Definitely a hidden gem on Flagler Ave in NSB, I must of walked by this beautiful tree a thousand…read moretimes and never gave it a second look. After taking a few minutes to check it out closer I assumed it was hundreds of years old, well apparently it's only 36 years and grew from a stump leftover after the freeze of 1989 although many say it's much older and some reference seeing this tree on postcards in the early 1950's. It's definitely worth a few minutes of your time if you're in the area. Although these trees are not native to Florida I'm sure the city will protect it as much as possible for many years to come and although it's thriving this far north who knows what Mother Nature has in store. The Placard Reads: The Banyan Tree The Banyan tree, like the rubber tree, is from the Indian subcontinent and is a member of the fig tree family. Banyan trees were brought to Florida by the Ford Motor Company in the early 1900s in an attempt to source a faster-growing alternative to the rubber tree for automobile tire production. Although the experiment was not successful, some specimens from that time still remain along our southern Gulf Coast. Banyan trees don't usually thrive in Central Florida; however, this one does! It's been speculated that this tree was brought here from South Florida in the early 20th century and planted in the front yard of a home that once stood nearby. Today, our tree is considered to be the oldest and largest Banyan tree found outside of South Florida. City of New Smyrna Beach Local Landmark Site

Awesome and beautiful old tree alive and healthy. Beautifully right beside the main street…read more Beautiful area, very well kept. Just discovered today for the first time.

Most people probably aren't fond of courthouses but this particular trip brought us here for a…read morewedding. My wife's sister got married! There are actually two courthouses close to each other in this little town. One where all the business happens and the other which is historic(it seems that it might be used for something still but I'm not sure-it does have some cute and quaint things around it though). We were in the first courthouse for the wedding and nearby the other for photo opportunities. The wedding courthouse has a separate room just for ceremonies. And surprisingly, no appointment needed! You just show up and get married. I was both surprised by the no appointment thing and that they had a separate room specifically for the ceremony. We walked around the area for a few hours and probably would've walked around more if other plans weren't on the agenda.

Lots of signs to guide you through the courthouse. Theres also an info desk on the first floor if…read moreyou need extra direction. Clean courthouse.

Is this really MTV's Moon Man?…read more Yes, this giant, silver astronaut made of Styrofoam and holding an American flag was built for MTV and is safely locked inside the backlot at Acme Industrial Surplus in Sanford. The 15-foot styrofoam astronaut has been towering over this business's fence for several years and has been providing photo-ops for roadside attraction seekers or those by happenstance catch a glimpse of him. He first appeared at the 2004 MTV Video Music Awards in Miami this event was notable because it was the first time the ceremony was held outside of New York City and Los Angeles and just to make you feel old, OutKast took home Video of the Year for "Hey Ya". MTV was launched on August 1, 1981, the original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by television personalities known as "video jockeys," (VJs) it's oblivious this format was abandoned about the same time "Moon Man" was given a life sentence to rot and decay in this company's bone-yard..... but not to worry you have plenty of time to get here and check it out, although Styrofoam breaks into pieces easily, it takes about 500 years for one styrofoam cup to dissolve, so Moon Man isn't going anywhere soon, that's unless the current owner decides to take him to a landfill, that's some responsibility now since the whole world is watching.

This "attraction" was a humorous adventure to say the least. I kind of felt like I was in an…read moreepisode of Dexter and was being lured to discrete location to be robbed and murdered. This is not something you need to see while in Sanford. It's located in an unidentified metal yard. And once you actually locate the Moon Man there is no place to park and admire him. The best view of him is from a round about off the highway that you can't park or stop in. Overall, disappointing and a little terrifying. Even at 1 in the afternoon.

The local library is such an underrated resource. It's my happy place. This library has many…read moreactivities for the kids. The librarians are too sweet. I've been in school for years - currently working on JD. This library is clean and has a good noise level. I look forward to bringing my kids to this library when I have some. It's a wonderful place to study, and has a ton of material

If you are not a Volusia county resident you have to pay to use the library. I believe we were…read morequoted $30/ 6 months. At least it's an option! The service was prompt and kind. The lady at the front desk was super helpful. You can still use the computers and WiFi - I think it was $5 / day. They had a super cool Game of Thrones display - nice to get people into the books if they've only seen the tv show. The library was large, clean, and well-organized.

I love history so therefore I love historical sites and I often seek such sites out when I'm in the…read morearea or in this case right down the road from my home. Although a little off the beaten path I have driven through this neighborhood a number of times and today I decided to stop and take a closer look. It's relatively easy to find but one should obey the speed limit and show some respect. Located in the middle of the street on a tiny tree and flower filled dirt island on Canova Drive in New Smyrna Beach, the memorial is dedicated to Charles Dummett, a teenager who died in 1860. The Historic Account The son of Douglas D. Dummett, a landowner, and Leandra "Anna" Fernandez, Charles Dummett died when he was just 15 years old. While the exact cause of his death remains a mystery, most accounts attribute it to a hunting accident. The elder Dummett was said to be so saddened by the loss of his son that he built the young man's grave right where his body was found. It's remained there ever since. In the 1950s, developers who were working in the area decided to build a road around the memorial instead of embarking on the long legal process of getting permission to move it. According to a 2019 article in the Daytona Beach News Journal, an anonymous artist added a statue of a dog to the gravesite and on most days there are still fresh flowers laid on the tomb...

I went and did one of those candlelight concerts. It was fantastic great setting well set up…read more Plenty of parking. Acoustics were phenomenal.

The venue is situated on the water with great views. We visited to see a Candlelight Concert of…read moreVivaldi's Four Seasons. The prices were fair. We paid for mid level tickets, so our view was decent. The chairs are individual, so you're able to have space. The audience has a 360 view of the musicians, and I didn't think there was a best view, but I realized it's from a side that view the center--so you could see the faces of all the musicians. We had a wonderful time. Great date night!

Had to mail postcards, no line, they had postcard stamps, & envelopes…read more Friendly & quick service. This building is beautiful- a lot of history here. Located in a vibrant up & coming part of Daytona beach. This area is a "wild place" twice a year (March & October" - quiet now.

One of the coolest old buildings I've ever been in. We recommended to them to give tours. Such…read morea pretty place

The Port Orange library is, unfortunately, the noisiest library I have ever visited. What should be…read morea quiet and welcoming space for reading, studying, and reflection has instead become disruptive and distracting. After raising my concerns with staff, I was told. 'That's the way it is now". For a public library, and institution meant to foster learning and concentration, this response was disappointing. Libraries should uphold their role as sanctuaries of peace and focus, not places where noise is normalized. I hope leadership will reconsider how the environment is managed so that patrons can once again enjoy the quiet, respectful atmosphere that a library is meant to provide.

I really enjoy this library; it is easy to access, they have very comfortable hours, and it is very…read morewell run. It is also very quiet and pleasant inside. The staff is very capable and always ready to help you. It has always been this way as far as I know, and I have been a Volusia County Library patron since 1983.