North De Land: Nature, Culture and Trails

North De Land combines nature experiences, aviation and military history, and a variety of routes for walks and bike rides. If people in your travel group have different interests, you can combine cultural visits, active days and distinctive landscapes. When searching for a holiday apartment or holiday home, it is therefore worth deciding first which experiences you want to include in your trip.

Nature Trails around Lakes and Wetlands

Lake Beresford Park offers a 1.8-mile multi-use trail around the park grounds. It connects to the Spring-to-Spring Trail leading to Blue Spring State Park. In the northern part of the park, there are also two nature trails open for an immersive hiking experience. The Spring-to-Spring Trail starts here and is designed for walkers, joggers, inline skaters, cyclists and people with disabilities.

The Tiger Bay State Forest is located near North DeLand and features extensive wetlands, pine islands and a large pine ridge. Opportunities there include hiking, cycling, horseback riding, picnicking, boating, fishing, hunting, nature observation and photography. Indian Lake, Scoggin Lake and Rattlesnake Pond are open for fishing and small boats. In the wider region, the Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge offers opportunities for nature photography, birdwatching, hiking, fishing and boating. There are also 15 miles of trails for hiking, cycling and horseback riding. The refuge was established in 1964 for migratory birds and includes marshland, swamps, streams, wooded wetlands and higher-elevation land.

Culture, History and Unusual Experiences

The DeLand Naval Air Station Museum presents the military history of DeLand, Volusia County and other locations on land, in the air and at sea. It is housed in a former 1920s residence that is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and the Local Register of Historic Places. Public tours are available exclusively on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.; the last tour begins at 11:00 a.m. Plan this museum visit specifically as part of your stay.

The Museum of Art – DeLand welcomes visitors of all abilities and is ADA-compliant. In DeLand, the DeLand Mural Walk leads through the historic city center, Historic Downtown DeLand. For a completely different activity, the public can watch an educational venom-extraction program through safety glass at the Reptile Discovery Center. This provides a close-up view of snakes and experienced handlers. Skydive DeLand offers tandem skydiving with an experienced instructor.

Special Excursions and Practical Guidance

Hontoon Island State Park is accessible only by private boat or the park ferry. Popular activities there include paddling, fishing, hiking, cycling and camping. The Hammock Hiking Nature Trail follows a 3-mile loop to an ancient shell midden. This access situation and the range of activities are important points to consider when planning your excursion days in advance.

For general aviation, DeLand Municipal Airport operates around the clock. When choosing your accommodation, you can also decide whether cultural activities, nature trails, water activities or a varied mix should be the focus. This allows you to choose a holiday apartment or holiday home in North De Land according to your personal travel plan, without having to commit to just one type of holiday.

You can access more local pages here: Edgewater, Ormond Beach, Daytona Beach, Deltona, Ormond-By-The-Sea, Lake Helen, Timber Pines, New Smyrna Beach.

For the higher-level travel overview: Volusia.