Daytona Beach is a reputed Florida vacation destination known partly for its Spring Break prowess. Featuring one of the best beaches in Florida, Daytona Beach offers fun in the sun with plenty to do on the side as well. Visitors to Daytona Beach will find a wealth of Daytona Beach hotels and vacation rentals, making it an ideal base for your upcoming Florida vacation. Orlando is just about an hour's drive away, where you can find gobs of theme parks, including Walt Disney World. You might consider the following suggestions for things to do in Daytona Beach to help you maximize your Daytona Beach vacation.

Hit the Beach

It goes without saying that a city with the word "beach" in its name is going to have a beach nearby. Hanging out at the beach is certainly among the most popular things to do in Daytona Beach Florida. The beach consistently ranks among the top beaches in the country and offers plenty in the way of diversion. With scores of hotels, bars and clubs along the beach's wide sandy stretches, it's easy to see why millions flock here on a yearly basis. Daytona Beach offers 23 miles of sandy shoreline, with 18 of those miles open to cars during daytime hours. Daytona Beach activities include simple sunbathing, jogging, fishing, sailing and so much more.

Tee it Up For a Round of Golf

Daytona Beach is one of fastest growing golf destinations in the state, offering some of the best Florida golf courses in and around the area. Golf enthusiasts looking for things to do in Daytona Beach will be happy to know that many of these challenging championship links were designed by the greatest names in the industry. Daytona Beach was ranked among Golf Digest's top 15 places to tee it up in the country and you can find plenty of great deals when booking a Florida golf package in the Daytona Beach area.

Hang Out at the Main Street Pier

When looking for things to do in Daytona Beach, find great beachside food and fun at the Main Street Pier. The Main Street Pier is the longest pier found on the entire east coast and starts at 1200 Main Street. An ideal place for people watching, the pier also offers some neat rides and is a great place to cast a line. Try the observation tower and head 180 feet up for a view of the beach. Or try the Sky Lift, and get carried out to the pier's end before heading out over the ocean and back. Rent a fishing pole and bait at the fishing shop and see what you can catch. For a nominal fee, you can walk to the end of the 1,000 foot pier for unparalleled views of the ocean.

Visit the Kennedy Space Center

One of the most unique attractions in all of the country, the Kennedy Space Center is a place where the imagination soars and some of man's greatest feats are celebrated. Located at Cape Canaveral, just an hour's drive south of Daytona Beach, the Kennedy Space Center makes for an excellent day trip while considering things to do in Daytona Beach Florida. Tour NASA's launch and landing facilities, get a firsthand look inside a space shuttle and enjoy the various other exhibits dedicated to space exploration. It's almost guaranteed that the hour-long return drive will seem like 5 minutes with all your group will have to talk about.

Rev Up Your Engines at Daytona U.S.A.

Daytona Beach is where you will find NASCAR headquarters and no other national museum better serves the sport than Daytona U.S.A. Deemed, "The Official Attraction of NASCAR", Daytona U.S.A. gives visitors the chance to enjoy hands-on activities, peruse interesting NASCAR memorabilia and engage in a series of challenging thrills. Among the main attractions found at the museum include the winning car from that year's Daytona 500 and the Richard Petty Driving Experience, where you have the chance to actually get behind the wheel of a race car and burn up the racetrack. A must-include for things to do in Daytona Beach for NASCAR fans, this museum is also a joy for casual observers.

Shop on Beach Street in Downtown Daytona Beach

Beach Street is the heart of Daytona Beach's downtown district, offering unique shops, galleries and eateries. Whether you are shopping for antiques, or looking for that special gift, you'll find what you are looking for on Beach Street. From jewelry, to the city's most famous chocolate factory, you can treat yourself to something, or some things, special while seeing what Beach Street has to offer. Beach Street definitely makes a case for adding shopping to your list of things to do in Daytona Beach Florida.

Visit the Southeast Museum of Photography

Slow it down a bit and opt for artsy things to do in Daytona Beach with a stop at the Southeast Museum of Photography. Known internationally for its leadership reputation in the photographic arts, this museum is recognized as the official photography museum of Florida. The museum is moving to the Mori Hosseini Center, where an exciting fall opening will offer new exhibitions to its already diverse collection. This museum is free to enter.