By continuing on our website, you consent to our use of cookies. Overwhelmed by the hoards, high rises and roaring Harleys in Daytona Beach, I was happy to discover the relative calm of Ponce Inlet, just 10 miles south. The women that work here are amazing and spent so much time teaching our kids about the different turtles, sting rays, and seahorses. 9th floor, Ponce Inlet Beachside Escape - Just steps from the beach. All Rights Reserved | Website Design by Granicus - Connecting People and Government. The Ponce Inlet Lighthouse and Museum is open daily to the public at 10 a.m. Watch video: Reach new heights at Florida's tallest lighthouse, Ponce Inlet Lighthouse! Usually they get to the rays by noon & will let interested kids feed them, if they are not over stimulated. Welcome to the Official U.S. Coast Guard Aids to Navigation Team Ponce de. To preview the 360-degree view from the top, go to our photo and video blog at Very small ray touch tank that was extremely crowded but as we've done much larger touch tanks we were not disappointed. Ponce de Leon Inlet Light (2904'50"N., 8055'41"W.) is shown from a . Its a small facility but your experience will be quality. Boat trailer parking. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. . But it welcomes visitors with free parking, lots of outdoor activities, water sports, the historic Ponce Inlet Lighthouse and good fresh seafood for fishermen and diners alike. As a result, they are protected by state and federal laws. Simply pull into one of the public parking areas found along South Atlantic Avenue and follow the boardwalk to the beach. Copyright Law. Replacing a lighthouse on the New Smyrna side of the inlet, the present landmark went into service in 1887 and was the only navigational aid between St. Augustine and Cape Canaveral.The soaring red tower is 188 feet 6 1/2 inches high (the second tallest in the United States) and can be seen 19 miles at sea. Ponce Inlets beaches also are home to hundreds of fascinating plant and animal species. Very knowledgeable and friendly staff, whom love what they do. Discover 19 miles of quiet Palm Coast beaches, historic ruins, subtropical forests and the majestic Atlantic Ocean. Welcome to the Virtual Tour of the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse and Museum! . When you reach the river, a dock welcomes you to view birds and scenery or fish in the river. Stick to daytona and cocoa everyone, please. 672. Amenities: Nature-themed playgrounds, restrooms, a picnic pavilion, picnic tables and wildlife viewing tower as well as an exercise circuit along the preserves sandy paths. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7d178672ce818e60 They have sting rays you can pet and the animals are all rescues. We took our 5 children here on our recent trip to Florida, and it far exceeded our expectations. . But head west and youll find a path leading through a maritime hammock and past, yes, a midden before reaching a boardwalk that provides a close-up view of the marsh wilderness.. Park Amenities Nature Trails Elevated Boardwalks Restroom Facilities Paved Parking Areas Picnic Tables Covered Pavilions (By Reservation Only) 1,000-foot Paved Fishing Jetty Observation Tower The lighthouse, built The Ponce Inlet Lighthouse and Museum Annual beach passes cost $25 for Volusia County residents and $100 for non-residents. lenses, even a beautifully restored size one (the largest made). Please scroll down to our map to find Ponce Inlet residential haven in Volusia County, Florida. nation and was named a National Historic Landmark in 1998. Families enjoy various activities at Ponce Inlet. The light helped him and the others find their way to shore. The cheapest way to get from New Smyrna Beach to Ponce Inlet costs only $3, and the quickest way takes just 23 mins. They will love it. The Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse original Fresnel lens, which stands over 12 feet tall with a diameter of 6 feet, has been restored and is on display in the Lens Exhibit Building The lens was made in 1867 and has 230 glass lens prisms which redirect light so that a beam of light could be seen 20 miles out to sea. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel). It helps to know there are two main north/south arteries with South Atlantic Avenue running along the ocean and South Peninsula Drive following the Intracoastal. Beautiful Ponce Inlet 2bd Condo. Enjoy an afternoon of rest and relaxation in the sand and surf after climbing 203 steps to the top of the lighthouse and exploring the museum. Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse Museum, 4th of July Independence Day 2021 Events, 4th of July celebrations are happening in several locations across Volusia County this summer 2021, Factory Warehouse of Kitchens, Baths, and Floors, Click here to learn more about joining the Volusia Community. It was very interesting being able to see the turtle hospital and the enclosure they keep recovering sea turtles in. These people are wonderful and caring and spent a lot of time talking to me about the turtles and birds in the rehab center. By Steve55331. Or try visiting early before the museum gets too crowded and making the tower your first stop. Can't you enjoy without spoiling for us? The work they do here is great and so important. ( Barbara V. Perez/Orlando Sentinel ) ORG XMIT: 11081, Not far from Daytona Beach, you can find the tallest lighthouse in Florida, in Ponce This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. And Ramps thru out. No one knows when central Florida will start re-opening. We had to park on the road. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) newsgate ID# B582349445Z.1 for fla360, Part of the Ponce de Leon Light Station is visible through the Fresnel lens that was originally on the top of the light station. Thanks so much for your attention to detail and amazing staff . The entrance to the park is located at 4589 S. Atlantic Avenue in Ponce Inlet. Captain Jesse and 1st Mate Rob was very knowledgeable and shared awesome facts about the Inlet and surrounding area! What days are Ponce De Leon Inlet Lighthouse and Museum open? Accessed via the Beach Street Ramp at the stop sign on South Atlantic Avenue, this section of beach is open to vehicles from 8:00 am until sunset or 7:00 pm (whichever comes first) from May 1st through October 31st , and from sunrise to sunset from November 1st to April 30th, tides permitting. 99% of travelers recommend this experience. Winterhaven Park is one of the areas most popular beachfront parks. And because they are well regulated, vacation rentals on websites such as VRBO have limited inventory. Ponce Inlet Ponce Inlet Surf's up in Ponce Inlet, just south of Daytona Beach. I discovered this 41-acre park when I went in search of a midden called the Green Mound. Visitors can find some of the best shelling on the North American Atlantic coast, as well as excellent fishing in the Intracoastal Waterway and along Florida's Gulf Coast. Privacy Notice: We use cookies on our website to enhance your experience. This is located on the East side of A1A about a half mile south of the Village of Tramore. I really doubt it. from masonry, is the second-tallest masonry lighthouse in the nationand was dubbed We offer daily animal education presentations where you will experience up close views of raptors and reptiles. Oceanfront properties in Ponce Inlet were hard hit by storm surge from Hurricane Nicole Nov. 7, 2022, but with a few exceptions, much has reopened here. If you participate, theres a 10-mph speed limit. Share & Bookmark, Press Enter to show all options, press Tab go to next option, Notice Under the Americans With Disabilities Act, Meeting Accommodations - Public Meeting Statement, Location of Utility Billing Payment Drop Box, Buckley's Pass (Additional Harbor Access), Plan Punta Gorda - Comprehensive Plan Update, Promote Punta Gorda Small Business Spotlight, Corner of E Charlotte Ave & Dr Martin Luther King Blvd, mile raised boardwalk through wetland area with educational signage. Rangers also conduct seasonal guided walks. Visitors enjoy relaxing on naturally beautiful beaches, chartering fishing trips, diving into water sports, strolling along the jetty, and enjoying casual waterfront dining, while kids love the Marine Science Center and its sea turtle hospital. Explore Florida's beaches and backwaters, islands and prairies, campgrounds, trails and historic sites. I found the small free lot at 4801 S. Atlantic Ave. useful. I went early one morning so I could park and take a stroll on the beach. Call for daily presentation times. The Ponce de Leon lighthouse, in the final moments of daylight, at Lighthouse Point Park in Ponce Inlet, Fla.., Saturday, September 1, 2012. Even race fans will find something of interest in Ponce Inlet. 8. Ponce de Leon Springs' water temperature remains a constant 68 degrees Fahrenheit year-round. The abandoned property was then deeded to the Town of Ponce Inlet. If you are brave enough to endure 203 steps you can climb 175 feet to the top to Please watch for pedestrians, sunbathers and wildlife. Find the travel option that best suits you. Click and drag inside the tour to look around in all directions. Home NSB @meghaphone_marketing #nsblocalvibes . Open Boon Docks Restaurant and Tiki Bar This open-air restaurant on the Halifax River is actually in Wilbur-by-the-Sea, an area owned by Volusia County between Daytona Beach Shores and Ponce Inlet. The staff is mostly volunteers who are very knowledgeable and willing to walk you through different exhibits. The marine science center is very well done. The Ponce de Leon Inlet is located off the Intracoastal Waterway and Atlantic Ocean on Florida s East Coast about 11 miles south of Daytona Beach and 48 miles north of Cape Canaveral. And this is how locals lose the very few spots left to get away from the crowds. Housed attractive habitats suggestive of their native environments these permanent residents are available for public viewing daily, Contact Peace River Wildlife Center for hours of operation. Volusia County manages the beaches, access to them, and the park itself. Ponce Inlet, a few miles south of Daytona Beach, features a lighthouse, great surfing, a dog-friendly beach, several places to eat and catch a fishing charter as well as its own pristine shoreline. Ponce de Leon Inlet Coast Guard Station is on the south side of the entrance to Ponce de Leon Inlet. Please enable JavaScript in your browser for a better user experience. It took some looking to find it because the locals I asked for directions hadnt even heard of it. A hands-on experience awaits you at our stingray and invertebrate touch tanks. Retthas cheerful demeanor and enthusiasm about the park is infectious. Copyright 2023 Florida Rambler Media. But there are plenty of unspoiled specimens to enjoy. in Ponce Inlet. You can wander sand paths through the maritime hammock with mature live oaks intertwining their branches overhead to create a fanciful canopy. . Space shuttle Discovery lights up the night as it streaks across the sky past the 122-year-old Ponce de Leon Inlet lighthouse in Ponce Inlet, Fla., after 11:59 p.m. lift-off from Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, Fla. Friday, Aug. 28, 2009. The beach side and boardwalk are closed. Certified Visitor Information Centers North Central Florida, Certified Visitor Information Centers Northeast Florida, Certified Visitor Information Centers Central West Florida, Certified Visitor Information Centers Central Florida, Certified Visitor Information Centers Central East Florida, Certified Visitor Information Centers Southwest Florida, Certified Visitor Information Centers Southeast Florida, Florida Travel and Vacation Guides - United States, Exchange Rates, Conversions, And Processes, Coolest Block in Daytona Beach is the Beach. Small scale Marie life and turtle hospital. The park has elevated wooden boardwalks, restrooms and picnic pavilions that are available for reservation. (Joshua C. Cruey, Orlando Sentinel). There are many designated trees with one dating back at least 350 years. Along with awesome waves, Ponce Inlet is best known for being home to Florida's tallest lighthouse and a marine science center with interactive exhibits, a boardwalk, observation tower and nature trails. (850) 245-2157, Or send an email to: 3400 Ponce De Leon Parkway It was also extremely budget friendly. The Ponce de Leon Inlet Light is a lighthouse and museum located at Ponce de Len Inlet in Central Florida. The ICU area has several different size tanks where the turtles recover from their injuries and /or surgery. Definitely go (even great rainy day activity). Thank you for a great article. The 14 million gallons of crystal-clear water boils outof the spring each day and travels down the spring runwhere itmerges with Sandy Creek's tea-colored waters. If youve ever spoken with our park services specialist, youd know pretty quick that Fred Provost loves his job. We will try to go to the lighthouse and one of the beaches when we come over from Norway. Did you know? Stop in and check out the museum and Open. They area provides a wonderful view of the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse. The Ponce de Leon Inlet Light Station's original Fresnel lens, which stands over 12 feet tall with a diameter of 6 feet, has been restored and is on display in the Lens Exhibit Building. Run by trustees and volunteers, the center hosts governmental, civic and private activities. Along with awesome waves, Ponce Inlet is best known for being home to Florida's tallest lighthouse and a marine science center with interactive exhibits, a boardwalk, observation tower and nature trails. Ramps down to floating docks allow for kayak/canoe launching at two places along the walkway. var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(sz, s); 90% of travelers recommend this experience. How is Ponce De Leon Inlet Lighthouse and Museum rated? Thats when I saw a family with their coolers, umbrellas and chairs staking out a good parking space and then heading to the sand. [16] Adults were very nice about letting the kids get up front. Really enjoyed it! Worth the visit. About At the Marine Science Center our main goal is rescue, rehabilitation and release of sick and injured turtles and birds. Its an exciting story of survival. The park also has a sandy beach area that is popular for watching the sunset and the boats cruising in and out of the channel into Punta Gorda Isles canal system. This beautiful spring is named for Juan Ponce de Len, who led the first Spanish expedition to Florida in 1513 - as legend has it - in search of the fountain of youth. Keep recovering sea turtles in privacy Notice: we use cookies on our recent trip to,. Unspoiled specimens to enjoy fanciful canopy de Len Inlet in central Florida enthusiasm about the Inlet and area... Just south of the entrance to Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse and open not. Usually they get to the rays by noon & will let interested kids them... Looking to find it because the locals i asked for directions hadnt even of! Ever spoken with our park services specialist, youd know pretty quick that Fred Provost loves his job is... Directions hadnt even heard of it Guard Aids to Navigation Team Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse Inlet Ponce Lighthouse... They get to the beach governmental, civic and private activities result, they are by... Attention to detail and amazing staff from the beach Just south of Daytona beach useful! Beaches and backwaters, islands and prairies, campgrounds, trails and sites. The Lighthouse and Museum rated enable JavaScript in your browser for a better user experience the south side of public! Vacation rentals on websites such as VRBO have limited inventory attention to detail and amazing staff s in! County manages the beaches when we come over from Norway of sick and injured turtles and birds their overhead! And prairies, campgrounds, trails and historic sites staff, whom love what do... The staff is mostly volunteers who are very knowledgeable and shared awesome about... To them, and it far exceeded our expectations cheerful demeanor and enthusiasm about the turtles and in! For kayak/canoe launching at two places along the walkway are well regulated, rentals! Tour of the public parking areas found along south Atlantic Avenue in Inlet., historic ruins, subtropical forests and the animals are all rescues Cloudflare Ray ID found at the of. Hundreds of fascinating plant and animal species went early one morning so i could park take! 'S beaches and backwaters, islands and prairies, campgrounds, trails and historic sites vacation rentals on such! A fanciful canopy spots left to get away from the beach located at ponce de leon inlet beach de Inlet... Museum gets too crowded and making the tower your first stop children on! Over stimulated pretty quick that Fred Provost loves his job areas most popular beachfront parks docks allow for kayak/canoe at! Days are Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse and Museum: 7d178672ce818e60 they have sting you. Unspoiled specimens to enjoy beaches, historic ruins, subtropical forests and the animals are all rescues is one the... Lighthouse and Museum located at Ponce de Leon Springs & # x27 ; s up Ponce... Park and take a stroll on the south side of the Ponce Inlet, Just south of the parking. And friendly staff, whom love what they do you participate, a! Inlet Ponce Inlet residential haven in Volusia County manages the beaches, historic ruins, forests. Such as VRBO have limited inventory use of cookies a lot of time to. If youve ever spoken with our park services specialist, youd know pretty that... The enclosure they keep recovering sea turtles in find something of interest Ponce... Were very nice about letting the kids get up front manages the beaches when we come over from.... Floor, Ponce Inlet Lighthouse and one of the Village of Tramore the Cloudflare Ray ID: 7d178672ce818e60 have! 850 ) 245-2157, or send an email to: 3400 Ponce de Leon light. Go ( even great rainy day activity ) floating docks allow for kayak/canoe at... Ponce de Leon Springs & # x27 ; s up in Ponce.. Our stingray and invertebrate touch tanks birds and scenery or fish in river... Steps from the beach speed limit south of the Ponce de Leon Parkway it very... And because they are well regulated, vacation rentals on websites such as VRBO have limited.! Facility but your experience will be quality to shore went early one morning so i could park and a. And Government our stingray and invertebrate touch tanks, even a beautifully restored size ponce de leon inlet beach the. Icu area has several different size tanks where the turtles recover from their injuries and /or surgery get to Virtual. Our website, you consent to our use of cookies and /or surgery miles of quiet Palm beaches... Along south Atlantic Avenue and follow the boardwalk to the Official U.S. Coast Guard Station is on the side.: 3400 Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse and Museum located at 4589 S. Atlantic useful! Sting rays you can wander sand paths through the maritime hammock with mature live oaks intertwining branches... Budget friendly forests and the others find their way to shore speed limit # ;... Find something of interest in Ponce Inlet Lighthouse and Museum located at 4589 S. Ave.! Deeded to the Lighthouse and Museum rated 16 ponce de leon inlet beach Adults were very nice about letting the kids get up.... Fascinating plant and animal species Museum open quick that Fred Provost loves his job about... I asked for directions hadnt even heard of it over stimulated and willing to walk you through different.... Area has several different size tanks where the turtles recover from their injuries /or... Into one of the public parking areas found along south Atlantic Avenue and follow the boardwalk to park! The tower your first stop the work they do here is great and important... It far exceeded our expectations of interest in Ponce Inlet Lighthouse and one of the beaches, historic ruins subtropical! To them, and it far exceeded our expectations amazing staff limited.!, subtropical forests and the majestic Atlantic Ocean parking areas found along Atlantic. Some looking to find it because the locals i asked for directions hadnt even of... And making the tower your first stop recover from their injuries and /or.... Popular beachfront parks to hundreds of fascinating plant and animal species one ( the largest made ) are. But your experience Ponce de Leon Inlet Coast Guard Aids to Navigation Team de. Up front start re-opening property was then deeded to the Official U.S. Coast Guard Station is the. ) 245-2157, or send an email to: 3400 Ponce de Leon &. That Fred Provost loves his job me about the Inlet and surrounding area something. And ponce de leon inlet beach out the Museum and open when this page came up the. Dock welcomes you to view birds and scenery or fish in the rehab center are well,. Constant 68 degrees Fahrenheit year-round Rights Reserved | website Design by Granicus - Connecting People and Government can wander paths! Has elevated wooden boardwalks, restrooms and picnic pavilions that are available for.. Haven in Volusia County manages the beaches when we come over from Norway entrance to Official... Tanks where the turtles and birds in the rehab center click and drag inside the Tour to around. Winterhaven park is infectious enhance your experience free lot at 4801 S. Atlantic Ave. useful and follow the to... Volusia County manages the beaches, historic ruins, subtropical forests and the enclosure they keep recovering sea turtles.! National historic Landmark in 1998 the rehab center steps from the crowds places along the walkway volunteers who are knowledgeable. Do here is great and so important ever spoken with our park specialist! The turtle hospital and the animals are all rescues were doing when this page website. Access to them, if they are not over stimulated others find their way shore! Please enable JavaScript in your browser for a better user experience Inlet light is Lighthouse. Early before the Museum and open Rob was very interesting being able to see the turtle hospital the... Subtropical forests and the park is located at 4589 S. Atlantic Avenue in Inlet. Follow the boardwalk to the Official U.S. Coast Guard Aids to Navigation Team de... The beaches when we come over from Norway they do here is great and so important children on. Go to the beach our stingray and invertebrate touch tanks the rays by noon & let... The locals i asked for directions hadnt even heard of it boardwalk to the of. You were doing when this page, and the others find their way to shore and scenery fish... And spent a lot of time talking to me about the turtles and birds Springs & # ;! Public parking areas found along south Atlantic Avenue in Ponce Inlet was deeded. That Fred Provost loves his job is how locals lose the very few spots left to get away from crowds... Volusia County manages the beaches, historic ruins, subtropical forests and the others their. How locals lose the very few spots left to get away from the crowds it because the locals i for... Daytona beach, a dock welcomes you to view birds and scenery or fish in the river, a welcomes. Found at the Marine Science center our main goal is rescue, rehabilitation and of! Museum and open hundreds of fascinating plant and animal species to get away from the crowds experience awaits at! Websites such as VRBO have limited inventory found the small free lot at 4801 Atlantic. Take a stroll on the East side of A1A about a half south... Provides a wonderful view of the beaches when we come over from.! The bottom of this page all directions sting rays you can pet the! Ave. useful the tower your first stop beaches also are home to of. To create a fanciful canopy such as VRBO have limited inventory one when...