What Does Daytona Beach, Florida Have to Offer?

To Beach or Not to Beach?
With summer upon us you would think that spending time on the beach would be the only thing on people’s minds. But to area citizens who have access to the beach year round and visitors coming from around the world its important to be aware of rainy day activities, special events and other great ways to spend a day or night in Daytona Beach, FL.

Did you know that the Cubs play in Daytona Beach each summer? Yep, the Daytona Cubs, a minor league class A team, plays 6 months of the year right at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. Tickets are only $7, so its affordable for the whole family to catch a game.

Another professional sport to check out is indoor football. Daytona is home to the Daytona Beach Thunderbirds, a minor league arena football team. Formerly of the World Indoor Football League, they were added in 2008. Games are held at the Ocean Center and tickets start at $15.

Sports aren’t your thing? 
If you enjoy music, be sure to attend one of the many local concerts held at the Bandshell.  Several organizations host free concerts from June through September, from Rock and Blues to Country, Swing and Classical. You can enter the Bandshell thru the OceanWalk Village from A1A or the overpass from the Parking Garage. There is plenty of parking is available in the Parking Garage on Earl St. Seating is limited so be sure to bring a chair or blanket. Rentals are available as well. Other events taking place at the Bandshell include fireworks from the pier every Saturday night at 9:45 pm until Labor Day.

For an indoor activity be sure to stop by Museum of Arts and Sciences. They are open daily with admission set at: Seniors & Students $10.95, Adults $12.95, and Children (6-17) $6.95. The Planetarium is included with admission. Located on a 90-acre Florida nature preserve, the 86,000 sq. ft. facility is host to over 30,000 objects including the finest collection of American Art in the southeast, the largest collection of Cuban art outside of Cuba, a significant Chinese art collection, and Florida’s prehistoric Giant Ground Sloth. Also on display, is Coca-Cola entrepreneur Chapman Root’s lifetime collection of Americana, including two private rail cars.

For the beach lovers
There is the Boards & Waves Expo on July 12 – July 13, 2008 at the Daytona Beach Resort & Conference Center. It will feature surfboard shaping demonstrations, surfboard painting & artwork, vintage board collections, and a swap meet where consumers can buy, sell, and trade surfboards. In addition to over 60 exhibits, shaping & art demos, surf music, board swap & sale, and plenty of product giveaways, attendees can also win a Ricky Carroll surfboard which will be given away both days of the event. Admission to the Boards & Waves Expo will be $5.00 daily; under 12 admitted free. A portion of the events proceeds will be donated to the Surfrider Foundation.

Also on the beach is the Sun Splash Beach Front Park, next door to the Westgate Harbour Resort, and just one mile from the above sporting and musical venues and 3 miles from the expo and museum. The park is free to the public and has an interactive water fountain, decorative walkways, a shaded playground, picnic areas, restrooms, outdoor showers, two beach access ramps and a Coca-Cola-sponsored “cool zone.” The four-acre facility also provides 95 off-beach parking spaces.

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