The 10 Best Budget-friendly Things to do in Ponce Inlet, Florida (FL)

Walk inside the white picket fence and step back in time. Maintained and operated by the Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse Preservation Association, this beautiful facility represents one of the best preserved and most authentic historic light stations in the nation today. Visitors will agree that the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse and Museum offers a treasure-trove of sights, sounds, and experiences for young and old alike.

Ponce Inlet Watersports is your place for water sports adventures in the Daytona Beach area. We offer many different attractions: Dolphin and Manatee boat tours, Deep Sea Fishing Charters, Eco-Tours, Tubing, Wake-boarding, Speed Boat Rentals, Sunset Sail Boat rides, Paddle Boards, Kayaks and Parasailing.

At the Marine Science Center our main goal is rescue, rehabilitation and release of sick and injured turtles and birds. You can see our sea turtle patients from the turtle terrace and get a behind the scenes view through the hospital viewing window. In the gallery, guests will also take a journey through Florida marine ecosystems discovering the animals that are indigenous to this area. A hands-on experience awaits you at our stingray and invertebrate touch tanks. Explore the nature trail and climb the observation tower for views of the estuary. Don't forget to walk through the Mary Keller Bird Sanctuary. Here you will see our permanent resident birds that can no longer live in the wild. We offer daily animal education presentations where you will experience up close views of raptors and reptiles. Call for daily presentation times.

Fun Cat Sailing is a sightseeing tour on a 50' catamaran in Ponce Inlet, Florida. Our boat is family-friendly with indoor/outdoor seating, restrooms & kitchen. We offer a "Swim & Sail" during the day and "Sunset" cruise in the evening. You will likely see dolphins, manatees & sea turtles! Our sunset cruise includes soda, beer, wine & snacks. It will be the best thing you'll do your entire vacation

The Ponce Inlet Historic Museum contains two historic Florida Cracker-style cottages that have been restored to their original layout. The Museum is dedicated to education through the preservation and dissemination of the history and cultural heritage of the Town of Ponce Inlet.Museum hours are Monday through Friday from 12:30pm - 4:30pm, Saturday 10:00am - 4:00pm. Admission is free.

The Ponce Preserve is the town's largest park with approximately 41 acres stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Halifax River. Sitting at the heart of this park is the Green Mound State Archaeological Site, an ancient Indian midden. The terrain is varied, from the ocean dunes, through terraced palmetto patches and maritime hammock to the wetlands adjacent to the Halifax River. You'll find many of our native plants in the Preserve including Florida lantana, southern red cedar, cabbage palms, Simpson's stoppers and oak trees. At the base of the Green Mound is a live oak estimated to be more than 350 years old. The Preserve has been added to the East Section of the Great Florida Birding Trail and is an excellent site for bird watching. The parking lot and restrooms on the east side of Peninsula Drive give direct access to the nature trails through the park. The boardwalk begins directly across the street and offers two places to launch canoes and kayaks while meandering one-third of a mile across the marsh out to the Halifax River. Three covered gazebos offer visitors a place to relax and enjoy unspoiled views. Funding for these projects was provided by the Ponce deLeon Inlet & Port District of Volusia County and the Florida Inland Navigation District. The Garden Club of Ponce Inlet provided the benches throughout the park and landscaping at the entrance island. The center portion of the Preserve is home to two nature themed playgrounds, one located near the parking lot and one a short walk along a new trail at the center of the park adjacent to the wildlife observation tower. A covered picnic pavilion is located near the parking lot and playground and fitness stations are located along the trails. On the east side of Atlantic Avenue, a handicapped accessible dune walkover provide access to the pristine beach. There is also a small parking area with handicapped parking available. Funding for the construction of the recreational facilities was provided by the Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program and Volusia ECHO grants.