Looking for things to do wit your kids over the summer in Volusia County and the surrounding areas? No problem! Check out the list below to get some ideas of things to do with kids in Daytona Beach, Port Orange, New Smyrna Beach, Ormond Beach, DeLand, Deltona, and the surrounding areas. Check back periodically, as more will be added to the list when the information comes available.

Go to the library. The local library's offer free events for kids and families all summer long. Check out their reading programs, speakers, movies, lego's, origami, and more. There is always something going on that you can take the kids to at the library and most events are free of charge. You can access their full calendar of monthly events here.

Take an eco boat tour. For an hour or two, you can get on a pontoon boat with the kids and learn more about the area. The boat rides are usually narrated by a Florida master naturalist, who tells you about the things in nature you see on the tour. You can find these at Blue Spring State Park, Cracker Creek, Marine Discovery Center, and DeLeon Springs.

Go skating. There is a skating rink in Ormond Beach that offers special teen skate nights, skating lessons, family nights, and more. Check out Astro Skate for details.

Go kayaking. The family can rent a kayak or canoe and head out on the water. This is a fun family activity and if the kids are small everyone can fit in one kayak or canoe. A great place to rent them and head out is Cracker Creek, Marine Discovery Center, Hontoon Island, and Tomoka State Park.

Learn to surf. Kids can take surf lessons at Jimmy Lane Surf Academy, Surfin' NSB, and Pure Life Surf School.

Take a morning hike. The summer heat can be brutal for hiking, so it's a good idea to get out on the trail early if you are going to do it (and take plenty of water).  You can find a list of Volusia County area hiking trails here.

Learn about turtles. The Marine Science Center offers kids a great way to learn more about sea turtles, stingrays, and other sea animals. They also have a bird rehabilitation area out back, where they can learn about birds. Be sure to take the short nature walk across the street from the Marine Science Center, which leads back to an observation tower (learn about the trail here).

Learn about marine life. Take a visit the Marine Science Center. The Marine Science Center offers kids a great way to learn more about sea turtles, stingrays, and other sea animals. They also have a bird rehabilitation area out back, where they can learn about birds. Be sure to take the short nature walk across the street from the Marine Science Center, which leads back to an observation tower (learn about the trail here).

Climb the lighthouse. The Ponce Inlet Lighthouse will give you some of the best views of the area! There are over 200 steep stairs, so it's a challenge for many people, but it's worth it for the view. 

Hit the paved trails. There are some great paved trails in the area that the family can bike together. You can find a list of them here.

Learn about the pioneers. Visit the Pioneer Settlement in Barberville for a step back in history.

Go bowling. There are a few places to bowl in the area, including in New Smyrna Beach, Ormond Beach, DeLand, and Daytona Beach.

Visit the giant Buddha's in Mims. This is a free stop and it's neat to take the kids to see the giant Buddha statues at the White Sands Buddhist Center.

Have a lego party. Invite kids to come over just to do lego's. Put down blankets so that it is easier when it is clean-up time. Let them build, serve up a healthy snack, and they will have a great afternoon!

Check out snakes. The more you learn about snakes the less you will be afraid of these non-aggressive animals. Take the kids to Reptile Discovery Center, located in DeLand. It's a great place for learning and discovering.

Play mini golf. We have plenty of places to play some miniature golf in the area. There are several mini golf places in the Daytona Beach area. If you want to beat the summer heat opt for playing earlier in the day or in the evening.

Get a room on the beach. Do a touristy thing by renting a hotel room on the beach for a night or two. Then you can live like a tourist, using the pool and hitting the beach.

Go to a spring. There are some great natural springs to visit in Central Florida. Check out the Ultimate Summer Springs Guide.

Learn about the environment. It's free to visit the Lyonia Environmental Center and Environmental Discovery Center, were they offer hiking, classes and presentations, and some environmental exhibits to check out. 

Hit the train. Take them on a Sun Rail trip to Orlando, where you can grab lunch, visit a museum, and then hop back on to head home. 

Visit the Museum of Arts and Sciences in Daytona Beach. Kids ages five and under are free. They have a planetarium, as well as a children's museum area. The first Tuesday of each month is free day, so you can plan to do that in June, July and August!

Go ice skating. What a great way to cool off on a hot day. You can also sign kids up for a month of ice skating lessons. Daytona Ice Arena offers special nights and promotions.

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, and Arthaus. There are some great creative art opportunities in Ormond Beach, Port Orange, and New Smyrna Beach.

See stones. The kids can learn more about rocks, minerals, and fossils at the Gillespie Museum on the Stetson University campus.

Live theater. It’s a good thing to introduce kids to live theater. Check out places like the Daytona Playhouse and The Little Theatre of New Smyrna Beach to see the schedule. 

Go north. 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.

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.

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.

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.

Space out. Plan a trip to the Kennedy Space Center for a tour or for the kids to have lunch with an astronaut.

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. Another good option is to head to Gainesville for the day and visit the natural history museum on the campus of University of Florida (free admission) and check out the nearby bat houses at dusk to see thousands of bats head out to feed.