Three Days of Sunshine, Seaside Adventures & Pure
Ormond Beach Bliss
Three days in Ormond Beach? Oh, you are going to want to make those three days count.
But, here is the thing. You don’t need a color coded itinerary, a 6 AM alarm or a minute by minute vacation schedule. This is Ormond Beach. Things move a little slower here. The perfect three days should have plenty of beach time, good food, a little exploring and absolutely no guilt about taking a two hour afternoon nap. So, grab your sunglasses, pack your favorite swimsuit and let’s plan the perfect three days in Ormond Beach.
Day One: Beach First, Everything Else Later
You made it to Ormond Beach. Obviously, the first stop has to be the beach! Check in at 4PM, drop your bags at your Florida Vacay Rental, change into your swimsuit and head straight for the water. There is something about seeing the ocean after a long drive that instantly tells your brain, yep, we are officially on vacation.
Settle into the sand, take a walk along the water and let the vacation officially begin. Remember, there is no prize for being productive on the first day. Take your time, swim a little, read a book, and stare at the ocean for an unreasonable amount of time. We fully support it.
Before dinner, take a little stroll around Ormond Beach and explore some of the local shops before heading to a local restaurant. Dinner can be casual or a little fancy, depending on your mood. If you are looking for something special, 63 Sovereign is a great local option with a creative menu, raw bar and cocktails. It has that charming, slightly hidden gem feeling. This makes dinner feel like part of the vacation instead of just something you had to do because everyone was hungry.
With full bellies, its time to head home, kick off your shoes and call it a night. Day one was a success.
Day Two: Old Florida, Scenic Drives & Dinner by the Ocean
Today is your adventure day. Start with a slow morning and a good breakfast. This is important because we have places to go. Once you are fueled up, head out for the Ormond Scenic Loop and Trail.
This is where you get to see a completely different side of Ormond Beach. You will wind through coastal landscapes, lush greenery and beautiful stretches of Old Florida that make you want to roll the windows down and stay awhile. Do not rush this part. Instead, stop when something catches your eye, take approximately 700 pictures, and pretend you are a professional photographer. You know the drill.
After your morning adventure, make your way back toward the beach and stop at Rockefeller Gardens for a little riverfront scenery. The park sits along the Halifax River and is a beautiful place to slow down for a walk. Enjoy the views and take in a quieter side of Ormond Beach. It is also right by The Casements, so you can easily make a little stop here while exploring the area.
When everyone starts getting hungry, stop at Vincenza’s Italian Deli and Market for a sandwich to take back to the beach. This little local spot is exactly the kind of place you want to find on vacation. Think fresh Italian sandwiches, house made focaccia, deli favorites and cannolis that might convince you to cancel your afternoon plans entirely. Grab lunch, grab something sweet and maybe pick up a few Italian goodies for later. After all, future you will be very happy about that decision.
Now comes the best part. Do absolutely nothing. Take a nap, go for a swim, sit on the balcony, go back to the beach, order a drink, whatever sounds good. This is your vacation, not a scavenger hunt.
When evening rolls around, get cleaned up and head to Oceanside Beach Bar & Grill. This is the kind of dinner spot that feels made for a beach vacation. It sits right across from the ocean and has outdoor seating with beach views. The restaurant serves everything from seafood and fish tacos to burgers, pasta and classic beach bar favorites. It is especially fun around sunset. At that time, you can sit outside, grab a drink and watch the sky change over the water.
After dinner, take one more little walk along the water before calling it a night. This is important because tomorrow is your last day, and we are not ready to talk about that yet.
Day Three: One Last Morning by the Beach
Okay, technically this is the last day. But, that does not mean you have to spend it rushing around. Wake up slowly, make one last cup of coffee and enjoy the fact that you have absolutely nowhere to be for a few more hours. If you have a little time before checkout, head over to Swillerbees Coffee & Donuts for coffee and something sweet. Grab your favorite, bring it back to the rental or enjoy it on the go. All the while, take in one last glimpse of Ormond Beach.
Then it is back to the rental to pack up, do the last minute suitcase shuffle and make sure nobody left their phone charger in the nightstand. Checkout is at 10, so there is no need to cram one more adventure into the morning. Instead, take one last walk outside and look at the ocean. Take the obligatory vacation photo, maybe stand there for a minute and tell yourself you are definitely coming back soon.
Once you have checked out, then the day is yours. Head to Tom Renick Park for one last beach stop, grab lunch somewhere local, wander along Granada Boulevard or simply spend a few more hours enjoying Ormond Beach before heading home, because the best part about a beach vacation is that checkout does not necessarily mean the fun has to end. It just means you have to leave the keys behind.
The Best Part of the Itinerary?
There really is no need for one. That is what makes Ormond Beach so special. You can spend your morning exploring and your afternoon doing nothing. Have a full day of adventures or barely leave the beach; plan every meal or decide where to eat based entirely on what sounds good when you get hungry. There is room for all of it, and when the day is over, you get to come back to your own vacation space, kick off your shoes and settle in for another night by the coast.
Three days might not sound like a lot. But in Ormond Beach, three days is plenty of time to slow down, explore somewhere new, eat really good food, find a few local favorites and remember what it feels like to have nowhere else you need to be.
Just promise us one thing. When you leave, do not say you are ready to go home. Say you will be back, because we have a feeling you will be.
