7 Best Sights in Daytona Beach, Northeast Coast

January and February are the top months for sighting sea cows at this designated manatee refuge, but they begin to head here in November, as soon as the water gets cold enough (below 68°F). Your best bet for spotting a manatee is to walk along the boardwalk. The park, which is 30 miles southwest of Daytona Beach on I–4, was once a river port where paddle wheelers stopped to take on cargoes of oranges. Home to the largest spring on the St. Johns River, the park offers hiking, camping, picnicking facilities, and two-bedroom cabins (two-night minimum weekends and holidays). It also contains a historic homestead that's open to the public.

At the World's Most Famous Beach you can drive right onto the sand (at least from one hour after sunrise to one hour before sunset), spread out a blanket, and have all your belongings at hand—with the exception of alcohol, which is prohibited. The speed limit on the beach is 10 mph, and there's a $20 fee that's collected at the beach ramps, which are indicated with signs on Route A1A.  Sand traps aren't limited to the golf course—cars can get stuck.

The hard-packed sand that makes the beach suitable for driving is also perfect for running and cycling, and there's excellent surf fishing directly from the beach. Note that the wide, 23-mile-long beach can get crowded in the "strip" area (between International Speedway Boulevard and Seabreeze Boulevard) with its food vendors, beachfront bars, volleyball matches, and motorized-water-sports enthusiasts. Heavy traffic in this area in summer and on holidays makes it dangerous for children; families should opt for the quieter, car-free zones in more residential areas to the north or south. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (some with fee); showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: sunrise; surfing; swimming; walking.

If the beach is the main attraction in town, this iconic sports venue—home to the Daytona 500—is a close second. The massive speedway, which opened in 1959, is a bona fide "motorsports stadium." It's part racetrack, part sports stadium, and it seats more than 100,000 fans. Major racing events include the IMSA Rolex 24 at Daytona in January, Daytona 500 in February, Daytona 200 motorcycle race in March, and Coke Zero Sugar 400 in August. The venue hosts a multitude of other events throughout the year, including the Daytona Turkey Run car show on Thanksgiving weekend, but racing is the focus.

Those visiting on nonrace days can enjoy one of the various tours. The VIP Tour (the most expensive option) includes having your photo taken in Victory Lane, a visit to the speedway's Archives and Research Center (home to Sir Malcolm Campbell's Bluebird III), a close-up look at the most recent Daytona 500 winning car, and a visit to the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America.

Parents looking for a nonsandy way to occupy the kids for a few hours or a whole day may find their salvation at this colorful complex that features go-kart racing, an 18-hole miniature golf course; a 3,000-square-foot laser tag arena; a 25-foot rock wall; the Sky Maze ropes course and zip line; a video arcade with 80 games; and a water park featuring slides galore, a lazy river, and seven different water attractions. There's a bar for adults as well as two eateries, Wave Grill and Paradise Grill. Poolside cabanas are available for rent.

Memorabilia from the early days of beach automobile racing are on display here, as are historic photographs, Native American and Civil War artifacts, a postcard exhibit, and a video that details city history. There's a shop for gifts and antiques, too. Admission is by donation on Thursday; on Saturday, kids 12 and under are free.

This behemoth museum's displays range from expansive collections of Cuban and American art to Coca-Cola and Americana items. Other highlights include a rare Napoleonic exhibit and a complete (and eye-popping) skeleton of a giant ground sloth that's 130,000 years old. Kids love the Charles and Linda Williams Children's Museum, which features interactive science, engineering, and physics exhibits; a nature preserve with ½ mile of boardwalks and nature trails; and a state-of-the-art planetarium with daily shows. Florida art dating back to the 18th century is featured in the Cici and Hyatt Brown Museum of Art, a freestanding, 26,000-square-foot Florida Cracker–style addition. Artists represented include John James Audubon, Thomas Hart Benton, and N.C. Wyeth.

At the southern tip of the barrier island that includes Daytona Beach is the sleepy town of Ponce Inlet, with a small marina, a few bars, and casual seafood restaurants. Boardwalks traverse delicate dunes and provide easy access to the beach, although storms have caused serious erosion. Marking this spot is the bright-red, century-old Ponce de León Inlet Light Station, a National Historic Monument and museum, the tallest lighthouse in the state and the third tallest in the country. Climb to the top of the 175-foot lighthouse tower for a bird's-eye view of Ponce Inlet.