A Local's Guide

Things to Do

From the sand outside our door to the nation's oldest city — where we send our own friends and family. Most tours fill fast in summer and race weeks; nearly all offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before.

Tours and day trips from Daytona Beach — Orlando, Kennedy Space Center, St. Augustine, and Port Canaveral
Jump to: Daytona New Smyrna St. Augustine Orlando

Daytona Beach & the Shores

Right outside your door
On the Water
Dolphin & Manatee Tour — Paddleboard or Kayak from $65+
2 hrs · all skill levels
★ 4.9 with 2,500+ reviews — the top-rated tour in Daytona

A slow-paced guided paddle under seven bridges and through scenic canals in a calm bay, seeking out dolphins and manatees. Geared to all ages — guides are famously patient with first-timers.

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St. Johns River Cruise — Blue Spring State Park from $38+
~45 min inland · 2-hr narrated cruise
★ 4.7 · best November–March for manatees

A relaxing boat tour through old Florida — bald eagles, alligators, and in the cooler months the manatees that gather at Blue Spring by the dozens. Note the small per-car park entrance fee.

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Catamaran Sail — Dolphin & Manatee Watch from $64+
1¼ hrs · Halifax River
★ 4.6 · small group, sit right over the water

A relaxing sail down the Halifax with seating that hangs out over the water. Dolphins make regular appearances. The one to book when you want a beautiful afternoon without planning anything.

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2-Hour Sunset Dolphin Tiki Boat Cruise from $42+
2 hrs · BYOB
★ Island vibes on a 40-ft tiki pontoon

Cruise the Intracoastal at golden hour with your own drinks, Bluetooth music, and frequent dolphin and manatee sightings. Shaded roof, restroom onboard, snacks included.

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Daytona Beach Champagne Sunset Cruise from $66+
1½ hrs · max 8 guests
★ 4.9 · the romantic pick

A chilled glass of champagne on a luxury Sea Ray as the sun drops over the Intracoastal. Small group only — book this one for anniversaries and date nights.

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Paddle Pub Daytona Beach from $66+
2 hrs · BYOB · groups
★ 5.0 · the group celebration boat

A pedal-powered pontoon where your crew provides the muscle and the drinks. Perfect for birthdays, reunions, and bachelorette weekends on the Intracoastal.

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Discovery Dolphin Boat Tour from $40+
2 hrs · easy for all ages
★ Guided by certified Florida naturalists

A comfortable 40-passenger pontoon through the Indian River Lagoon — North America's most biologically rich estuary. Dolphins, sea turtles, and seasonal manatees, no paddling required.

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All-Day St. Johns River Fishing Trip from $446/group+
~9 hrs · private group charter
★ 5.0 · everything provided, kids welcome

A full day of freshwater fishing on the St. Johns with a local captain who knows every bend of the river. A different kind of Florida day than the beach — and the photos with the catch are keepers.

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On Land & After Dark
Polynesian Fire Luau & Dinner Show from $53+
2 hrs · evening · book early
★ The most popular night out in Daytona

A full luau buffet with live music, hula, and fire-knife performers right on the beach. Guests consistently tell us this was the highlight of their trip, especially with kids. It sells out regularly.

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Learn to Surf — Beginner Lessons for All from $84+
2 hrs · first-timers welcome
★ 5.0 · most guests stand up on their first lesson

Professional instructors at the World's Most Famous Beach, with coaching matched to your comfort level. A bucket-list memory for kids and adults alike.

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Family Sunset Photos on the Beach from $260/group+
1 hr · professionally edited
★ 5.0 · photos delivered the same night

A golden-hour beach photo session with a professional — the vacation souvenir that outlasts every t-shirt. Edited images delivered the same evening.

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NASCAR Race Day at Daytona International Speedway from $99+
Race weekends · packages with transportation
★ The World Center of Racing — a bucket-list day

Race day tickets and packages for NASCAR events at the Speedway, with round-trip transportation available. If your stay lines up with a race weekend, this is the easiest way to experience it.

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Full-Day E-Bike Rental — Ormond Beach from $100+
Up to 7 hrs · just north of the Shores
★ 5.0 · cover miles of coast without breaking a sweat

Cruise A1A, the Loop, and the hard-packed sand itself on a GoTrax e-bike — a full day of exploring at your own pace, no parking required.

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New Smyrna Beach

~25 minutes south · Old-Florida beach town charm
Dolphin & Manatee Kayak and SUP Adventure from $65+
2 hrs · guided · beginner-friendly
★ 4.9 with 500+ reviews

Paddle through the mangroves and out to the islands where dolphins feed in the shallows — rays, herons, and sea turtles make regular appearances. Guides share local history along the way.

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Jet Ski Rentals — New Smyrna Beach from $139+
1–4 hrs · ocean, Intracoastal, or river
★ 5.0 · you choose the water

Ride the Atlantic, the Intracoastal, or the Halifax depending on conditions and comfort level. Dolphins, sea turtles, and rays often join the ride.

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Flagler Avenue & Canal Street +
Beach town stroll · free
★ Old-Florida beach town at its best

Flagler Avenue runs right down to the sand — surf shops, galleries, and easy lunch spots. Historic Canal Street across the causeway has antiques and boutiques.

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St. Augustine

~1 hour north · The nation's oldest city
On the Water
Dolphin, Manatee & Sea Turtle SUP Adventure from $65+
2 hrs · kayak or paddleboard
★ 4.8 with 1,400+ reviews

Paddle around the St. Augustine Lighthouse and Anastasia State Park with a guide, spotting dolphins, sea turtles, and manatees along the way.

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Dolphin & Wildlife Adventure Cruise from $29+
1½ hrs · easy for all ages
★ 4.9 with nearly 1,000 reviews

A calm Intracoastal cruise past the Bridge of Lions, the Castillo, and the lighthouse — dolphins, manatees, and spoonbills included. Great value at the lowest price on this list.

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Red Boat BYOB Sunset Cruise from $39+
1½ hrs · adults-only or family sailings
★ 4.9 · bring your own drinks

Sunset over the old city from the water with your favorite drinks in hand — choose the adults-only or family-friendly departure.

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Wine Tasting Cruise from $49+
1½ hrs · six wine samples
★ 4.9 · wine + dolphins in one trip

Six wine tastings while cruising past the Castillo and Bridge of Lions — the date-afternoon pick.

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Parasailing in Historic St. Augustine from $77+
1 hr · soar over the oldest city
★ 5.0 · history from 400 feet up

Fly over the Atlantic with views of the Castillo and Bridge of Lions — dolphins and sea turtles in the water below.

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Airboat Adventure with a Guide from $80+
1½ hrs · headsets included
★ 4.8 with 1,000+ reviews

Skim the St. Johns River tributaries spotting gators and manatees while your captain tells the story of a sunken pirate ship.

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History & Haunts
Ghost Tour: A Ghostly Encounter from $30+
1½ hrs · evening · family-friendly
★ 2,400+ reviews · costumed guides

A lantern-lit stroll through cemeteries and the Old Fort grounds — spooky enough to be fun, tame enough for older kids.

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History Walking Tour from $26+
1½ hrs · small group
★ 4.9 · the best-value history primer

The oldest fort, the oldest streets, and Flagler College with a guide who brings 450 years to life — often under $30.

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Private Historic Electric Cart Tour from $150/group+
1½ hrs · private, up to 6
★ 5.0 with 1,200+ reviews

Your own guide and electric cart through streets and landmarks most tours can't reach — the effortless way to see it all as a family.

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Castillo de San Marcos +
Historic district · 1–2 hrs
★ Oldest masonry fort in the continental U.S.

A 1600s Spanish fortress on the bay, with cannon firings on weekends. Then wander St. George Street's shops and cafés right next door.

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Food & Wine
Corks & Forks Food & Wine Pairing Tour from $135+
3 hrs · strolling
★ 4.9 with 780+ reviews

Eat and sip your way through the Historic District with paired local cuisine and wines — the foodie's afternoon.

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On Wheels
Polaris Slingshot Rental from $127/group+
2 hrs · self-guided
★ 4.8 · the memorable way to cruise A1A

Three wheels, open air, and a pre-loaded map of the landmarks — explore the coast and historic district your own way.

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Orlando & the Space Coast

~1–1.5 hours · Rockets, parks & real-Florida wetlands
Kennedy Space Center from $89+
~1 hr south · full day, transport included
★ Our top day-trip pick — closer than Orlando

Real rockets, the Space Shuttle Atlantis, and astronaut encounters — and if a launch is scheduled during your stay, you can sometimes see it from our balcony. Check the launch calendar!

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Theme Parks — Buy Ahead

The parks are an easy morning drive down I-4. Parks use date-based pricing, so buying ahead locks in the best rate and guarantees entry on busy days. We just point you to the ticket, then keep exploring below.

Walt Disney World — Buy tickets →

Universal Orlando — Buy tickets →

SeaWorld Orlando — Buy tickets →

Flavors of Winter Park Foodie Walking Tour from $67+
2.5 hrs · 6+ tastings
★ 4.6 with 45 reviews

Stroll Park Avenue's brick streets sampling six tasting stops from Winter Park's best boutique restaurants, with history and local stories along the way.

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Medieval Times Dinner Show from $83+
3 hrs · dinner + tournament
★ 4.6 with 173 reviews

A four-course feast with jousting, falconry, and horsemanship in a castle-sized arena — a family-friendly evening the kids won't forget.

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Clear Kayak Glow in the Dark Tour from $90+
1.5–2 hrs · Winter Park canals
★ 4.9 with 103 reviews

Paddle LED-lit clear kayaks through Winter Park's historic Venetian canals after dark, spotting wildlife and grand lakeside estates along the way.

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Gypsy Gold Horse Farm Tour from $55+
2 hrs · Ocala
★ 4.8 with 459 reviews

Meet America's first Gypsy Vanner Horses on a guided walk through Spanish-moss-draped paddocks — a gentle, story-rich outing for horse lovers of any age.

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90-Minute Everglades Airboat Tour from $89+
1.5 hrs · Kissimmee
★ 4.8 with 1,356 reviews

Skim across open marshland on a small airboat spotting alligators, birds, and wildlife — real Florida, no crowds, no lines.

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Happy Hour Downtown Pub Crawl from $139+
3 hrs · Winter Haven
★ 5.0 (1 review)

A small-group happy hour crawl through Winter Haven's award-winning downtown hot spots, with drinks and bites at every stop.

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Wekiva River Guided Kayak Tour from $200+
4 hrs · spring-fed river
★ 4.8 with 196 reviews

Paddle the crystal-clear, spring-fed Wekiva River past cypress trees and wildlife — one of Central Florida's most beautiful and least crowded waterways.

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48-Mile Helicopter Tour — Theme Parks & Downtown from $208+
25–30 min · private flight
★ 5.0 with 23 reviews

A private helicopter flight over Disney, Universal, SeaWorld, and the Orlando skyline — every seat is a window seat.

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85-Mile Private Helicopter Tour to Space Coast from $446+
1 hr 10 min – 1.5 hrs · private flight
★ 5.0

Fly the Space Coast by private helicopter — Port Canaveral, the Vehicle Assembly Building, the rocket garden, and the Shuttle runway from the air.

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Small Group Manatee Discovery Kayak Tour from $80+
2 hrs · Blue Spring waters
★ 4.9 with 300+ reviews

A small-group paddle through crystal-clear spring-fed waters that hundreds of manatees call home each winter. Kayaks, paddles, and life jackets included.

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Continue Exploring

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