'''Port Orange''' is a city in Volusia County, East Central Florida. Port Orange is considered to be part of the ''Greater Daytona Beach Area'', and Port Orange only recently obtained its own ''mailing address'', separate from Daytona Beach. Tourism marketing continues to tie these two cities together.
Understand
The area was first settled in 1804 by 20 families who came to raise indigo and sugar cane. The fertile soil was favorable for citrus and other crops which could be shipped to market on the Halifax River. Port Orange was incorporated in 1926.
Port Orange is made up of some 150 distinct "neighborhoods", each with it's own distinctive flavor. The City encompasses 26.4 square miles speckled with beautiful parks and is home to over 50,000 residents.
One of the largest annual events in Volusia is Port Orange Family Days held in October. This four-day festival which takes place at the City Center Complex focuses on celebration of family and quality of life in Port Orange and features a carnival, business and non-profit expo, children_fs games, parade, food court and entertainment.
Get in
By plane
Port Orange has no local airport. If you need to fly here, you will need to find a commercial flight arriving to either '''Daytona Beach International Airport''' (the closest), '''Orlando International Airport''', or '''Jacksonville International Airport'''.
By train
'''Amtrak''' offers the ''Amtrak Auto Train'' service with its southern Terminus located in Sanford (Florida), about 35 miles west of Port Orange. The Amtrak Auto Train carries passengers and automobiles between Sanford and Lorton, Virginia, effectively serving as a car-rail link from Florida to the Washington, D.C. Metro Area. You can easily drive your car into Port Orange after departing from the Auto Train.
Amtrak offers regular passenger service with the closest stop being near the city of DeLand. This stop is rather remote and is not recommended as an option.
By bus
'''Greyhound Bus Lines''' offers bus service to nearby Daytona Beach. Upon arrival at the Daytona Beach bus station, you will need to either transfer to a local Volusia County bus or take a taxicab to complete your trip to Port Orange.
By car
Port Orange is easily accessed by car, as Interstate 95 passes by just west of the city, and U.S. Highway 1 passes through the center of the city, named as "South Ridgewood Avenue."
Get around
By Bus
'''Votran''' [http://www.votran.org] is the name of the local Volusia County bus service, which also provides a public transit connection to nearby Daytona Beach. The buses offer service in Port Orange, M-Sa 7AM-7PM. Votran is a cheap way to get around and is handicap accessible. The website provides maps and timetables. Buses travel to most sites and places of interest. Cost: $1.25 per trip, or $3 for a one-day bus pass (Valid for all routes).
By car
Getting around by car is very easy and convenient in Port Orange. The major roads are all wide and easy to drive on with all the major areas signposted, but traffic jams around major intersections are common in the afternoons, and around the tourist areas on Saturday nights.
See
Parks
'''Spruce Creek Park''', 6250 Ridgewood Ave, ''+1'' 386-322-5133, [http://volusia.org/parks/spruce.htm]. Spruce Creek Park offers a 536-foot boardwalk with three miles of nature trails, leading to a 15-foot observation tower and continues to Rose Bay. The tower overlooks the marsh area near Spruce Creek.
'''Sugar Mill Gardens''', 950 Old Sugar Mill, [http://volusia.org/parks/sugargrd.htm]. Open daily sunrise to sunset. Sugar Mill Gardens is a botanical garden developed and maintained by the Botanical Gardens of Volusia, Inc., a non-profit organization with no salaried employees. It features a 16th-century sugar mill. Free.
Do
Events
'''Port Orange Family Days'''
Fishing
'''Sunset Quay Outfitters''', 6296 South Ridgewood Ave, ''+1'' 386-236-1207. Offers upscale brand kayak/canoe rentals, instruction, guided eco-tours (various locations), kayak fishing.
Golf
'''Crane Lakes Golf and Country Club''', 1790 Crane Lakes Blvd, ''+1'' 386-767-4653, [http://www.cranelakes.com/].
'''Port Orange Public Golf Course''', 6231 Palm Vista Street, ''+1'' 386-756-5349.
Scuba Diving & Snorkeling
'''Discover Diving Guide & Services''' , 92 Dunlawton Causeway, ''+1'' 386-760-3483, [http://www.divefl.com/]. Offers off-shore dive trips to wrecks and reefs. Also offers Lobster trips. Call to book your space. Only five passengers per trip.
'''Spruce Creek Scuba Guide & Services''', 1646 Taylor Rd, ''+1'' 386-767-1727, [http://www.sprucecreekscuba.com/]. Spruce Creek Scuba is a full service recreational/technical dive center. Offers training for open water diver, specialty diver, advanced open water diver and rescue diver. Also offers basic Nitrox, advanced Nitrox, staged decompression, extended range and Trimix.
Tennis
'''Spruce Creek Tennis Club''', 1900 Country Club Dr, ''+1'' 386-756-6118. Two hard courts and six clay courts, some with lights. Call for hours and fees.
Learn
'''Palmer College of Chiropractic'''
Work
Buy
Shopping
'''Commonwealth Shopping Center'''
'''Countryside Station Shopping Center'''
'''Dunlawton Square Shopping Center'''
'''Park Plaza Shopping Center'''
'''Ravenwood Square Shopping Center'''
'''Riverwood Shopping Center'''
'''Wal-Mart Super Center'''
'''Westport Square Shopping Center'''
Eat
'''Alfredo's Italian Restaurant''', 4647 S Clyde Morris Blvd, ''+1'' 386-322-6090, [http://www.alfredositalianristorante.com/]. Italian cuisine.
'''Aunt Catfish's on the River''', 4009 Halifax Dr, ''+1'' 386-761-2744, [http://www.auntcatfish.com]. Seafood.
'''Booth's Bowery''', 3657 South Nova Rd, ''+1'' 386-756-3060, [http://www.boothsbowery.com]. American cuisine.
'''Port Orange Steakhouse''', 3851 South Nova Rd (''K-Mart Plaza''), ''+1'' 386-756-2660, [http://www.portorangesteakhouse.com/]. Steaks, Seafood, American
'''100% Italian''', 1781 Dunlawton Ave, ''+1'' 386-322-9887, [http://daytonabeach.chowbaby.com/restaurants/PORT%20ORANGE/100%20Italian%20Restaurant%20And%20Pizzaria]. Italian cuisine.
Drink
'''First Turn Lounge''', 5236 South Ridgewood Ave, ''+1 386'' 788-5434.
'''Last Resort Bar''', 5812 South Ridgewood Ave, ''+1 386'' 761-5147. The home of cold beer and killer women.
Sleep
Budget
'''Dusk to Dawn Motel''', 4545 Ridgewood Ave, ''+1'' 386-761-8048.
'''Fairview Motel''', 5964 Ridgewood Ave, ''+1'' 386-760-4056.
'''Town and Country Motel''', 5384 Ridgewood Ave, ''+1'' 386-761-0881.
Mid-range
Splurge
Contact
'''Seven digit dialing''' is in effect for local calls in Port Orange. The local area code is (386).
Agencies
'''The Daytona Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau''', 126 East Orange Avenue. Tel: (386) 255-0415 Fax: (386) 255-5478. The official sales and marketing organization for Daytona Beach and surrounding area, including Port Orange. [http://www.daytonabeach.com/].
'''Port Orange-South Daytona Chamber of Commerce''', 3431 Ridgewood Ave, ''+1'' 386-761-1601 (''fax: ''+1'' 386-788-9165''), [http://www.pschamber.com/]. Clearinghouse of information about the local area.
Internet
It is common for many of the larger hotels and lodgings in the area to offer free internet access for their guests.
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Internet Cafes
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Public Libraries
Public libraries in the area offer free computer internet access to Volusia County residents. There is a small charge for non-residents.
''Port Orange Public Library'', 1005 City Center Circle, ''+1 386'' 322-5152. [http://merlin.vcpl.lib.fl.us/].
Stay safe
Florida has a high occurrence of '''hurricanes'''. You might want to check the Hurricane safety page if you are visiting Florida. Beware of lightning in the central part of the state. Also, there is a high occurrence of tornadoes in Florida, so check the Tornado safety page.
Port Orange has varying crime intensity by neighborhood. In certain parts of the city it may not be safe to walk alone or even in small groups at night. Tourist areas rarely have violent crimes, but theft is an occasional occurrence. The 911 number for fire and police emergencies is in effect in Port Orange.
Cope
Get out
Daytona Beach - Port Orange's famous neighbor to the North offers NASCAR racing and other special events.
Daytona Beach Shores - A quiet, small city located just Northeast of Port Orange along the beach peninsula.
New Smyrna Beach - Just to the South of Port Orange lies New Smyrna Beach. The city 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.
Ponce Inlet - A scenic fishing village located the southern tip of the beach peninsula. Here you will find the historic Ponce Inlet Lighthouse, Marine Science Center, local charter fishing boats, along with several of the area's best seafood restaurants.