Port Orange

Lighthouse Point Park Revisited

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After a great lunch at DJ’s Deck in Port Orange (I highly recommend the rare Tuna Sandwich basket with fries!), we headed to Ponce Inlet to wander around. We parked at the Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse and strolled to the jetty at Lighthouse Point Park. We got there just in time to catch the end of a surfing competition, so the place was bustling with activity! We headed back via the boardwalk in a quest to view some gopher tortoises, but no such luck this time. All in all, a nice way to spend a Saturday afternoon, wouldn’t you say?

Ponce Inlet Revisited

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We arrived at Lighthouse Point Park in Ponce Inlet early on Friday to attempt some beach time before the crowds started descending for Memorial Day Weekend. However, when we arrived just after 8 AM, the parking lot was full. So, we parked at the Marine Science Center (which has been closed temporarily to help slow the spread of the coronavirus). Fortunately, the beach was nearly deserted because just about all the cars in the parking lot were owned by surfers (at least 100!) already out on the water. And let me tell you, there were definitely some huge waves on this day! The rip tide was intense as well and we saw a couple of young ladies get rescued by a lifeguard. Also, we roamed around the boardwalk and saw six Florida gopher tortoises in the dunes. On the way back, we hit DJ’s Deck in Port Orange for a great lunch (it’s all outside and tables were a good distance apart). Bottom line: An awesome way to start the long holiday weekend!

D.J.’s Deck

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A laid-back bar and eatery, D.J’s Deck lies in Port Orange adjacent to the Port Orange Causeway and overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway (just two blocks from the beach). It’s the perfect place to chill out with an ice-cold beer and enjoy a burger, wrap or fresh seafood. The food is delicious and you can’t beat the scenic view (we even saw some dolphins swimming in the Intracoastal Waterway from our table on the outside deck). You order at the bar, which is located underneath a large, Polynesian-style tiki hut, and they bring your food to your table. We enjoyed great service from a very friendly staff! We hit D.J.’s Deck after a great day exploring Lighthouse Point Park and Ponce de Leon Lighthouse in Ponce Inlet. We’ll definitely be back!

Hike #32: Lighthouse Point Park, Ponce Inlet

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Hike #32, 52 Hike Challenge: Lighthouse Point Park, Ponce Inlet. The perfect day trip for hikers, Lighthouse Point Park ($10 entrance fee) lies at the southern end of Ponce Inlet. I wandered around the beach, jetty and boardwalk of Lighthouse Point Park, then headed toward the Marine Science Center and Ponce de Leon Lighthouse. Both Lighthouse Point Park and the Marine Science Center offer short nature trails, the latter which leads to an observation tower. We topped the day off with a visit to DJ’s Deck in Port Orange for a later lunch and viewed some dolphins frolicking in the distance. Distance: 2 miles.