Things To Do
Ponce Inlet and lighthouse museum
Walk inside the white picket fence and step back in time. Maintained and operated by the Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse Preservation Association, this beautiful facility represents one of the best preserved and most authentic historic light stations in the nation today. Declared a National Historic Landmark in 1998, Ponce Inlet Lighthouse is the tallest lighthouse in Florida and the second tallest masonry lighthouse in the country. Visitors can climb 203 steps to the top of the 175 - foot tower and enjoy magnificent views of the world's most famous beach, Ponce Inlet, and surrounding inland waterways from the lighthouse gallery deck. The Ponce de Leon Inlet lighthouse and Museum is open to the public year round, Monday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Marine Discovery Center
The long-range vision of the Marine Discovery Center is to see a healthy Indian River Lagoon (IRL) Estuary, and the ecosystem it supports, preserved and enjoyed for its natural beauty, unmatched diversity of species, and rich fishery for generations to come. Initiatives and activities designed to achieve this vision include providing education, research, restoration, and heightened public awareness of this wondrous, fragile natural resource. You will experience first-hand the solitude and natural beauty of this Florida treasure while learning of our efforts to ensure that we preserve its uniqueness for generations to come. Or paddle the Indian River Lagoon with a Florida Master Naturalist and learn about the importance of caring for this “cradle of the ocean” and the birthplace of 95% of Florida’s fish and crustaceans. Kayak instruction and nature interpretation are included with each tour."
New Smyrna Speedway
New Smyrna Speedway is a high-banked, half-mile paved oval track located just five miles west of New Smyrna Beach, FL, and only 12 miles south of Daytona Beach. New Smyrna Speedway has been home to some of the finest and most thrilling stock car racing in the entire country for over 50 years. Along with providing the best weekly racing and special events in the area, the speedway has been highly utilized in recent years as a prime testing facility for some of the teams from the NASCAR Nationwide, Camping World Truck, and Spring Cup Series.
Doris Leeper Park
Named after esteemed painter and sculptor turned fierce environmentalist Doris Leeper, this 2,513-acre preserve abuts an estuary that’s home to hundreds of different plants and animals. Local students, teachers, and community members worked alongside state and county agency mentors to develop minimal-impact nature trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. Additional amenities include canoe and kayak launches, a boardwalk with an observation tower, shaded pavilions, and a playground. History buffs will take interest in the shell middens left behind by the Timucua tribe, which flourished in the 1500s.