There is something for everyone in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. Its rich history and culture, outdoor adventure options, and exciting food scene makes it the ultimate destination for families and solo travelers alike. But even though there’s “beach” in the name, there’s much more than sand to experience in New Smyrna Beach.
Outdoor Adventures
New Smyrna Beach is a paradise for those who love the outdoors. You'll never run out of new things to see and do.
The Smyrna Dunes Park is perched on 73 acres of pristine land at the northern tip of the New Smyrna Beach peninsula. Waters from the Indian River flow through Ponce Inlet and into the Atlantic Ocean providing a variety of fishing or swimming venues for park-goers.
The Park also provides a unique opportunity for visitors to see a wide variety of animals, birds, reptiles, marine life, and vegetation in their natural habitat. To ensure safety and preserve the habitat, more than two miles of elevated boardwalks, picnic areas, and pavilions have been built, in addition to an observation tower.
Take advantage of the numerous, award-winning walking, cycling, and horseback riding trails, such as the Southeast Trail. This nearly three-mile trail launches from the beach at Menard-May Park. Paddle across the Intracoastal Waterway and Firecracker Island and note the large sandbar at low tide. Your journey can include a paddle around the mangrove island on the east side of the channel.
Wanting to keep your feet on dry land? New Smyrna Beach has a variety of options. For example, the New Smyrna Beach area has two pedestrian bridges and three segments of the East Central Regional Rail Trail, which will stretch 52 miles from Enterprise to Edgewater, including a 10-mile leg to Titusville. The showcase trail is 12 feet wide and paved, making it accessible to walkers, joggers, in-line skaters, bicyclists, and people with disabilities. Visitors can access the Deltona trailhead at Green Springs Park.
Looking for a place to fish? George R. Kennedy Memorial Park is located on S. Riverside Drive in Edgewater. Amenities for the park include boat launching ramps, boat trailer parking, a fishing pier, free Wi-Fi, pavilions, and picnic tables. Enjoy a relaxing day with and picnic with friends, family, and your fishing pole.
Another park popular with visitors is Riverside Pavilion Park. This neighborhood park, which is directly on the Halifax River, offers a fishing pier, playground, restroom, picnic tables and spots to view wildlife. It’s a perfect place to take the kids and keep them entertained with a variety of activities…and relaxing places for the adults.
Indoor Options
New Smyrna Beach may be an outdoor lover’s paradise, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t a variety of things to do on those days when you just want to stay indoors. The New Smyrna Museum of History is always a popular choice. Whether it’s Native American artifacts, England’s largest colonial plantation, railroad memorabilia, or pictures of life 100 years ago, you are sure to find exhibit items to satisfy your interests. A stroll down the museum’s Perimeter Gallery is like walking through time. Walk down the hall surrounding the center exhibit to follow a timeline of New Smyrna History, starting with fossils and the earliest Americans, and ending with a tribute to New Smyrna’s Vietnam War veterans. Visitors can also view beautifully embroidered tapestries made through the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in the 1930s, Civil War displays, Fishing and hunting displays, Household items from 100 years ago, and photographs of New Smyrna in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Many visitors typically have an “art day” while in New Smyrna Beach and that includes a visit to The Hub on Canal. Located in the historic district in NSB, The Hub on Canal provides a broad range of activities, including art exhibitions, artwork created by 80 local artists, events, educational classes and workshops, and local community outreach programs.
You can also take your turn to paint “happy little clouds” at The Bob Ross Art Workshop & Gallery. The gallery was started by the Joy of Painting star in 1992. The Workshop hosts a large collection of Bob's original oil paintings, many of which visitors will recognize from his Public Television series, "The Joy of Painting". The Workshop offers classes in the Bob Ross unique style of oil painting and has a selection of instructional books, novelty items, and a variety of frames to suit all tastes.
Experiences that keep you coming back
On the beach or off, New Smyrna Beach is the perfect vacation location. With its staggering array of water, land, and sand adventures, New Smyrna Beach is a destination that will keep you coming back year after year.
