Bulow Creek State Park

2099 N Beach Street

Ormond Beach, FL 32174

386-676-4050

This park protects one of the largest remaining stands of southern live oak forest along Florida's east coast. The reigning tree is the Fairchild Oak, one of the largest live oak trees in the south. For more than 400 years it has been a silent witness to human activities along Bulow Creek, including the destruction of the neighboring Bulow Plantation during the Second Seminole War in 1836. Several trails allow hikers to explore the interior of the park, where visitors can see white-tailed deer, barred owls, and raccoons. The Bulow Woods Trail, nearly seven miles long, takes hikers to Bulow Plantation Ruins Historic State Park. Visitors can picnic in a shady pavilion or at a table on the lawn within view of the Fairchild Oak. Located five miles north of Ormond Beach on Old Dixie Highway (County Road 4011).

Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area

3100 S A1A

Flagler Beach, FL 32136

386-517-2086

Nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway, this windswept park is named for Florida folk singer Gamble Rogers and railroad entrepreneur Henry Flagler. The beach is the most popular feature at this park, where visitors enjoy swimming, sunbathing, or beachcombing. The daily low tide is an ideal time to observe shore birds feeding in tidal ponds; summer months bring sea turtles who lay their eggs in the golden-brown sand. On the Intracoastal Waterway side of the park, picnic pavilions provide a shady place to enjoy a meal. A nature trail winds through a shady coastal forest of scrub oaks and saw palmetto. Boaters and canoeists can launch from a boat ramp on the Intracoastal Waterway. The park's full-facility campground overlooks the Atlantic Ocean and is just a short walk along a boardwalk from the beach. Located in Flagler Beach off Highway A1A.  

North Peninsula

40 Highbridge Road

Ormond By the Sea, FL 32176

386-517-2086

More than two miles of beautiful, unspoiled Atlantic beaches beckon visitors to this park. Across State Road A1A, this Florida haven shelters rare creatures such as Florida scrub-jays, indigo snakes, and gopher tortoises. Visitors can spend the afternoon swimming, sunning at the beach, or surf fishing. Bird-watchers will enjoy spotting the native and migratory species seen in this park. Located on State Road A1A four miles south of Flagler Beach.

Tomoka State Park

2099 N Beach Street

Ormond Beach, FL 32174

386-676-4050

Native Americans once dwelled here, living off fish-filled lagoons. Today, these waters are popular for canoeing, boating, and fishing. The park protects a variety of wildlife habitats and endangered species, such as the West Indian manatee. Tomoka is a bird-watcher's paradise, with over 160 species sighted, especially during the spring and fall migrations. Visitors can stroll a one-half mile nature trail through a hardwood hammock that was once an indigo field for an 18th century British landowner. A museum houses artworks by artist Fred Dana Marsh, wildlife displays, Native American artifacts, and exhibits about Florida's history. A boat ramp gives boaters and canoeists access to the river. The Park Store offers snacks, camping supplies, and canoe rentals. Contact 386-673-0022 for more information. For overnight stays, the park has full-facility campsites and youth camping. Located three miles north of Ormond Beach on North Beach Street.

SugarMill Botanical Gardens

950 Old Sugar Mill Road

Port Orange, FL 32129

386-767-1735

Sugar Mill Gardens is a botanical garden developed and maintained by the Botanical Gardens of Volusia, Inc. The property was donated in 1963 to the County of Volusia by J. Saxton Lloyd and operated since April 1988 by the non-profit Botanical Gardens of Volusia, Inc.

The gardens provide an inexpensive, wholesome family environment where you can stroll through trails, view the reconstructed sugar mill and statues of dinosaurs, watch butterflies, and learn more about flora and fauna native to Florida.

Bicentennial Park

1800 N Oceanshore Blvd

Ormond Beach, FL 32176

386-441-6252

Offers extended sports facilities, including tennis, softball, basketball, and handball along with nature trails from the ocean to the river

Stickland Park

1670 Strickland Range Road

Holly Hill, FL 32117

This 35 acre park provides a shooting range, ball fields and BMX track.

Lighthouse Point Park

500 S Atlantic Avenue

Ponce Inlet, FL 32127

386-756-7488

This 52 acre park at the southern tip of the town is run by the county of Volusia. The park is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, Ponce DeLeon inlet and the Halifax river and is home to a variety of wildlife, including raccoons, opossums, skunks, armadillos, shore birds and birds of prey. Park facilities include nature trails, fishing, swimming, picnicking, and bird watching from an observation tower close to the inlet.

Spruce Creek Park

6250 Ridgewood Avenue

Port Orange, FL

386-322-5133

Offers a fishing and observation pier, primitive campsites, a horse trail and other amenities.

Mary McLeod Bethune Park

6656 S Atlantic Avenue

New Smyrna Beach, FL 32169

386-239-6415

Near New Smyrna Beach, is a park where visitors can enjoy an oceanfront boardwalk and riverside fishing.

Boating

Volusia County also operates eight boat ramps, including a ramp on the Halifax River in New Smyrna Beach, and one on the Tomoka River near Ormond Beach.

The Halifax area is a prime spot for boating and water sports. Offshore sailing and fishing are available off the Atlantic coast, the Intracoastal Waterway, Ponce Inlet, the St. John’s River, Tomoka Rivers and Spruce Creek. Several marinas are located throughout the county. They include Marina Point (downtown Daytona Beach), Pelican Island Marina (Port Orange), Inlet Harbor (Ponce Inlet), Daytona Beach Yacht Club (Daytona Beach), Perry’s Marina (Wilbur-By-The-Sea), and Halifax Harbor (Daytona Beach).