Fun Things to do with Kids in Volusia County
Whether you live in the Daytona Beach area or you will be visiting the area, you may want some fun activities to do with kids. The good news is that there are many fun things to do with kids in Volusia County and beyond. There are many fun things to do in Daytona Beach and the surrounding area. Plus, there are many fun activities that are within a short drive. Check the fun things to do with kids in Volusia County below and start planning some fun activities!
- Take a summer camp. There are many summer camps that will give your child a way to have fun, learn, and explore.
- Visit a spring. The best part about summer in Florida is being able to swim in one of the many great springs. Find your spring here in the Ultimate Springs Guide.
- Hit the slides. Head to Daytona Lagoon for a fun time splashing around or going down the lazy river. VCM readers save on admission!
- Play games. Visit Dave & Busters in Daytona Beach to play some indoor games and grab lunch. VCM fans can get $20 worth of free play when you buy $20 worth of play.
- Go kayaking. There are some great places to rent kayaks in the area, including Cracker Creek, Marine Discovery Center, and Tomoka State Park. You can also take an evening bioluminescent kayak tour.
- Keep swimming. Visit a local public swimming pool or splash pad. Plus, get the kids swim lessons.
- Enjoy some ice. Book Kona Ice to come to your home or community. They will bring their truck right to you so you can have curbside service for a tasty treat. Just contact them and let them know you'd like their truck to stop by.
- Get artsy. Check out the classes being offered by One By One Design and the Hub on Canal. Or plan an at-home individual art experience with Island Art.
- Play pinball. Take a step back to the 80's for some old school pinball and arcade games at the Daytona Arcade Museum.
- Summer Sports. Check out what indoor sports are being offered this summer at your local YMCA and city rec program. Also check out the volleyball being offered by Power Volleyball in Lake Helen, and Port Orange Volleyball Academy. Or take up doing martial arts at Villari's in Port Orange.
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Open gymnastics. Have some fun doing open gymnastics at Flight Gymnastics.
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Build something. Take the kids to iBuild Academy, located in Orange City, where they can explore STEM activities.
- Learn about snakes. The Reptile Discovery Center is located in DeLand and gives kids a great chance to safely check out and learn about snakes. Read my review here.
- Explore nature. Located in Ponce Inlet, the Marine Science Center is mostly indoors, although there are some animals and a short nature walk you can take outdoors. The kids can see and learn about some marine wildlife and see the turtle rehabilitation center. They can also learn about nature by visiting the Marine Science Center, located in New Smyrna Beach, where they have touch tanks and offer a variety of classes and hands-on activities for kids of all ages. Other nature exploration centers in the area include Lyonia Environmental Center, and the Environmental Discovery Center in Ormond Beach.
- Go to a museum. Located in Daytona Beach, the Museum of Arts & Sciences also offers a dedicated children's area. They have a planetarium, art exhibits, and more. They offer free admission the first Tuesday of each month. You can also stop by the Gillespie Museum at Stetson University, the Museum of Art in DeLand, and the African American Museum of the Arts in DeLand.
- Visit the library. Our local libraries offer a lot of fun activities for kids to get involved in. Learn more about what all they have to offer here.
- Go to Gainesville. Plan a day to head to Gainesville, where you can check out the Florida Museum of Natural History, and the UF Bat Houses.
- Say cheese. Located on the Daytona State campus in Daytona Beach, the Southeast Museum of Photography is a place where you can take the kids to see and learn about photography. They also offer classes.
- Hop a train. Take the SunRail over to the Orlando Science Center. Here's my review on taking the SunRail for fun.
- Go back in time. Located in Barberville, the Pioneer Settlement. has 18 old buildings and 10,000 artifacts your kids can check out to learn about life for settlers.
- Learn something. Located in Ormond Beach, The Casements offers a tour of the winter home of the late John D. Rockefeller.
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See hot rods. If you have a child who likes cars, stop by Hanksters, located in South Daytona, so they can check out the hot rod museum.
- Take an eco-boat ride. We have some wonderful eco-boat rides in the area that will give you a chance to be on the water and learn about everything you see. You can find these through Blue Heron River Tours, Cracker Creek, Marine Discovery Center, DeLeon Springs, and others. Blue Heron River Tours offers many special boat tour events for kids.
- Try stand up paddleboarding. This has become a popular activity that you may want to try out. Even kids can do this and it's a great way to get out on the water for a while. Local places offering this include, Paddleboard New Smyrna, Ponce Inlet Watersports, and Three Brother's Boards.
- Take a surf lesson. Oh you know you have been wanting to do this! How can you live in the Daytona Beach area and not have this cross your mind? You and the kids can take a surf lesson at places in the area such as Jimmy Lane Surf Academy, Surfin' NSB, and Pure Life Surf School.
- Take a nature hike. We have so many wonderful places to take the kids on a nature hike. During the summer it is best to hit the trail early in order to beat the heat, and be sure to wear sunscreen and take plenty of water to drink. Great short hikes for the kids include DeLeon Springs, Hontoon Island, Ponce Preserve Park, Smyrna Dunes Park, Lake Ashby, Green Springs, Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge, Lyonia Preserve, Blue Spring State Park, and Spruce Creek Park. You can find more places to hike here.
- Climb the lighthouse stairs. Along with climbing the stairs of the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse you can visit rest of the grounds, which has historical buildings. This is a neat place to visit.
- Walk the gardens. The Sugar Mill Gardens in Port Orange is a nice place to take the kids for a walk. They can also check out the ruins of the sugar mill.
- Take a bike ride. Load up the bikes and take them to one of the great paved trails that are found in Volusia County. You can find a list of them here.
- Go to the beach. We live so close to the beach, yet many of us don't make the time to go there. You can also have a beach bonfire during certain months of the year. Find traffic free beaches here.
- 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.
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Play mini golf. We have plenty of places to play some miniature golf in the area. Here is a list of miniature 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.
- Rent a waterslide. Big Red Pony Parties rents out water slides, and the proceeds help to support the horse rescue.
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Get a room on the beach. As locals we don't get to take advantage of being a tourist in this great beach area we live in. Once per summer we like to rent a room on the beach and act like tourists. You can find some good deals, you just need to watch for them. Perry's has some great kid suite rooms, where the kids get their own attached little suite that has been designed just for them. My kids loved it! Another option is to rent a condo on the beach. This condo rental is great and is located on a drive free beach in New Smyrna Beach.
- Check the events calendar. Take a look at the events calendar to see what type of activities have been planned.
- Take a short camping trip. There are some nice places to go camping in and around Volusia County.