Day trips and state parks

I%26#39;m house exchanging to stay in Port orange for 2 weeks. I intend to visit discovery Cove and Sea World. None of the other parks though as I visited California last year and did them all then. I%26#39;m taking a trip up to Clearwater to swim with manatee (staying at Plantation Golf resort overnight) and driving down to Homestead for a couple of days to see the anhinga trail and snorkel a bit. (Any recommendations for hotels in the Homestead area would be welcome) I would also welcome any ideas on state parks for day trips or nice little towns in the surrounding area. Help and info is much appreciated

Day trips and state parks

When in Port Orange you can visit St. Augustine, the oldest city in the U.S - just 45min-1hr drive away. Or go to Kennedy Space Center, just about an hour drive south of P.O.

You can also checkout Blue Spring State Park in Orange City, about 30min. away, you can ride in a canoe, swim and watch the manatees. There is also the De Leon Springs State Park, just 30 miles away.

Day trips and state parks

Ponce Inlet lighthouse, Angel and Phelps free chocolate factory tour, Silver Springs near Ocala and while you are there, Don Garlits%26#39; drag race museum, lots of old drag cars and antique vehicles. Gatorland between Orlando and Kissimmee. All of these have reviews on TA if you are interested.

Also can check out:

The Casements in Ormond Beach - former home of John D. Rockefeller volusia.org/echotourism/…casements.htm

Dunlawton Sugar Mill Botanical Gardens in Port Orange

www.dunlawtonsugarmillgardens.org/

The Gamble Place also in Port Orange

volusia.org/echotourism/cultural/gamble.htm

This site is helpful with local things to do

http://volusia.org/echotourism/highlights.htm

Maybe an airboat ride if there%26#39;s time and you%26#39;re into those types of things - most are between Daytona and Orlando (I%26#39;ve never been, but plan to one day!)

www.centralfloridaairboattours.com (haven%26#39;t heard anything about this company, they were just the 1st ones on my google search)