This put up could comprise affiliate hyperlinks. We could obtain a small fee, for free of charge to you, in case you make a purchase order. Learn Disclosure.
In the event you’re craving a seaside city escape that seems like a real hidden gem—one with allure, a calming vibe, miles of white sandy seashores, and properly, a bit of little bit of every part—New Smyrna Seaside may simply develop into your new favourite Florida coastal city. It actually grew to become ours.
We visited as a part of a protracted weekend journey to the Daytona Seaside space, and we favored 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 might reside right here” really feel.
Whereas many Florida seaside 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 powerful native arts scene and a vibrant major road that’s simply the precise measurement.
Right here’s why we fell in love with New Smyrna Seaside, what we did, the place we ate, and ideas that will help you plan your personal go to to this East Coast Florida treasure.
The place is New Smyrna Seaside and tips on how to get there
New Smyrna Seaside is a barrier island positioned 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 lovely sandy shoreline.
Getting there’s simple, whether or not you’re driving or flying. In the event 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 can even 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 together with your 4 or two wheels. We biked alongside the seaside in Daytona, however didn’t have time for it in New Smyrna Seaside. Simply time your journey 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 seen a number of surfers, not shocking since this space is thought for having a few of the most interesting wave motion in Florida. Skilled and novice surfers come right here from all around the world because it has constant wave breaks.
It’s often known as 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 in recent times, between 5-10 incidents yearly.
The New Smyrna Seaside space is thought for its excessive focus of bull, blacktip, and spinner sharks, which swim close to the Indian River Lagoon as a result of it’s filled with batfish. They sometimes mistake folks for fish, therefore the chomp, however they aren’t recognized 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 greatest mate had bitten his arm a couple of days earlier than, however to not fear, he was recovering properly.
It’s like a ceremony of passage and a badge of honor for the surfers. You do your consolation stage. I’m certain the chances are nonetheless low, and we noticed loads of folks out swimming and browsing with limbs intact.
In the event 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 various estuary in North America, with dolphins, manatees, and tons of of birds.
We rented kayaks from River Witch and paddled for an hour by means 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 hiya.
Single kayaks are $20 for an hour. They’ve several types of kayaks to hire and provide guided excursions.
Try this wonderful kayak tour we did down the Wacissa River on the Gulf Coast of Florida (one in all my US favourite adventures)
Discover Smyrna Dunes Park
A final-minute determination to go to the Smyrna Dunes Park, positioned on the northern finish of the New Smyrna Seaside Island, was a hidden gem ($11 entrance payment).
It’s a protected nature reserve with 1.5 miles of broad boardwalks and nature trails that loop by means of dunes with wonderful views of Ponce Inlet, the lighthouse, and dog-friendly seashores.
It’s a haven for nature lovers on account 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 lightweight bites.
Discover Canal Road Historic District
Canal Road Historic District is the city’s charming historic district, recognized for its artsy vitality, colourful murals, and a mixture of galleries, boutique retailers, and breweries. It’s a terrific place to decelerate, sip a neighborhood craft beer at New Smyrna Seaside Brewing Firm, and take in the artistic spirit of the city.
It has a powerful inventive vibe due to the Hub on Canal. It was one of the artistic 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.
Exterior is a vibrant mural protecting 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 guts of New Smyrna’s seaside 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 seaside city buzz — assume surf retailers, 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 aspect 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.
Dwell music and bar hopping on Flagler Ave
It’s additionally the nightlife road of New Smyrna Seaside. Compared to Daytona, I favored how this was in a single central place. I’m unsure I might even let you know 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 once they completed. You can bar hop and keep out later in case you wished.
Espresso at Luma Cafe
Designed on your Instagram feed, Luma Café awaits with swinging chairs, cozy couches, big Jenga video games, and first rate espresso.
Loosen up and watch the Flagler Ave world go by, or take it to go for a seaside stroll.
This could possibly be a terrific 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, but it surely’s so price it.
The Blue Spring, positioned 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) a couple of 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 she or he brushed previous my stomach earlier than lifting her nostril subsequent to mine. It was wild.
The spring and run are closed in the course of the winter to supply a secure refuge for the manatees. We additionally noticed river otters, turtles, and many birds.
Suggestions:
- Arrive early — they cap entry, and weekends get busy. It opens at 8am, and other people begin lining up at daybreak. In the event you can, go to mid-week or early Solar (afternoons are busier then)
- You may convey your personal tubes or hire them on web site – they’ve ample. Hire 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 originally of the spring run. Convey meals or a picnic lunch as there are a number of picnic and grill areas.
- $6 payment per automobile. Tubing prices $7+. Locker $5+
Reminder: Do NOT contact the manatees. I needed to yell at a couple of 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’ll 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 outdated 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 just lately reopened after a four-year restoration right into a public museum. They’d 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 seaside actions and locations to eat. It’s much more touristy, however we favored it. You may 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 without doubt one of the greatest methods to grasp a vacation spot—and New Smyrna Seaside delivered. It’s a surprisingly nice city for meals lovers, with every part 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 memorable meals of our journey, presumably within the USA. The ambiance alone is definitely worth the go to—twinkling lights, rustic decor, and a lush, open-air backyard vibe that seems like Italy meets Florida.
It’s the primary time in my life I used to be grateful for an hour’s anticipate our desk (tremendous well-liked, doesn’t take reservations, and ponder. It seats over 4 hundred folks 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 outdoors, so we couldn’t make the most of the surface area, however we loved a superb 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 perfect mint jelly I’ve ever had, mussels with a broth so good you would drink it, and Ravioli Bolognaise, wood-fired salmon for mains.
As if I wanted one more reason to return to New Smyrna Seaside.
You might 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 due to the torrential rain and thunderstorms. Sitting in a treehouse ingesting cocktails when it’s thundering and lightning isn’t a wise thought! It appeared tremendous cool, and we are going to do it on our subsequent go to to New Syrma Seaside. You can even eat right here, and so they 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 checklist, and inventive small plates. Excellent for a extra relaxed, romantic night time. Or, for us, we ate right here for breakfast, having fun with a hearty hash to absorb the enjoyable instances from the night time 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 increased right here, however the high quality of the modern international flavors fused with Southern coastal traditions and the bamboo forest environment could make it price it.
Lunch at Outriggers
Barely outdoors of the principle seaside 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 full of life spot with nice service. And conserving me related to my homeland, I had a Kylie Minogue non-alcoholic glowing rose. I needs 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 in search of oceanfront motels or cozy trip leases.
For a brief weekend journey like ours, we advocate staying near the seaside and Flagler Avenue so you possibly can stroll in every single place and totally benefit from the city’s vibe.
A couple of standouts to contemplate:
- SpringHill Suites by Marriott – A more recent property simply off Flagler Ave with nice facilities, trendy rooms, and a brief stroll to every part.
- Hampton Inn New Smyrna Seaside – Situated 7 minutes’ stroll from the seaside, this Florida lodge affords an out of doors pool, each day continental breakfast, and free WiFi
- Greatest Western New Smyrna Seaside Resort & Suites – Situated proper on the seaside with an out of doors pool and the Seascape Eating Room on web site.
- Inn on the Avenue – On Flagler Ave cute boutique model with character comes with American breakfast together with champagne!
- Trip Leases – In the event you’re touring with household or staying longer, New Smyrna Seaside has tons of charming seaside cottages and condos accessible on VRBO or Reserving.com.
- Black Dolphin Inn: We wished to remain at this award-winning, boutique property outdoors of the seaside space close to the waterways, but it surely was a two-night minimal, and we stayed in New Smyrna Seaside for one night time. In the event you like a bit of seclusion, this is able to be the proper property – if you would like proximity to eating places and nightlife, a lodge close to the seaside and Flagler Ave could be extra appropriate.
Why we’ll be again to New Smyrna Seaside
New Smyrna Seaside took us without warning in one of the best ways. It’s a spot that manages to really feel relaxed and thrilling suddenly, too crowded, however by no means boring both.
It’s a city with tales, browsing, model, 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 the event you’re road-tripping in Florida, or flying into Daytona Seaside like we did, make sure you carve out time for New Smyrna Seaside. It’d simply develop into your favourite Florida seaside city, too.
