Rawlings is a mixed community consisting of single-family homes, apartments, and businesses sitting just off of US-1, one of the longest U.S. Highways in the nation running from Fort Kent all the way up in Maine to the tip of Key West. Living here, you are only one block from the Halifax River and only five minutes from the beach.
South Ridgewood Avenue is home to a wide range of businesses including convenience stores, gas stations, fast-food restaurants, and more. If you need groceries, pet supplies, and many other amenities, there are plenty of stores at the junction of Dunlawton Avenue and South Nova Road, including a Publix supermarket where you can buy pet supplies and treats to keep your pup well-fed and happy. The beach is just across the bridge and there are several other parks and green spaces for you and your dog to make use of for walks and some much-needed play time.
Rawlings is sandwiched between the FEC railroad tracks to the west and South Ridgewood Avenue to the east. To the north is the South Daytona Business Park and, to the south, Dunlawton Avenue. No matter how you look at it, traffic is going to be bustling from the early morning hours until late into the evening. While the area might be bustling during the day, the traffic becomes intense during rush hours, especially on both US-1 and Dunlawton Avenue.
The best thing you can do to keep your walks safe is to stay away from the two major highways and stick to the residential areas when traffic is a little slower. Fortunately, there are sidewalks for you and your dog to use, keeping you off the roads and away from dangerous traffic. Be sure you keep your dog on a short leash for better control.
On the east side of US-1 is Riverwalk Park, a small park with plenty of grass to play around on that is open from dawn to dusk and offers a spectacular view of the Halifax River. You can also use the wide grass berm running along the west bank of the river for your walks. It runs for miles in either direction and is far more comfortable for both you and your dog to walk on in comparison to being stuck walking on the paved surfaces.
If you take the Dunlawton Avenue bridge over to Daytona Beach Shores or Wilbur-by-the Sea, the two of you can park the car on the beach and walk for as many miles as you can handle on the sand. With a variety of terrain to choose from in this area, you can exercise as much or as little as you want with your peppy pup at your side.