The NSB Insider

Golf, Fishing, BBQ, and Brews: Enjoy All the Good Stuff

Written by Pamela Hunt | Jul 9, 2024 9:02:42 PM

The New Smyrna Beach Area is your go-to spot for fun and flavor. Beyond the sandy shores, you'll find amazing golf courses, fishing adventures, mouthwatering BBQ joints, and cool craft breweries. Check out our guide to make the most of your visit and enjoy all the awesome things this area has to offer!

Tee Off in Paradise

With numerous courses to choose from, golfers will find the perfect set of greens for putting away the day. Plenty of water features and sand traps will remind players that they’re near the beach, even without putting their toes in the surf. In New Smyrna Beach, the 27-hole championship course at Sugar Mill Country Club welcomes players to its Joe Lee–designed greens. This facility is also certified by Audubon International as a Cooperative Sanctuary, so wildlife sightings are “par for the course.” The public New Smyrna Golf Club offers a complete range of clubhouse facilities, ensuring golfers have everything they need. To the north, golfers will enjoy the challenge of the 18-hole course at Crane Lakes in Port Orange, as well as its well-stocked pro shop. 

Fishing Adventures in Coastal Waters

Every type of angling can be found in the New Smyrna Beach Area: casting off from a pier, fishing on the water while kayaking or on a deep-sea charter, or standing in the surf, waiting for the perfect catch. Great land-based fishing spots abound in local parks, such as Spruce Creek, Riverside, and Buena Vista. Offshore charter boats, such as Holy Smokes Fishing Charters and Spot N Tail Charters, go out to deeper waters, where yellowfin tuna and cobia can be found. Guided excursions closer to shore, with Edgewater River Guide or Florida Inshore Fishing Charters, search the shallower waters of the lagoons and marshes for redfish, snapper, and trout. Anglers are sure to come away with more than stories about the one that got away.

A Where There’s Smoke, There’s BBQ

Choosing which barbecue style is the best can be a heated topic. Luckily, the New Smyrna Beach Area features several BBQ spots, so diners can judge for themselves which variety they like the most. New Smyrna Beach’s Colt’s Pig Stand serves up melt-in-your-mouth brisket and pulled pork, as well as their signature Fat Boy sandwich, topped with an onion ring. At Yellow Dog Eats, also in New Smyrna Beach, barbecue aficionados can enjoy pulled pork tacos, the smoked turkey Johnny Rocket sandwich, and even a selection of vegetarian dishes. Sonny’s BBQ in Port Orange offers a giant platter of St. Louis–style ribs, complete with BBQ beans, coleslaw, and garlic bread, guaranteed to keep you stuffed for days. At Port Orange’s Dustin’s Bar-B-Q, choose from one of their legendary combos, such as chicken and ribs or baby backs with beef or shrimp. Barbecue may not be fancy dining, but it’s sure to please the whole family.

Tasting the Local Beer Scene

Sampling craft beer has become a popular pastime, and brew lovers will find plenty of places to sip away in the New Smyrna Beach Area. Try a flight of samples at Typsy Unicorn Brewing in Edgewater before deciding on a favorite. Visitors will find it’s always “hoppy hour” at Dunes Brewing in Port Orange—stop in for trivia night, or check out the dishes at the food trucks that park there regularly. New Smyrna Beach Brewing offers a variety of beers, from thirst-quenching wheat ales to a slightly sweet red ale. Pucker up with a glass of Pineapple Tang Sour, very refreshing on a hot day. 

Of course, beers, both locally brewed and those from outside the area, are available in area restaurants and taverns as well. Third Wave Cafe & Wine Bar pours several New Smyrna Beach Area beers and offers an extensive wine list for those who prefer grapes to barley. At the Flagler Tavern, enjoy local beers at the oyster bar or over a shared Tavern Tower of seafood.

So, dive into all the good stuff the New Smyrna Beach Area has to offer - from golfing and fishing to enjoying delicious BBQ and craft brews. These experiences will make your visit unforgettable, leaving you longing to return for more adventures beyond the waves.