5 Reasons to Call Greater Daytona, FL, Home

Discover some of this region's enviable qualities.

By Rebecca Treon on May 2, 2023

Nathan Lambrecht

On the surface, the Greater Daytona region has the obvious attractions of warm weather, waterfront properties and expansive beaches. Locals, though, know there’s far more to Volusia County than meets the eye. The area boasts a burgeoning arts and culture scene, affordable places to live, nationally recognized sports facilities and professional sports teams, expanding industries, and plenty of ways to recreate. Read on for an insider’s perspective on five of Greater Daytona’s best local amenities:

1. Arts & Culture

Greater Daytona has a wealth of ways to experience arts and culture, from world-class museums and myriad galleries to historical sites and performing arts venues. Learn about the area’s Black history by following the Share the Heritage Trail, (including a stop at the Smithsonian-affiliated Museum of Arts & Sciences) then stroll through the Dunlawton Sugar Mill Gardens. Visit the Cici and Hyatt Brown Museum of Art before going to a show at the historic Peabody Auditorium, where everyone from Judy Collins to Broadway’s top touring companies have taken the stage.

2. Sports Hype

The Greater Daytona region hosts tournaments on every level and is well-known for the variety and caliber of its sports organizations. There are numerous venues accessible to every type of event; it’s the home of NASCAR, the U.S. headquarters of the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) and the Florida Tennis Center. The region has its own professional sports teams, too, including the Daytona Beach Tortugas, a minor league baseball team and an affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds.

3. More House For Your Money

Housing in the Greater Daytona region is lower than the national average. Zillow reports that the median home price in the region is $352,000, which is below the Florida median of $405,000. Volusia County offers numerous housing options that are relatively affordable and just a short distance from the beach, and many even include waterfront views.

4. Sky-High Innovation

Volusia County is located at the northern point of the Space Triangle — a hub of the national aerospace industry. With the advent of personal space travel, a new aerospace industry is taking shape, and Volusia County wants to play a part. Talent from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is flowing into aerospace, but beyond that, the industry needs numerous other supporting businesses in other sectors — all of which are a boon to the local economy.

5. Recreational Opportunity

The Greater Daytona region is a best-kept secret when it comes to its availability of outdoor recreation options. The beach and the area’s offshore artificial reef system are no-brainers, but there’s so much more to do. The area offers miles of hiking and biking trails, like the Spring-to-Spring and East Central Regional Rail trails. From November to March, hundreds of manatees take refuge at Blue Spring State Park, where visitors can enjoy eco-tours of the area and learn about its flora and fauna.