Volusia: Atlantic Beaches, Nature and History

Volusia combines 47 miles of Atlantic beaches with extensive natural areas, historic sites and unique insights into Florida’s wildlife. When choosing your holiday apartment or holiday home, it is therefore worth first deciding on the desired mix of coast, nature experiences, culture and active days. The parks of Volusia County cover more than 10,000 acres of parkland in total, giving the region a distinctly green character alongside its beaches.

Discover the Coast and Wildlife

An impressive coastal location for observing nature is North Peninsula State Park. On one side are golden-orange beaches made of coquina sand, while coastal marshes lie on the other. Almost three miles of beach are available for swimming and surf fishing. From May to September, loggerhead sea turtles, green sea turtles and, occasionally, rare leatherback turtles come ashore on the park’s coast to lay their eggs. If you are focusing your trip on the beach and coastal landscape, you can take this seasonal feature into account when planning your journey.

The Marine Science Center also focuses on protecting the marine environment. Sea turtles are rehabilitated there; from the Turtle Terrace, seven tanks in the turtle hospital can be viewed. The rehabilitation area also treats freshwater turtles and land turtles. The center provides information about the species-rich environment of Volusia County and its protection. For families with different interests, a visit can therefore usefully complement nature observation at the beach without both experiences requiring the same travel itinerary.

Springs, Trails and Outdoor Experiences

Green Springs Park offers 31 acres of parkland with paved and natural trails. One of Florida’s few green sulfur springs is located there. From the beginning of early Indigenous settlements through the steamboat era, Green Springs was a significant landmark of Volusia County. The park is also the starting point for the Spring-to-Spring Trail and the East Central Regional Rail Trail.

The Spring-to-Spring Trail is designed for walkers, joggers, inline skaters, cyclists and people with disabilities. Several sections that have already been completed total nearly 15 miles; once completed, the trail is intended to run 26 miles from Gemini Springs Park to DeLeon Springs State Park. Listed trailheads include locations at DeBary Hall Historic Site, Gemini Springs Park, Lake Monroe Park, Lake Beresford Park, Blue Spring State Park and along Grand Avenue in Glenwood. This information can help you choose accommodation based on your preferred type of outing without assuming a specific distance between the accommodation and the trail.

Further outdoor activities in the protected areas of Volusia County include free public paddling, hiking, cycling and eco-buggy tours. Registration is required. Tomoka Marsh Aquatic Preserve offers opportunities for boating, fishing and birdwatching. Lyonia Preserve encompasses 360 acres of restored Florida scrub habitat. The area serves to restore and preserve habitats for scrubland-dependent species, including the threatened Florida scrub jay and the gopher tortoise. An all-terrain electric track chair can be reserved there for using more than four miles of trails.

History and Art as Elements of Your Trip

DeBary Hall Historic Site is a 19th-century hunting estate overlooking the St. Johns River and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. DeBary Hall was built in 1871 and is the oldest surviving building in southwestern Volusia County. The region’s parks also include historic and archaeological sites. In DeLand, the Museum of Art – DeLand adds a cultural dimension to the trip: the nonprofit municipal fine arts museum is dedicated to collecting, preserving, researching, exhibiting and interpreting art. The Museum of Arts & Sciences, an art, history and science museum in Central Florida, is another cultural point of reference.

Choose the Right Area

Volusia can therefore be planned from various perspectives: coastal landscapes and turtle watching, trails and protected areas, springs and river views, or art and regional history. When searching for a holiday apartment, it may be useful to use your preferred daily activities as a starting point. Those who want to combine as many nature-related topics as possible should pay attention to the locations relevant to parks, trails or protected areas in their own trip planning. Those who prefer culture can place historic sites and museums at the center of their itinerary. Unless otherwise stated, the parks of Volusia County are open from sunrise to sunset.

Votran is also available for getting around the county: a countywide transportation system offering bus services and transportation options for people with physical limitations. Daytona Beach International Airport connects the Atlantic beaches and Daytona International Speedway with attractions in Orlando, the Kennedy Space Center and historic St. Augustine. You can also include New Smyrna Beach, Daytona Beach, Ormond Beach, De Bary, Edgewater, Orange City, South Daytona and Port Orange as additional place names when searching for accommodation.

Likewise, Osteen, Deland, Deltona, Daytona Beach Shores, Timber Pines, Lake Helen, North De Land and Ormond-By-The-Sea can help with further orientation. This allows you to choose your holiday apartment or holiday home based on the desired combination of beach, nature, culture and outdoor activities.

For the broader travel overview: Florida.