DeLand offers a variety of ways to plan a trip: trails and parks sit alongside historic sites, museums, murals and theater. When planning, it’s worth distinguishing these offerings by their focus. A trail network can be understood by its route, while cultural attractions are shaped by architectural history, exhibitions or artistic themes. This can help you decide whether you’d rather spend your time outdoors, exploring local history, or enjoying art and culture.
Trails, Parks and the City
The completed Downtown Corridor of the DeLand trail network runs along Alabama Avenue from Stetson University through Earl Brown Park to Taylor Road. Its endpoints and passage through the park give the corridor a clear route. Earl Brown Park also has a one-mile trail for walking and jogging. The corridor is defined by its route between named places, while the park trail is defined by its length and its uses for walking and jogging.
DeLand Skatepark is also located in Earl Brown Park. The park therefore offers both a trail for walking and jogging and a skate facility—two different activities in one place. Another point of interest in the city is Chess Park, east of the courthouse. It has a waterfall-wall fountain and a tree-shaded walkway. Unlike Earl Brown Park, the specific points of reference here are the location, fountain and shaded walkway, rather than the length of a route.
History and Art in Different Forms
The DeLand House Museum is an 1886 house in the Frame Vernacular style. The DeLand Memorial Hospital and Veterans Museum focuses on exhibitions about medical history, Black history and military history. These offer two distinct ways to explore the past: the House Museum is defined by its construction date and architectural style, while the Memorial Hospital and Veterans Museum is defined by three exhibition themes.
The DeLand Black Heritage Trail offers self-guided bicycle routes connecting local sites of Black history. Unlike an exhibition, this approach takes visitors between sites, providing a different way to explore history by bicycle. The African American Museum of the Arts offers educational, historical and cultural programming in the visual, literary and performing arts. Here, several art forms are presented alongside education and history.
The DeLand Historic Mural Walk takes visitors past the city’s murals and provides information about their stories and locations. It connects the artwork with the places and stories associated with it. The Athens Theatre is described as DeLand’s theater since 1922. Together, these cultural attractions range from a historic house to exhibitions and various art forms, murals and theater. The Museum of Art – DeLand is accessible according to ADA standards, a specific consideration if accessibility affects your choice.
Getting There and Getting Around
If you’re traveling by car, DeLand is accessible from Interstate 4 exits 116 and 118. All parking in downtown is free; because parking regulations may change, check them before you travel. The exits help orient you on arrival, while the parking regulations are relevant to planning once you get there.
Discover more destinations: New Smyrna Beach, North De Land, Deltona, Daytona Beach Shores, Ormond Beach, Edgewater, Lake Helen, Osteen.
For the main travel overview: Volusia.
