Daytona 500 rained out, now what? Indoor activities in Daytona Beach for NASCAR fans
To the disappointment of 100,000-plus fans, the Daytona 500, which was scheduled for a green flag at 3:11 p.m. Sunday, has been rained out. The new start time is Monday at 4 p.m.
Consequently, a lot of folks may have found themselves without much to do. Here’s a roundup of some ways to spend a rainy afternoon, and it’s all practically within a stone’s throw of the Speedway.
Daytona Beach shopping
Want something a tad cheaper than what you find at an official NASCAR merchandise shop?
One of the most interesting attractions is the shopping sensory overload of the Daytona Flea & Farmers Market.
Akin to a yard sale on steroids, writes the News-Journal's Jim Abbott, the weekly marketplace stretches across 40 acres next to Interstate 95 at 1425 Tomoka Farms Road. It attracts almost 2 million annual visitors with its array of 650 registered vendors.
RAINOUT INFO: Is the Daytona 500 rescheduled? Yes. NASCAR has moved the Great American Race to Monday
It's open Sunday until 5 p.m. with free admission and parking.
Also, don’t forget the Volusia Mall just catty-corner from the Speedway. It’s open until 6 p.m. on Sundays.
Daytona betting
The Daytona Beach Racing and Card Club — yes, the old “dog track” — is loaded with poker tables and is open practically around the clock.
If you’re in the mood for some Texas Hold ’Em and perhaps you’re feeling lucky, it’s just around the corner from the Speedway, at 960 South Williamson. Click here for more info.
Daytona movie theaters
Maybe you’ve never been beyond the Bass Pro or barbecue joint at the One Daytona complex directly across the street from the track. Go to the end of the main street through the middle of the property and you’ll run into a 12-screen movie theater.
Here’s your link to the website so you can see what’s playing.
Psst: They have a bar!
Bowling in Daytona Beach
One Daytona also has a small bowling alley within that big arcade called Game Time. It has 12 lanes and here’s the website for pricing, etc.
If the place is packed, there's another bowling center 17 miles west of the Speedway in DeLand. Here's the Sunshine Bowling Center's website.
Daytona shooting ranges
Volusia Top Gun, Daytona Beach’s indoor shooting range, offers 16 state-of-the-art shooting lanes as well as a quality store for all of your shooting needs.
One of you wants to shoot and the others don’t? Top Gun also features a quality restaurant, the Double Barrel Grill. Tip: If you hoist a beer (or any drink, for that matter) before visiting the shooting lanes, they won’t let you in the range.
Here’s your order: Shoot, then shots.
Top Gun is at 2900 Bellevue Avenue. Find more info here.
Daytona museums: Check out MOAS
If you are looking for something a bit more intellectually stimulating, consider the Museum of Arts and Sciences, which is open until 5 p.m.
The museum has a wide range of permanent collections including African, American, Chinese, Cuban, Florida and Decorative Arts. Explore a large collection of Americana including one of the largest collections of Coca-Cola memorabilia in the world. You can take your children to the Charles and Linda Williams Children's Museum for hands-on exploration and learning.
The museum is located at 352 South Nova Road in Daytona Beach and its hours of operation are Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Things to do in Daytona Beach with Daytona 500 postponed by rain
