Things to do / Travel Guide
Address:New Smyrna Beach, Florida
"Among ducks, a swan" is the motto of New Smyrna Beach, 15 miles south of Daytona Beach. All the beaches here are beautiful, but people claim that this is the most beautiful of all. It has 13 miles of snow-white sand, and an endless list of cool stuff to do. You can count on getting a great tan while sunbathing on the shores of the Atlantic on its east side, those of the Intro Coastal Waterway to its west, or at Mosquito Lagoon cozied up somewhere in the middle. There are excellent waves that are ideal for all sorts of action-packed water sports like boogie boarding and surf fishing. Those on a hunt for hidden treasure may come upon rare coins, unbroken sand dollars, and shells that wash up on the sand-packed beaches. But the beach itself is a treasure. It's not far from Orlando either, and provides a great place to unwind and recharge your batteries after a few days amidst the crowds of the nearby amusement parks.
Fishing at New Smyrna Beach is a fisherman's dream. You can rent a boat and head out to the calm of the ocean for the day. The waters are full of fish, including mackerel, redfish, bullfish, tuna, and wahoo, and few people come back empty handed after a day out on the water. New Smyrna Beach hosts the Smyrna Redfish Classic tournament, held over one day at Riverside Park every September. Anyone can participate, and the winner is the person who catches the fish that has the most spots! Another popular festival held at Smyrna Beach is the Fish Stock held every Memorial Day and devoted to fishing enthusiasts. There are seminars on fishing, boat shows, and fishing tournaments, with lots of great seafood and live music.
The waves here are ideal for surfing, and are famous among surfers worldwide for the consistent inlet surf, said to be the best on the east coast. For those wanting to chill on the beach and soak up the sun, go to 27th Avenue Park, where there are restrooms, picnic areas, and free parking, which is a rare find in this area. There are also volleyball and basketball courts, and even a place for a game of racquetball. It's probably best to bring your own lunch if you won't want to risk losing your spot on the sand during the day to find something to snack on.
The community of New Smyrna Beach is close enough to the beach to walk there and you'll find restaurants and an array of stores to seek refuge in when you've had enough of the heat. There are also lovely B&Bs in the area, condos for rent, and hotels. For those wanting to prolong their beach time and enjoy the beautiful star studded nights in the ocean air, there are campsites and places to park RVs.
Although New Smyrna Beach is especially appealing to lovers of the sea, it provides a wonderful beach setting for everyone in a beautiful environment with the hub of the city close, but not too close. You know it's there if you want it, but you'll enjoy the sun, the fresh sea air and the relative calm of the beach, if only just for a little while…