Deland Area Activities & Attractions

A Small-Town Treasure

One of the nicest things about Highland Park Fish Camp is proximity to downtown DeLand, just 4 miles away. DeLand is one of the state’s small town treasures. DeLand is the county seat as well as a college town, with Stetson University’s campus classified as a National Historic District. Visitors enjoy notable gift shops and quaint restaurants.

Founded in 1876 by Henry DeLand, the City is proud of its unique heritage and is rich in history and culture. DeLand delights visitors with all the possibilities and hospitality a small Southern town can offer. Volusia County has over 400 years of history. Early Native Americans, explorers from Spain, colonists from France, and settlers from England have left their mark on Florida.

The earliest occupants of what we know now as the City DeLand left little record and for untold ages lived and died here prior to the coming of the Europeans. They left immense mounds full of oyster shells, pieces of pottery, and weapons of war, bones and articles of domestic use. 

The pioneers were self-sufficient. They raised their own food, made their own clothes; they carved their homes out of the Florida hammock. They stayed close to their homes and made their own entertainment.  

The area now known as DeLand was once called Persimmon Hollow. Wild persimmons used to grow in this area in abundance. After the end of the Civil War, each year brought increasing numbers of pioneers seeking to build a future for themselves.

Here are a few favorite attractions and activities.

Biking

You'll discover a different side of Florida on our trails that wind along side the magnificent St. Johns River and our local, county, state and national parks. Be sure to make plans to stop and have a picnic or a refreshing swim along the way. Come stay with us and experience what makes the the Highland Park Fish Camp so special and why people really do discover their happiness here. Our abundant and varied cycling trails near by offer something for bikers of all ages and abilities.

The  Spring-to-Spring Trail and the East Central Regional Rail Trail are in the process of being completed, and they run right by our entrance road.   They will  offer miles of recreational enjoyment as they traverse through shaded tree canopies, open prairie, cypress swamp and magnificent vistas of pristine lakes and the St. Johns River.

When complete, the Spring-to-Spring Trail will stretch 26 miles from Gemini Springs Park in DeBary to DeLeon Springs State Park located in DeLeon Springs. To date, Volusia County has completed several segments of the trail totaling nearly 15 miles. In addition, five trailheads have been built for your convenience at DeBary Hall Historic Site, Gemini Springs Park, Lake Monroe Park, Lake Beresford Park, Blue Spring State Park and along Grand Avenue in Glenwood.

Golf

Victoria Hills Golf Club is located in the quaint college town of DeLand, Florida. This beautiful 18-hole, par 72 golf course is surrounded by hundreds of oak hammocks and Augusta pines, carved meticulously from a sandy terrain and buffered by pristine lakes and flowering greens. The views that a golfer experiences at Victoria Hills Golf Club are stunning. The challenging course tests a golfer's skills throughout its eighteen holes.

Restaurants

When you're on vacation and you don't feel like cooking, DeLand has many restaurants with a short drive from the Highland Park Fish Camp. From a quick bite at a deli to enjoying award-winning barbecue, sit down to variety. Here are a few of our great eateries:

Shopping

Shopping in downtown DeLand is only minutes away from the Highland Park Fish Camp. In DeLand you will find world class dining and a wide variety of merchants and specialty shops.

DeLand is a cultural center with six museums and is the home of Stetson University! Each year DeLand hosts a variety of cultural events including the premier DeLand Fall Festival of the Arts, which is held in November.

Each month we have the DeLand Art Walk and 4th Friday in Artisan Alley where the town comes together for a night of culture, music and fun.

SkyDiving

DeLand is the Skydiving Capital of the World.  People from all over the globe come to DeLand to take advantage of the "world class" skydiving facilities.
 
Skydive Deland offers tandem skydiving training for your first jump experience. Instruction begins with a short briefing, then you and your instructor share a tandem harness, freefalling from nearly 14,000 feet at speeds of 120 mph or more. Through the tandem program you will jump with an instructor using a parachute system specially built for two.

Birdwatching

Highland Park Fish Camp adjoins the Lake Woodruff Wildlife Refuge that was established in 1964 to provide habitat for migrating and wintering birds. The wetlands provides nesting, overwintering and stopover habitat during migration for songbirds, migratory waterfowl, shorebirds, wading birds and raptors (more than 215 bird species have been counted).

Wildlife

Highland Park Fish Camp is adjacent to the Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge contains over 5,000 acres of freshwater and more than 50 miles of waterways. 

Nature lovers will enjoy the serenity of our camp. The wildlife is abundant and you're likely to catch a glimpse of an animal foraging in their natural habitat.

Some of the species known to inhabit the refuge include the American Alligator, swallow tail kite, wood stork, black crown herring and many more species of wading birds and turtles. 

Beaches

New Smyrna Beach

Just 45 minutes from Highland Park Fish Camp, New Smyrna Beach offers blue skies over 13 miles of white sand Beach, consistently voted one of the "Best Beaches." New Smyrna Beach lays claim to the best Florida offers--excellent backwater and offshore fishing, golf, historical sites, cultural events and eclectic shopping and dining experiences along historical Flagler Avenue and Canal Street.

Daytona Beach

Daytona Beach is only 30 minutes away from Highland Park Fish Camp. Spend a day relaxing on "The World's Most Famous Beach" and get away from it all. Our 23 miles of sandy, white beaches are open to pedestrians 24/7 with free access!

Cars are permitted in designated areas of the beach from sunrise to sunset, tidal conditions permitting. Visit Daytona Beach and find out why people love to vacation here.

Nightlife

We don't roll up the streets at five o'clock like some other places. From cinema, theater and performing arts to comedy clubs, alternative cafes and chic lounges, there's plenty of fun to be had.

Here are some places to try:

Local Events

DeLand Spring Events

  • Head out on the highway for the DeLand Bike Rally. Held during the first weekend of Bike Week, the rally features live music, vendors, food, a beer garden, pro-am bike show and thousands of motorcycles. Downtown DeLand

  • You'll know that spring has sprung at this family-friendly festival with hands-on demonstrations, off-site field trips, children's activities, wildflower and gardening vendors and entertainment. Downtown DeLand

  • You have never seen anything like this parade! Dogs of all sizes and breeds, more than 30,000 in fact, parade down MainStreet in their Mardi Gras finery. After the parade, chow down on some Mardi Gras food, visit the kids' area and enjoy the live music.

  • Expect an entire day of family fun entertainment! Presented by the Volusia County Cattlemen's Association, this rodeo has been around for 75 years and still features good ol' fashioned bull riding, barrel racing, calf roping, sack sled races and greased pig races for the kids. Volusia County Fairgrounds, DeLand.

DeLand Summer Events

  • You do not need to be a runner for the Micro-Marathon!

    Discover some of the top spots in Historic Downtown DeLand, with numerous "Hydration Stations" along the way to keep you refreshed with your favorite beverages.

  • Every 3rd Saturday Night from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. Downtown DeLand

  • Get out your grass skirts, tropical hats, Hawaiian shirts and leis! MainStreet DeLand Association's Tropical Nights is every July.  Thousands of revelers will hit the streets of downtown DeLand from 6pm-9pm in search of hula, conga and crazy tropical hats. The steel drum band, Tropical Hammer, will once again play on West Indiana Avenue.  There will be limbo contests, hula hoop showdowns, kids' activities and conga lines.  The downtown DeLand merchants will offer refreshments, food & drink specials, sales and discounts.  Bring the whole family for a fun night out!

DeLand Fall Events

  • Voted 'Best Florida Outdoor Fine Arts Festival' by Florida Living Magazine, DeLand’s Fall Festival of the Arts a great way to start the holiday shopping season. This is a juried show featuring over 200 national and international artists of various mediums so you will find the best of the best. Enjoy live entertainment, exceptional food and hands-on art workshops for children. Downtown DeLand

  • Featuring hundreds of crafters, live musical entertainment, hands-on demonstrations, a cool kids' play area, and great food, the DeLand Craft Show is held annually in late September.

DeLand Winter Events

  • Voted one of the best county fairs in Florida, the Volusia County Fair has all the staple ingredients, hair-raising rides, tricky carnival games, yummy fair food, traditional livestock shows and a variety of entertainment. Volusia County Fairgrounds, DeLand.

  • The largest one-day music festival in the Southeast, the DeLand Original Music Festival is 12 hour musical marathon showcasing original music including rock, folk, blues, Americana, jazz, punk, electronic, hip hop, country and blends of everything in-between. Downtown DeLand

  • Florida history and folk culture come alive at the Country Jamboree through more than 100 historical demonstrators, re-enactors, artisans and tradespeople. Continuous performances by 150 Florida musicians, historical exhibits, storytelling, hands-on children's activities and Florida Cracker style food transport you back in time. Pioneer Settlement, Barberville

  • A re-creation of World War II vintage socials for military personnel, the Big Band Dance benefits the DeLand Naval Air Station Museum and features tunes from America's musical past, So put on your 1940s attire and get ready to jitterbug.

  • Here in West Volusia the holidays wouldn't be complete without our annual boat parade. Limited only by imagination, each of the themed entries sparkles with thousands of lights.

Daytona Events

  • 'The Great American Race,' 43 of the best stock car drivers in the world take center stage in the Daytona 500, NASCAR's biggest, richest and most prestigious race. Daytona International Speedway.

  • Half a million visitors flock to Daytona Beach/Volusia County each year for this world-renowned 10-day motorcycle event and rally. The festivities include motorcycle racing, concerts, parties and street festivals. The event is usually held on the first full week of March.

  • A summer tradition, the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway is the regular season finale for NASCAR’s Cup Series.

  • Biketoberfest, held each fall in Daytona Beach/Volusia County, is known as the 'kinder, gentler Bike Week,' including bike races, entertainment, food and vendors all week long.

  • 'Gentlemen, start your engines!' Enjoy 12 nights of action-packed racing including UMP DIRTcar modifieds, Sprint cars, Super DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds and more during the annual DIRTcar Nationals at. Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville.