Fun things to do in New Smyrna Beach, just one hour from Disney World
By Helen Wright
If you’re surprised that one of the biggest tourist spots in Florida doesn’t have a beach – you aren’t the only one. So many people don’t realise there’s no beach in Orlando, but only a short drive away is one of Florida’s lesser known coastal towns and it’s marvellous. If you haven’t heard of New Smyrna Beach, this is your lucky day.
Where is New Smyrna Beach?
New Smyrna Beach is only an hour drive from Orlando and almost a secret spot for out-of-town tourists, despite being one of the closest beaches to Disney World and the theme parks. On the east Coast, just 20-minutes south of Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach has 17 miles of white, sandy beach and is one of those quintessential Florida beach towns that’s an ideal antidote to the full-on theme parks of Orlando.
Fun things to do in New Smyrna Beach, Florida
There is nothing like that laid-back, Florida charm. Think sun-faded Adirondack chairs, flimsy rainbow parasols on the beach and ice-cold margaritas with a sea view. This is what you will get in New Smyrna Beach, a relaxed beach vibe that will always incorporate flip flops and sand in your hair.
Where to go in New Smyrna Beach
The main tourist area is the joint downtowns of Flagler Avenue and Canal Street, which are known as the ‘Waterfront Loop’. Leading on to the beach, at Flagler Avenue, you will find a collection of independent shops, restaurants, cafes and bars.
Much of New Smyrna Beach’s big personality is outdoors. The beach, of course is the headline act. Stretching for 17-miles, the oceanfront is never overcrowded and New Smyrna is blessed with thick, white sand and plenty of space. In fact, the beach here is so wide that it’s classed as a public highway, meaning you can drive a car on the beach! There is an access fee of $10 per day, but then you can drive up to a good spot, park the car and pitch up for the day with somewhere to keep all your beach bits, spare clothes and a cooler for food and drink. For Brits like us, it’s a real novelty!
In fact, we decided to make our beach day even more fun by swapping our rental car (which we had been cooped up in all week in Orlando) for a golf buggy. We rented a golf cart for the day from Paradise Power Sports (full day $125). You are able to drive it on most roads in the Flagler Avenue and Canal Street area and, of course, on the beach. It was a real novelty for us and the kids absolutely loved it.
Explore Smyrna Dunes Park
The unique and beautiful Smyrna Dunes Park is a 184-acre nature reserve along Ponce de Leon Inlet, between the city and the beach. The park has over a mile of elevated boardwalk trails to allow you to enjoy the park without disturbing the wildlife and plants. There are little areas with shade and picnic benches to stop and enjoy the view and some routes lead directly on to the beach, which is spectacular.
Entry is $10, but the park is immaculate. You can spend an afternoon exploring or a day on the beach if you want to. The 1.4 mile boardwalk trail is a circular loop and despite being elevated, is flat and wheelchair accessible. The kids enjoyed trying to spot the Gopher tortoise that inhabit the area and their nests. There are information boards explaining more about the wildlife and vistas, with fun facts. There is also diverse birdlife here.
It was a hot day but our reward was an almost deserted beach around half way along. Aside from a few people fishing, we were the only ones on the beach. The sea here has a long tide, so perfect for young children to play in the shallow waves.
TOP TIP: Pack plenty of water, food if you are staying a while, swimwear, towels, hats, sunglasses and extra sunscreen, as there are no shops or facilities on the trail. There are toilets at the trailhead by the car park.
Kayak Tours in New Smyrna Beach
Another way to enjoy the water and embrace Florida’s beautiful marine life is on a kayak. From New Smyrna Beach, take the drive to Canaveral National Seaside Park, which is the longest stretch of undeveloped Atlantic coastline in Florida. This barrier island is protected, unspoilt and absolutely beautiful.
Book a guided kayak tour with Viking Eco Tours, a local company with expert guides that really know their stuff. If you have weak arms (like me), the kayaks are actually pedal kayaks, which are so much easier to operate and steer.
We did the 90-minute morning kayak tour ($90 per adult) with Eric and it was idyllic. With the exception of a few small boats passing through, we were the only people on the water. With Eric leading us, he shared a wealth of information as we kayaked across the terrifyingly-named ‘Mosquito Lagoon’ (insect repellent is highly recommended, but I am told there are no more of the little buggers here than on other similar waterways in Florida).
During our tour, serene manatees were literally swimming beside us. I couldn’t believe it! We spotted pods of dolphins ahead of us too. It was incredible. Eric makes a conscious effort to ensure we paddle away from the wildlife, so not to disturb them, but sometimes they surprise you by being right there! In those circumstances we were asked to stop paddling and pause until they passed.
At one point, a manatee caught our guide Eric by surprise with a huge splash, absolutely soaking him.
Highly recommend this experience with Viking Eco Tours, not only to support a local company but because his passion and knowledge of the area and wildlife was unmatched.
By night, in certain weather conditions, you can also do this tour in the dark and see Florida’s incredible natural bioluminescence, where the water glows in rainbow colours. I felt my children were a bit young for this, so we will definitely return and do the tour when they are a bit older. The peak bioluminescence season is from May to October.
Wander along Flagler Avenue
If one street was to capture New Smyrna Beach’s bohemian energy, it’s the famous Flagler Avenue. This colourful high street runs only five blocks from the beach but is packed with quirky shops, independent coffee shops, restaurants and lively bars. Flagler Avenue is such an explosion of colour and personality, it reminded me of Key West, but more relaxed and less bonkers.
Our Flagler Avenue favourites were Treats on the Beach Ice Cream Shop, Big Bamboo and Vintage Thang. Plus, of course, the Flagler Tavern for dinner.
See our New Smyrna Beach restaurant post for foodie recommendations.
Check out Canal Street Historic District
Canal Street in New Smyrna Beach has a different look and vibe that is a little more stylish and cool. Still with a definite focus on local businesses and independent shops and restaurants, Canal Street has a more polished, small town Florida feel than its beachside sister.
Interestingly, this area of New Smyrna Beach is the most historic, with the New Smyrna Museum of History giving an interesting display of the city’s 250-year back story. For those who love classic architecture, there is number of picturesque Colonial and Mediterranean Revival buildings, along with palm tree-lined streets that radiate pre-war Florida charm.
Don’t miss The Hub on Canal, a very cool makers space and working art gallery in the heart of the historic arts district. We loved browsing Spinning Records and popping into the NSB Brewery for local craft brews and a good old chat with the locals.
Jimmy Hulas is a top spot for lunch (excellent margaritas too!) and for dinner, we loved General Public House, which had an exceptional menu and great food as well as live music.
Yoga on New Smyrna Beach
New Smyrna Beach really is the perfect beach destination to escape the intense schedule of Orlando theme parks and really appreciate Florida’s natural beauty. On the last morning, we embraced our inner zen with a family yoga session on the beach with OM Sunshine.
Our teacher, Michelle, managed to keep the kids’ attention for a good 25 minutes before we lost them to body boarding in the waves, which was far more impressive than I would have managed. For us parents, taking a moment to stretch and breath with a view to kill was a very good way to start the day. OM Sunshine also do Paddleboard Yoga for those who’d rather be in the water, but we opted for the beach as I’m not sure it would have been as relaxing with two kids under eight.
Take a Tiki Tour
For one last (very Florida) fun activity, hop on board a Toon Tiki Charter tour for a carefree cruise around Chicken Island! Chicken Island is located between the North and South Causeways and is mostly known as an excellent fishing location. Florida ‘lore says Rum smugglers once roamed the islands of Ponce Inlet, so pour yourself a Captain Morgan as you pass by in salute.
This party boat is family-friendly and you can bring your own snacks & beverages, including alcohol.
Where to stay in New Smyrna Beach
There are so many accommodation options in New Smyrna Beach, including upscale hotels and guest houses, moderate and budget hotels and motels and apartment or house rentals. With only a short stay here and wanting to be close to the beach, we decided that a family-friendly condo with a sea view would be ideal and it was.
We stayed in a beautiful apartment at Casago Coastal Volusia Oceania Beach Club, which had a communal games room, laundry and beachfront swimming pool. The condo was decorated with a salt washed, beachy theme. Our room looked directly out onto the beach and we had a private balcony. There was a full kitchen, which was so handy for fixing a quick breakfast or lunch and we had a big TV in the living room with cable channels to keep us occupied once the kids went to bed.
The location of the apartment was ideal, with beach access directly from the condo and a short walking distance to the restaurants and shops of Flagler Avenue. Parking was included.
Condos at Casago Coastal Volusia start from $1,700 + taxes and fees per week.
For more information on New Smyrna Beach, Florida, go to visitnsbfl.com
See our videos and highlights on Instagram for more New Smyrna Beach Inspiration.
