By mid-afternoon people watching becomes a popular activity on the beach. Parents allow themselves to be buried under mountains of sand and strive to protect soft baby skin from the ravages of the sun. The aroma of lotion and sunscreen wafts across the breeze. More quiet entertainment is found at parks like the Tomoka Basin Geo Park, where sprawling oaks afford welcome shade to picnickers. But the shade can play tricks near the old sugar mill ruins at Bulow Creek and it doesn t take much imagination to picture the ghosts of early Florida plantation workers.
Active parks are big attractions for children of all ages.
Freedom Playground, an elaborate wooden labyrinth tucked away behind the Stone Street Museum in DeLand is very popular. Squeals of laughter emanate from tunnels and tire swings. Elsewhere, neighborhood basketball courts often resound with the slap of the ball against pavement and bodies blocking others from the goal. Pickup games can almost always be found at Earl Brown Park in DeLand. At Wes Crile Park in Deltona, the indoor gym is booked months in advance and for much of the day, with people enjoying the exercise in air conditioned comfort.