A Resident Shares Her Favorite Things About Living in the Greater Daytona Region 

Jeff Adkins

Jessica Gow, a land use and environmental law attorney and partner at Cobb Cole in Daytona Beach, grew up near Ocala in Central Florida before attending law school in Tallahassee. At the urging of a law school friend, Gow relocated to Daytona seven years ago for a position at her firm and has no plans to leave. 

“I’ve been all around Florida, but now that I’ve landed here, I’ll never leave,” she says. 

Gow shares her favorite things about her beloved home, from restaurants to hiking trails. Read on to get her take. 

Courtesy of Jessica Gow

What’s your favorite local restaurant and what dish do you always order there? 

My favorite restaurant is probably Bake Chop in DeLand. It’s a farm-to-table spot that’s owned by a local family. They just opened another offshoot called Hunters & Gatherers that’s also in DeLand. They just have high-quality ingredients, great food and a great environment. Their onion rings are to die for, and they have a meal called The Boulevard that is a chicken special served with herbed goat cheese and balsamic reduction. It’s just amazing! 

Is there a hidden gem of a coffee shop that you love? 

There are two coffee shops I love to go to. One is Pines to Palms Coffee in Ormond Beach. They have a little portion of their shop that’s a local clothing boutique, so that’s fun – you can get a cute top and a coffee. Another local shop is Gold Leaf Coffee in downtown Ormond Beach. They make all their bagels in-house and are just sort of a community gem. 

Where do you go to see live music or entertainment? 

The biggest entertainment venue here is the Peabody Auditorium in Daytona Beach. It’s on Beachside, right across from the Ocean Center, which also has some great performances. They have everything from the “Mean Girls” musical to fun magic shows and comedy acts. They have a pretty wide assortment on their playbill and it’s a historic building. It’s a great way to see downtown. 

Jeff Adkins

What’s a great place to spend a rainy afternoon? 

I’m kind of biased because my office is located here, but by the Daytona International Speedway, we have a CMX Daytona Luxury 12 Theatres, and there are an assortment of little shops and restaurants all within walking distance. On a rainy day, I’d catch an afternoon showing, get a frozen ice from Jeremiah’s and pop into a boutique. Then, I’d go to a local coffee shop with a good book. 

Are there any dog-friendly hiking trails or parks you recommend? 

Volusia just opened up a section of the beach as a dog beach in Ormond Beach by Andy Romano Beachfront Park, where you can take your pup. Right before you get to New Smyrna, in southeast Volusia, there’s Spruce Creek Park, right on the water off of U.S. 1. Dogs are allowed there, and there are some great hiking spots. We take our dogs there all the time. 

Nathan Lambrecht

What’s a lesser-known spot in town that you think deserves more attention? 

Over in DeLand, there’s a little stained-glass studio called Holidaze, and you can sign up for a class and spend the afternoon making your own stained glass trinket or you can sign up for a continuing series of classes. In Port Orange, just a little south of Daytona, there’s a small Korean barbecue restaurant called Chop Chop Korean that has private karaoke rooms. It’s a blast, and I feel like a lot of people don’t know it exists. But you can rent out a private room and only embarrass yourself in front of your friends and really have fun, with great food and drinks, too. 

Is there a unique local tradition or event that visitors should know about? 

The classics are Bike Week and Biketoberfest. If you’re traveling to Volusia County during that time, there will be a lot of traffic, but the events they host to go along with those are really fun. We have the Daytona 500, and even if you’re not a fan of racing, you should go at least once. My personal favorite is the DeLand Outdoor Art Festival, where they have artists from all over the state. If you look at any weekend events calendar, there’s always something going on.