Along the eastern side of Florida, Ormond Beach welcomes tourists to come and stay a while. This small coastal community offers beaches, Southern charm, down-home cooking, and outdoor activities. When you choose an Ormond Beach vacation rental along the Atlantic Ocean, you and your family can enjoy watching phenomenal sunsets and listening to the soothing waves. Just a few minutes north of Daytona, this beach town offers a break from the bustle of larger cities, while still allowing your family easy access to attractions that surrounding areas have to offer. While staying in the area, check out these top nine things to do in Ormond Beach with kids.
1. Romano Beachfront Park
Pack up your beach towels, cooler, and sand pails for a day at the Romano Beachfront Park. Enjoy white sand beaches between your toes as the kids play in the surf. Rent boogie boards or paddle boards and try your hand at some water sports. This park offers a gazebo that provides a break from the sun while you enjoy a picnic lunch. Afterwards, the kids can play on the playground while waiting for their food to settle.
2. Tomoka State Park
Grab your fishing poles and take the kids to the Tomoka State Park. Here, enjoy fishing from the banks, or rent canoes and row out into the water to try your luck. Teach your kids to bait their hooks and watch their faces come to life when you pull in their very first fish. During the migration season, this park becomes a bird-watcher’s paradise, with more than 160 different species spied in the park. With walking trails and picnic facilities on-site, it’s easy to have a full day out before returning to your vacation rental for a rest.
3. The Casements
Florida is home to many upscale winter homes for the wealthy, and in Ormond Beach, John D. Rockefeller once owned a home he called the Casements. Today, this mansion serves as a public cultural center and exhibit for the Boys Scouts of America. On the tour, learn more about this stately home and the history of the surrounding area. Afterwards, take the kids out on the grounds to explore the gardens and soak up the sunshine.
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4. Bulow Creek State Park
Spend the day hiking or biking and checking out the historic ruins in the Bulow Creek State Park. This park features partially submerged land in a unique ecosystem. Enjoy the shade in one of the largest forests of southern live oaks in the United States. Pack a picnic lunch before leaving your vacation rental and enjoy it at one of the picnic sites, or toss a blanket under one of the trees to dine al fresco. Depending on how far you hike, you may see the ruins of the Bulow Plantation.
5. Ormond Memorial Art Museum and Gardens
Check out the works of local Florida artists at the Ormond Memorial Art Museum and Gardens. On Free Family Art Nights, grab a yummy treat or filling dinner from one of the food trucks parked near the museum’s lush tropical gardens and enjoy a family meal together in this private oasis. Wander through the gardens and visit the greenhouses to see some unique plants, trees, and flowers. Close to the ponds, you might spot frogs and turtles.
6. Fortunato Park
With a dock and a pier, Fortunato Park is an ideal location for an afternoon of fishing or canoeing with the family. This park offers walking and jogging paths to burn off some energy after waiting for the fish to bite. There’s also a picnic area with a barbecue grill close to the playground, where smaller children can play while you grill up some hamburgers and hot dogs. Bathroom facilities come standard at this small city park, making it comfortable to spend the day.
7. Michael Crotty Bicentennial Park
In the early evening, bring the whole family to Michael Crotty Bicentennial Park for a walk along the beach, or choose the other side of the park for a stroll along the boardwalk on the riverfront. If you brought your pup with you, make sure to bring him along on this excursion. The park offers a dedicated dog park, where Rover can make friends and catch a Frisbee.
8. Tomoka Marsh Aquatic Preserve
Take kayaks or canoes to the Tomoka Marsh Aquatic Preserve for a day of exploring on the water. If you didn’t bring a canoe with you, contact one of the local outfitters to rent them for an afternoon. While paddling through the preserve, take in the salt marshes and fascinating wildlife, such as manatee, snook, blue crabs, and wading birds. Visit in the cooler months to see the manatee, since they’re unhappy in warmer water temperatures.
9. World War II Coastal Watch Tower
Gather the family in the car for a drive along The Loop, a stretch of highway known for its stunning views, to see the World War II Coastal Watch Tower. This historic landmark was once manned by soldiers watching the Florida shores for signs of foreign ships with hostile intentions. Although you can’t climb to the top, it makes a great photo op and opportunity teach your kids a little something about American history. Afterwards, enjoy an afternoon on this pristine beach.
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