sands Buddhist Center in Mims to see the beautiful big statues.
There are also other ongoing activities, such as festivals and community events. Be sure to check the family friendly Daytona Beach area events calendar each week here.
Looking for more outdoor adventure?
Check out my other blog, Florida Family Nature!
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