The NCA & NDA Collegiate Cheer and Dance Championship, produced by the National Cheerleaders Association and National Dance Alliance, will highlight Spring Family Beach Break in the Daytona Beach area.
Hundreds of teams from colleges and universities across the country and their families will attend the event scheduled for April 10-13 at the Ocean Center and Daytona Beach Bandshell. A record turnout is expected for the competition, which has called Daytona Beach home for the past 28 years.
Another significant college event will be the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) on March 23-27 at the Ocean Center. The NCAA postseason men’s basketball tournament will have a 16-team single-elimination bracket featuring top colleges from throughout the country.
Throughout Spring Family Beach Break, no matter the age and interest of the multi-generational families that descend upon the Daytona Beach area, they will discover countless activities to see and do in the destination that will make for long-lasting family memories.
Topping the list of opportunities will be enjoying the 23 miles of pristine white sand beaches. Whether you are looking for something high paced or slow and relaxing, adventure awaits with swimming, biking, fishing, surfing, parasailing, paddle boarding, kayaking, jet skis, boats and more.
After enjoying a beach day, there are loads of fun activities for families to explore within the Daytona Beach area including several new attractions.
Just Opened! Daytona Aquarium and Rainforest Adventure: This 55,000-square foot facility provides interactive educational experience featuring animals from both land and sea. Visitors can explore close to 40 separate exhibits including a 100,000-gallon shark exhibit and two touch pools including a 12,000-gallon stingray touch pool. There are also habitats for alligators, frogs, and lizards.
Megalodon at the Museum of Arts and Sciences (MOAS): A Smithsonian-affiliated museum, MOAS has a new exhibit that is taking guests into the world of the Megalodon, the gigantic prehistoric shark that once commanded the world’s oceans. Visitors will be in awe as they walk through a full-scale sculptural replica of the 60-foot-long apex predator and explore the life of this fantastic ancient creature.
New Riverfront Esplanade: Located in downtown Daytona Beach, the recently completed Riverfront Esplanade is a beautiful outdoor space to enjoy complete with walking trails, a creek, waterfalls, great assortment of flowers, plants and tree and even a splash pad for the kids to enjoy. It is set along the banks of the scenic Intracoastal Waterway, and adjacent to dozens of eateries, shops, galleries and more.
Raptors at the Marine Science Center: Located in Ponce Inlet, this fascinating facility has a new exhibit dedicated to the permanent raptor residents of the center, who, due to injuries, cannot be returned to the wild. The carefully crafted habit provides a safe and enriching environment for these majestic birds.
More water-themed fun at Daytona Lagoon Waterpark: Little ones can explore the Treasure Lagoon Wave Pool or Castaway Children’s Play area while those looking for a rush, can ride multiple thrill slides such as Poseidon’s Pass, Adventure Mountain, Kraken’s Revenge, Shaka Halfpipe or Blackbeard’s Revenge. The Family Entertainment Center is also open daily and offers laser tag, arcade, go-karts, Sky Maze, rock wall, and more.
Shopping abounds: In between all the fun on the beach and attractions, there’s plenty of time to shop. Daytona Beach has several shopping districts to choose from including the Riverfront Shops of Daytona Beach, ONE DAYTONA, the retail, dining, and entertainment district located across from Daytona International Speedway and Tomoka Town Center and the Tanger Outlets conveniently located at I-95 and LPGA Blvd.
Events: Information about these family-friendly events and more can be found at DaytonaBeach.com/events:
· March 22-24, Spring Turkey Run car show at Daytona International Speedway
· March 23-27, College Basketball Invitational (CBI) at Ocean Center
· March 30, Easter Beach Run 4-mile race and 2-mile run/walk at the Daytona Beach Boardwalk
· April 6-7, ONE DAYTONA Art Festival
· April 9, Opening night with the Daytona Tortugas at Jackie Robinson Ballpark
· April 10-13, NCA & NDA Collegiate Cheer and Dance Championship, produced by the National Cheerleaders Association and National Dance Alliance
· April 13-14, Daytona Beach Arts Fest, Downtown Daytona Beach
· April 19-22, P1AquaX Daytona Beach Grand Prix jet ski competition on ocean near Hard Rock Hotel Daytona Beach
· April 20-21, Ormond Beach Celtic Festival at The Casements
· April 24-27, Regional Dance America (RDA) National Festival, Ocean Center, Peabody Auditorium
· April 19-28, Jeep Beach
