Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse, Daytona

Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse is a red-brown lighthouse. It's a cute structure, but it would be nicer if there was a park around it that the public could access. Instead, there is a fence around it. You must pay at the museum in order to enter the grounds to see the historic buildings around it. There is not much shade on the grounds. 

It's lovely to climb the lighthouse and see the blue-green water of the ocean and inlet. 
Across the street from the lighthouse is a touristy building with a pirate statue under the trees, and a bar and grill called Hidden Treasure with a fake lighthouse on the side. There are boating businesses here too. Check out the views of a little island from the docks. 
Continue to the end of the road to Lighthouse Point Park, where a wooden boardwalk takes you to the water, past yellow wildflowers. Come early or the parking lot might be full. You can see tortoises on the dunes, and birds standing on the wooden posts at the shore. There is shade under the boardwalk. Walk along the concrete jetty where waves crash up against the rocks and you can see birds galore. Near the parking lot is a gazebo with picnic tables. 
The sand at the dunes is a lovely fine white, and there are good views of the lighthouse.
Around the corner is Ponce Inlet Dog Park, a good place for dog lovers.
After, eat with water views at Down the Hatch at Front Street Marina. Or bring your kids to watch the huge forklifts raise boats onto platforms at Inlet Harbor Marina and then eat at Off the Hook.
Wade in the shallow, clear water at Ponce Preserve East Beach. For a shady boardwalk with a breeze off the water, check out Port Orange Causeway Park.

Directions

Ponce de Leon Lighthouse and Museum is located at 4931 S. Peninsula Dr, Ponce Inlet FL 32127. Parking at the lighthouse is free with admission at the museum. 
Lighthouse Point Park is located at 5000 S Atlantic Ave, Ponce Inlet, FL 32127. It costs $10 per car to park at Lighthouse Point Park. Come early on weekends or holidays because the parking lot fills up before 9am.

Click on map for interactive view