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In case you’re craving a seashore city escape that looks like a real hidden gem—one with allure, a calming vibe, miles of white sandy seashores, and effectively, a bit of little bit of every thing—New Smyrna Seaside may simply change into your new favourite Florida coastal city. It actually turned ours.
We visited as a part of an extended weekend journey to the Daytona Seaside space, and we preferred it a lot, we determined to share a trip information on it so our readers can uncover it too.
Whereas Daytona introduced the thrill, New Smyrna Seaside introduced the stability – laid-back, artsy, effortlessly cool. It had that “I may reside right here” really feel.
Whereas many Florida seashore cities can really feel over-commercialized or cookie-cutter, New Smyrna Seaside has a vibe all its personal. It’s half surf city, half historic village, half foodie haven, with a robust native arts scene and a vibrant important avenue that’s simply the suitable dimension.
Right here’s why we fell in love with New Smyrna Seaside, what we did, the place we ate, and ideas that can assist you plan your individual go to to this East Coast Florida treasure.
The place is New Smyrna Seaside and the way to get there
New Smyrna Seaside is a barrier island situated on Florida’s east coast, only a 20-minute drive south of Daytona Seaside and about an hour’s drive northeast of Orlando. It’s a part of Volusia County and sits alongside the Atlantic Ocean, with 17 miles of gorgeous sandy shoreline.
Getting there’s simple, whether or not you’re driving or flying. In case you’re coming from out of state, the closest airport is Daytona Seaside Worldwide Airport (DAB)—simply 25 minutes away—with handy direct flights from choose cities like Raleigh by way of Breeze Airways.
You may as well fly into Orlando Worldwide Airport (MCO), which is about 75 minutes drive away, or Orlando Sanford Worldwide Airport (SFB), roughly an hour’s drive.
When you arrive, the city is compact and straightforward to discover by automobile, bike, and even on foot, particularly across the Flagler Avenue and beachside areas.
Issues to see and do in New Smyrna Seaside
Surf or Swim New Smyrna Seaside (or park your automobile)
After all, New Smyrna Seaside is the star attraction right here. Like Daytona, you possibly can drive proper onto the sand along with your 4 or two wheels. We biked alongside the seashore in Daytona, however didn’t have time for it in New Smyrna Seaside. Simply time your experience for low tide so that you get the hardest-packed sand.
Not like busier seashores, New Smyrna Seaside was peaceable, clear, and nice for swimming, lengthy walks, constructing sandcastles, or simply sitting and absorbing the ocean breeze. We additionally observed a number of surfers, not shocking since this space is understood for having a few of the best wave motion in Florida. Skilled and newbie surfers come right here from all around the world because it has constant wave breaks.
It’s also called the Shark Chunk Capital of the World … no joke. Not fatalities, although, only a chomp on the arm or leg right here and there. Because the Eighties, there have been over 300 reported incidents, however lately, between 5-10 incidents yearly.
The New Smyrna Seaside space is understood for its excessive focus of bull, blacktip, and spinner sharks, which swim close to the Indian River Lagoon as a result of it’s stuffed with batfish. They sometimes mistake individuals for fish, therefore the chomp, however they aren’t identified to be aggressive. Their most lively in the summertime months (July and August).
As an Aussie, sharks kinda spook me, so I used to be very hesitant to go swimming. I’d nearly determined I’d breathe deep and dive within the following day, till our waiter instructed us his finest mate had bitten his arm just a few days earlier than, however to not fear, he was recovering effectively.
It’s like a ceremony of passage and a badge of honor for the surfers. You do your consolation stage. I’m certain the percentages are nonetheless low, and we noticed loads of individuals out swimming and browsing with limbs intact.
In case you’re into wildlife or water actions, there’s extra to discover.
Kayak the Indian River and Mosquito Lagoon
The close by Indian River Lagoon is essentially the most biologically numerous estuary in North America, with dolphins, manatees, and a whole lot of birds.
We rented kayaks from River Witch and paddled for an hour by way of quiet jungle-like waterways and mangrove-lined canals of the Mosquito Lagoon and the Canaveral Nationwide Seashore. These pristine waterways teeming with wildlife and pure magnificence are tucked away from the crowds.
The homeowners of River Witch pointed us towards a cove usually visited by manatees and dolphins. We didn’t see dolphins, however we did spot a number of manatees surfacing and waving their tails whats up.
Single kayaks are $20 for an hour. They’ve various kinds of kayaks to hire and supply guided excursions.
Try this wonderful kayak tour we did down the Wacissa River on the Gulf Coast of Florida (one in every of my US favourite adventures)
Discover Smyrna Dunes Park
A final-minute resolution to go to the Smyrna Dunes Park, situated on the northern finish of the New Smyrna Seaside Island, become a hidden gem ($11 entrance price).
It’s a protected nature reserve with 1.5 miles of large boardwalks and nature trails that loop by way of dunes with wonderful views of Ponce Inlet, the lighthouse, and dog-friendly seashores.
It’s a haven for nature lovers as a result of its 5 ecosystems: ocean, river, dunes, scrub, and saltwater marsh.
Preserve a lookout for gopher tortoises sunning themselves amongst the dunes – we noticed one completely camouflaged within the sand. We cherished the views of Ponce Inlet Lighthouse throughout the channel from right here.
Contained in the park is a small purple Espresso Me truck promoting first rate espresso, smoothies, and light-weight bites.
Discover Canal Avenue Historic District
Canal Avenue Historic District is the city’s charming historic district, identified for its artsy vitality, colourful murals, and a mixture of galleries, boutique outlets, and breweries. It’s an ideal place to decelerate, sip a neighborhood craft beer at New Smyrna Seaside Brewing Firm, and take in the inventive spirit of the city.
It has a robust creative vibe because of the Hub on Canal. It was one of the crucial inventive artwork studio areas we’ve visited – with footprints on the ground weaving round alleyways and up mural-covered stairs to peruse the completely different studio areas and see artists at work.
Outdoors is a brilliant mural masking the pedestrian crossing to remind you that “artwork is life is artwork!”
Flagler Avenue
If we hadn’t determined to take the choice Google Maps path to our lodging down Flagler Ave, we could have missed the center of New Smyrna’s seashore scene. We instantly determined to discover it both earlier than or after our dinner – time constraints pushed it again to after.
Whereas Canal St is a bit of inland, Flagler Ave leads proper to the shore, bringing a seashore city buzz — suppose surf outlets, boutique shops, seafood shacks, reside music bars, and the form of laid-back nightlife that pulls you in and retains you out longer than you deliberate.
Right here’s what we loved on Flagler Ave…
The Banyan Tree
Plan for a few minutes to admire the ginormous Banyan tree on the facet of Flagler Ave, reverse our breakfast spot, Third Wave Espresso.
These bushes are a favourite of ours from Southeast Asia (even again house in Oz).
That is the primary one we’ve seen within the USA.
Stay music and bar hopping on Flagler Ave
It’s additionally the nightlife avenue of New Smyrna Seaside. Compared to Daytona, I preferred how this was in a single central place. I’m unsure I may even inform you the place the nightlife components of Daytona are as a result of it’s so unfold out.
On Flagler Ave, you possibly can bar hop from one to the following, which is what we tried to do, however we bought caught in Flagler Tavern dancing to the eclectic rock band, Stereo FM.
They purchased the unpretentious, enjoyable celebration!
Fortunately, we walked house at a respectful hour after they completed. You possibly can bar hop and keep out later should you needed.
Espresso at Luma Cafe
Designed on your Instagram feed, Luma Café awaits with swinging chairs, cozy couches, large Jenga video games, and first rate espresso.
Loosen up and watch the Flagler Ave world go by, or take it to go for a seashore stroll.
This might be an ideal spot for a extra informal breakfast than the place we went (see beneath).
Blue Spring State Park
It could be an hour drive inland from New Smyrna Seaside, however you received’t remorse a half-day tour to the Blue Spring State Park. It’s about an hour drive inland from Daytona Seaside, however it’s so value it.
The Blue Spring, situated alongside the St John’s River, is a crisp 72 levels, which matches the 90-degree air temp simply heavenly.
We tubed the spring run (about 1/8 of a mile) just a few instances, however I ditched the tube for a swim and was rewarded with essentially the most magical second: a manatee popped up proper beside me.
I floated hands-up, legs-kicking to remain clear, and he or she brushed previous my stomach earlier than lifting her nostril subsequent to mine. It was wild.
The spring and run are closed through the winter to supply a protected refuge for the manatees. We additionally noticed river otters, turtles, and plenty of birds.
Ideas:
- Arrive early — they cap entry, and weekends get busy. It opens at 8am, and folks begin lining up at daybreak. In case you can, go to mid-week or early Solar (afternoons are busier then)
- You possibly can carry your individual tubes or hire them on website – they’ve ample. Lease them from the Present Locker from Blue Spring Adventures. There are additionally lockers for hire – we advocate the important thing lockers close to the tube rental as an alternative of the code lockers initially of the spring run. Convey meals or a picnic lunch as there are a number of picnic and grill areas.
- $6 price per automobile. Tubing prices $7+. Locker $5+
Reminder: Do NOT contact the manatees. I needed to yell at just a few individuals who have been. There are hefty fines and bans, and extra importantly, it’s their house — we’re simply guests.
Ponce Inlet Lighthouse
You noticed it from Sand Dunes Park, now drive half-hour from New Smyrna Seaside to Ponce Inlet Lighthouse.
It’s Florida’s tallest lighthouse, and you may climb to the highest for sweeping 360-degree views over the inlet, waterways, and barrier islands. The snowy white sandbar island felt straight out of the Whitsundays.
The previous buildings on the lighthouse grounds home small museums that share the Lighthouse’s 135-year historical past. My favorites have been the lens exhibit constructing and the kerosene storage constructing.
Don’t miss the Constance D Hunter Historic Pacetti Resort, which lately reopened after a four-year restoration right into a public museum. That they had an interesting shark exhibit once we visited in partnership with the close by Marine Science Middle.
New Smyrna is just half-hour south of Daytona Seaside, the place you’ll discover loads of seashore actions and locations to eat. It’s much more touristy, however we preferred it. You possibly can learn our information to our Daytona Seaside weekend getaway for extra concepts.
The place to eat at New Smyrna Seaside
We all the time say meals is among the finest methods to know a vacation spot—and New Smyrna Seaside delivered. It’s a surprisingly nice city for meals lovers, with every thing from beachy seafood shacks to elevated eating.
Right here’s what we cherished:
The Garlic
The Garlic in New Smyrna Seaside was one of the crucial memorable meals of our journey, probably within the USA. The ambiance alone is definitely worth the go to—twinkling lights, rustic decor, and a lush, open-air backyard vibe that looks like Italy meets Florida.
It’s the primary time in my life I used to be grateful for an hour’s watch for our desk (tremendous well-liked, doesn’t take reservations, and ponder. It seats over 4 hundred individuals at a time!!).
It gave us time to discover all of the nooks and crannies of the eating places, all centralized round bushes with trunks in the midst of sections, two separate reside music areas, quirky decorations from spectacles hanging down, to paper mâché collectible figurines, and naturally, garlic; and an outdoor space, with a small bar to seize a ready drink from.
Sadly, it was pouring exterior, so we couldn’t make the most of the surface house, however we loved a very good aperol spritz crowded across the bar whereas we waited.
We ended up with a romantic desk within the nook, an attentive server with nice suggestions, an ideal bottle of Tremendous Tuscan purple to match our divine dishes of lamb cutlets with the most effective mint jelly I’ve ever had, mussels with a broth so good you may drink it, and Ravioli Bolognaise, wood-fired salmon for mains.
As if I wanted another excuse to return to New Smyrna Seaside.
It’s possible you’ll need to add the Norwood’s Treehouse Bar as a spot for a pre-dinner drink. We had deliberate to have our dinner on the Garlic (they’re subsequent to one another), however needed to cancel because of the torrential rain and thunderstorms. Sitting in a treehouse consuming cocktails when it’s thundering and lightning shouldn’t be a sensible concept! It seemed tremendous cool, and we are going to do it on our subsequent go to to New Syrma Seaside. You may as well eat right here, they usually have reside music.
Third Wave Café & Wine Bar
Tucked simply off Flagler Ave, Third Wave Cafe is a comfy spot that provides a shady patio, a superb wine record, and inventive small plates. Good for a extra relaxed, romantic evening. Or, for us, we ate right here for breakfast, having fun with a hearty hash to take in the enjoyable instances from the evening earlier than.
I had a scrumptious wood-fired brisket breakfast bowl with roasted potatoes, roasted purple pepper, corn mozzarella mix, over simple eggs, and purple pepper coulis. Craig went with the southwestern hash model.
Costs are greater right here, however the high quality of the revolutionary world flavors fused with Southern coastal traditions and the bamboo forest environment could make it value it.
Lunch at Outriggers
Barely exterior of the primary seashore space overlooking the marina is Outriggers, an ideal spot for lunch on a heat day.
Right here at Outriggers, you possibly can get pleasure from shrimp tacos, fish sandwiches, and views of fishermen scaling their catches of snapper.
It’s a energetic spot with nice service. And holding me linked to my homeland, I had a Kylie Minogue non-alcoholic glowing rose. I ought to be so fortunate!
The place to remain at New Smyrna Seaside
There’s no scarcity of great locations to remain in New Smyrna Seaside, whether or not you’re searching for oceanfront accommodations or cozy trip leases.
For a brief weekend journey like ours, we advocate staying near the seashore and Flagler Avenue so you possibly can stroll in all places and totally benefit from the city’s vibe.
Just a few standouts to think about:
- SpringHill Suites by Marriott – A more recent property simply off Flagler Ave with nice facilities, fashionable rooms, and a brief stroll to every thing.
- Hampton Inn New Smyrna Seaside – Positioned 7 minutes’ stroll from the seashore, this Florida resort gives an outside pool, day by day continental breakfast, and free WiFi
- Greatest Western New Smyrna Seaside Resort & Suites – Positioned proper on the seashore with an outside pool and the Seascape Eating Room on website.
- Inn on the Avenue – On Flagler Ave cute boutique type with character comes with American breakfast together with champagne!
- Trip Leases – In case you’re touring with household or staying longer, New Smyrna Seaside has tons of charming seashore cottages and condos accessible on VRBO or Reserving.com.
- Black Dolphin Inn: We needed to remain at this award-winning, boutique property exterior of the seashore space close to the waterways, however it was a two-night minimal, and we stayed in New Smyrna Seaside for one evening. In case you like a bit of seclusion, this is able to be the proper property – in order for you proximity to eating places and nightlife, a resort close to the seashore and Flagler Ave could be extra appropriate.
Why we’ll be again to New Smyrna Seaside
New Smyrna Seaside took us unexpectedly in one of the simplest ways. It’s a spot that manages to really feel relaxed and thrilling , too crowded, however by no means boring both.
It’s a city with tales, browsing, type, and substance. The form of place the place the salt air soothes you, the locals smile at you, and also you go to mattress already planning your return journey.
In case you’re road-tripping in Florida, or flying into Daytona Seaside like we did, be sure you carve out time for New Smyrna Seaside. It would simply change into your favourite Florida seashore city, too.