The Pacetti Hotel and Museum opened to the public in November 2024. I'm so glad I overheard someone…read moretalking about the museum when I was visiting the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse. It is across the street from the lighthouse but be on the lookout because you may miss it as you can't see the house from the street. You can walk over from the lighthouse or drive as there is a parking lot. You enter the museum from the front of the house by the water. Stepping up on the porch and looking out over the water helps to better understand why the house was built in this location as it is a gorgeous waterfront property! Be sure to start by watching the video as it will give you some background before you take the self-guided tour. You could spend hours inside reading and checking out all the different rooms. One of the things that stood out to me the most were the gorgeous wood floors;) And something that struck me as odd were the two sets of staircases. The museum volunteer explained that the front part was the original house and the back was an addition for the hotel. They were originally two separate buildings but were combined to one. The two rooms upstairs in the front would have been the best rooms to rent as they had the most gorgeous views. The hotel was a fishing resort at one time and later hosted the Cincinnati Reds as the last owner also owned the team. If these walls could talk lol! I highly recommend checking out this museum as it is also one of the oldest structures in Florida. So much history! Your entry fee to the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse also includes entry to the museum.

I used to ride my motorcycle out to this Lighthouse just for the ride, then grab a quick bite…read morebefore heading back home. It was on the list of places to explore while in the area with Nancy. Then we finally planned a day where we could shop/play in the area and also visit the Lighthouse. It's definitely worth the stop. The Lighthouse is Florida's tallest lighthouse and is one of the best preserved in the country. The $7 Admission gets you access to the lighthouse and the museum. For $5 more you can gain access to the General Pacetti Hotel Museum. If you're a Ponce Inlet Resident, admission is free. Its 203 steps to the top of the lighthouse and once there you have a spectacular view of the Atlantic Ocean, Ponce Inlet, the Intercoastal waterway, and Daytona Beach. The museum allows visitors to explore the grounds and keeper homes. The Fresnel Lens is on exhibit which is a great way to lean how curved lenses generate powerful clear beams of light with minimal distortion. There are plenty of great photo op areas just be sure to bring the family on sunny days so you get the best outcome. All-in-all, a great experience all around and I highly recommend stopping by if you're in the area.

This was a lot of fun, and completely on a whim! We were visiting my daughter and new grandson and…read moredecided to stay at a nearby resort. Looking for some activities, this came up in our search, so we made an afternoon of it. First off, the captain and crew was comical and they made the experience that much more memorable. We seen turtles, dolphins, and a few manatees! On top of that, we debarked on a small island along our tour, got out, stretched the legs, and took in some amazing views. The Mangroves were a sight to be seen. I can just imagine all the sea creature they give habitat to. We also seen some amazing boats, as well as, some interesting... uh... placement of sailboats. Great history of the local storms and the havoc they wreaked! Thank you for the fun experience for the Familia!! As always, enjoy and Happy sailing!

Dolphin and manatee boat tour was good. So was parasailing. All of the tour guides were awesome and…read morefun! Cute little waiting spot on the river for sightseeing while u wait.

I've paddled the Emerald Cut a few times now. Initially I didn't like the idea of paying to launch…read moremy own paddleboard. However, it's only $10 now that I have my own life jacket (saving me additional cost of $5 to use one of theirs, as required). Well worth the low cost for some soul-enriching, communing with nature. I have never made a reservation. I normally arrive around 10:30, most recently on a Friday. Parked for free on Baptist Camp Rd. Just a bit of a walk from there with my inflated paddleboard, but I don't mind the extra exercise. You can unload your stuff closer, if preferable. There are port-a-potties available. You can count on there being a line in the check-in office. Various recreation supplies are available there for purchase. The process moves reasonably enough. A reservation will guarantee your entrance, however, and possibly aide quicker personal info collection. I always plan to do the Emerald Cut in roughly 3 hours round-trip, allowing myself several stops to enjoy the surroundings. You do run into (quite literally at times) novice paddlers along the way, which can be a bit tricky, yet not a real nuisance for me. In general, there's friendliness along the waterway. Slighty rowdy, party vibes in some spots, but also opportunities for solace and zen in various nooks. Encountering wildlife, fragrant elderberry, and other captivating flora along this stretch is always gratifying. It's a popular recreation destination for good reason.

Many tourists don't realize Florida is home to stunning crystal-clear spring rivers--perfect for…read moreswimming, kayaking, and tubing aka "hidden gems". My Hubby and I love kayaking, so we booked an excursion months in advance for Rock Springs through TripAdvisor. Our Tour Operator was Get Up And Go Kayaking located at Kings Landing in Apopka, FL. I LOVE saying Apopka ;) The good news: Apopka is a quick 1 hour drive from Orlando. Make sure you don't miss the turn to King's Landing, because the entrance is located on a narrow dirt road. You must drive past Kelly Park (which fills up fast). There is a Park Ranger located here who will guide you to King's Landing. As you get closer and if you see a parking spot, grab it! Check in is located in the Cabin like office where you will have to sign a waiver. If you do not want to take a clear bottom, guided Kayak tour, you can either rent or BYO Kayak versus taking a semi private, clear, guided kayak tour. NOTE: ONLY use their Sunscreen/lotion which is provided at no cost. It protects the wildlife and the Springs. We wanted the full experience as we have previously enjoyed renting clear Kayaks. Our guide for the morning was: Megan, who was fantastic! Full of energy, information and helpful tidbits about the Springs and its human and wildlife inhabitants. Our group was small and capped at 10. We paddled through both narrow and open stretches, and stopped to swim in the warm, crystal-clear water. One highlight was a banyan tree with an 8-foot natural "jump hole"--such a cool experience! It was a serene, memorable day, and fun fact: this is the very spring featured in the Visit Orlando commercials! Yeah, definitely take a day away from crowded Orlando to relax and enjoy Mother Nature! You will Thank Me ;)

Nice friendly place, well kept, nice clean bathrooms, great place for folks of all ages. Super cute…read morelog cabins that provide an affordable alternative to tenting! Amazing staff!

It's a nice park. I'm sure that where your lot is makes a difference…read more I like that the lots were spaced a bit and we weren't packed in like sardines and had lots of shade and greenery instead of just looking at other RV'S cramped together, row after row. Of note & sort of charming, were a couple of free range beautiful chickens and a gorgeous rooster that make their way through the park periodically. We are new at this and have only stayed at a few places close to home to try to get a handle on the RV life. We have a new Winnebaga Intent and there is a lot to learn. We stayed for a month and were parked across from someone who lives there permanently who had some very cute kittens running around for entertainment. Only 4 miles from a very nice beach community as well as the beach itself! Nice amenities. Very clean. Friendly, helpful staff. Not fancy but pleasant and peaceful. What is not to like?

Warning . This park floods !!!. Despite multiple attempts to fix this long standing ongoing issue…read moreby contacting corporate tenants have been left to cry upon def ears . This park has been extremely neglected. Management will put false violations on homes. They also discuss sensitive confidential information about their tenants to other tenants . The rent is consistently raised and they issued tenants 40 page long prospectus/ lease agreement that is unfair and rules in corporate favor and leaves home owners with little to no protection. The grounds are constantly saturated. Trees are dead , termite infested and root rotten. The stagnant water is causing mold and the waters always under boil water notice . Emails and complains go un answered and the electric goes out every time it rains . The new management tenants worked so hard to get is buddy buddy with the old management that neglected us for years . Run don't walk

Absolute worst place i've ever stayed. I wouldn't know where…read moreto begin with bad it was. Also, Management was horrible, making quality of life horrible.

Had a great time on their dolphin boat tour ! It's a nearly 2 hour boat ride that takes you down to…read morePonce Inlet and it's well worth the money ! I do need to start carrying cash on me so I can actually tip.

Had a good time on our recent boat ride. Saw lots of dolphins and all types of birds…read more The tour guide did an awesome job describing the history of New Smyrna Beach. We also had the opportunity to taste some honey made by the local bees!!!

We have been members at this location for about a year, The staff is amazing, the boats are all…read morenew or newer and run great, the docks are easy to park in. All the locations we have been to have been amazing. Super happy we joined the club and sold out boat. Now we just get up and go do our thing. If your thinking of a boat club think Freedom Boat Club

We were visiting from San Diego and decided to take a boat out from this location…read more Had a really great time. This whole area is beautiful and the staff is great, starting with Scarlett with the reservations as well as Mike was outstanding at the docks. If you are looking to get into boating without the hassle, I highly recommend you give them a call.

Great boat and friendly crew! Taught us first timers what we needed to know and helped us out when…read moreneeded. Entire family had a great time!

The crew was great. I took my grandpa, who has limited mobility and uses a walker, everyone was so…read morehelpful and accommodating. We had a great time, and if we had longer here in Florida, I would definitely take him again.

Every local should invest in a tour!…read more Hunter helped me find a key for my New fin, Abby taught me how to screw it on and Kristen led our tour and provided enough knowledge of the local waterways to give me the confidence to do it on my own. She also was very patient with the youngsters and new paddlers. They never answer the phone or return emails though! Best to reach the shop via social media. Overall an easy experience with tons of support. Should you need it :)

Fantastic experience! Wanted to try SUP for a while and found this place via a Living Social…read morepromotion. Made a reservation for 4th of July weekend a few weeks in advance. The excursion is for about two hours of paddle boarding, but we were advised to be there 15-30 minutes before to prep. We needed time to apply sunblock and put all of our non-waterproof items in the car. We were told that if you don't want it wet, then don't bring it on the board with you. I checked in at the front desk with Eric and signed a standard waiver, then waited for our guide to round us up. Our group of three, along with another couple, were escorted to a dock area by SUP guide Laurel. Laurel was pretty cool-very chill, patient lady, great personality, and a kind teacher. We were fitted for a single adjustable paddle size, then on to the boards to paddle ourselves into nature. It was so helpful to have Lauren guide us on how to get on/off the board and how to start off balancing the right way. We also received instructions on how to row, turn, and backup using the paddle. We journeyed up the New Smyrna North Causeway towards the drawbridge. We spotted many Dolphins along the way and breezed past waterfront homes, small islands, and some boats and other paddle boarders. Sometimes we got fatigued and took short breaks by sitting or kneeling on the board while we continued to paddle forward. We had a paddling break by the North Causeway bridge on a sandbar. Laurel took some photos and provided us with water from her cooler. After that we went forward on the loop course towards the dock where we started off. Some important things-you may need water shoes, depending on your tolerance of having your feet in an intracoastal waterway. Don't bring anything that cannot be submerged in water. Put on sunblock and bring sunglasses. Consider wearing a hat and just a swimsuit. It feels very liberating in swimwear, just hanging out in nature somewhat scantily clad. Bring cash to tip your guide well. Also you can buy the photos of your experience on a thumb drive for $30 at the end. I really can't wait to try this again, maybe next time unguided. It felt so free and fun to glide on the water, this could be my new favorite hobby! Great day out.