We had just unpacked our bags in our beachside hotel room, looking forward to a weekend of outdoor activities and sunshine, when we heard the patter of raindrops hitting the windows. A quick check of the weather on my phone showed rain lasting the whole weekend. Although we were initially disappointed, we quickly discovered that the New Smyrna Beach Area offers just as much fun and excitement indoors for a great weekend away as it does outside.
Exploring the Arts Scene
We had read about the vibrant arts scene in the area, so we set out to visit some of the art museums and galleries in town. At the Atlantic Center for the Arts, we discovered a fabulous exhibition of mixed-media works by a Florida artist. The beautiful still-life paintings entranced us, making us forget about the wet weather outside. The show running at Arts on Douglas also featured work by another local artist, this one reflecting the influence of the state’s vast coastal wetlands in colorful depictions of the scenery. We wandered up and down Canal Street, in the Historic District, popping into the numerous fine art galleries and artisan shops in the neighborhood, marveling at the talent of the area’s painters, illustrators, and photographers.
Of course, how could we visit New Smyrna Beach and not stop at the Bob Ross Art Workshop? Opened by Ross himself, the gallery displays several of the artist’s original works and even offers classes in the unique “Wet-on-Wet” style of oil painting he made famous in his PBS series, The Joy of Painting. Definitely something to remember for our next visit!
Learning the Area’s History
The New Smyrna Beach Area celebrates its interesting and vibrant history through several unique museums, as we soon discovered. We took a step back in time at the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse and Museum, where we enjoyed the breathtaking panoramic view from the top of the lighthouse. We then toured the various homes of the keeper and his staff and learned about the workings of this magnificent beacon from an informational film. The exhibit about the refugees who bravely attempt to make their way to freedom on their homemade rafts really brought history alive for us and certainly put our disappointment about the inclement weather in perspective!
The New Smyrna Museum of History houses several exhibits, including those on the Native Americans who lived in what became the state of Florida, the British Turnbull Settlement who fought the harsh living conditions while creating what would be the beginning of New Smyrna Beach and Golden years of railroading in the area. A more lighthearted look at surfing through the museum’s display of historic photos, boards, and artwork, as well as an exhibit honoring local veterans who served our country, rounded out our visit.
Finding Indoor Adventure
Instead of exploring the city’s outdoor trails, we laced up our rental shoes to hit the alleys at New Smyrna Lanes. The 16-lane bowling alley has been family-owned and operated for over 60 years, providing afternoons and evenings of fun for all ages. We certainly aren’t ready to join a pro league, but we had a great time nonetheless.
We also tried our hand at solving a mystery at the New Smyrna Beach Escape Room. Working together, we managed to piece together the puzzle of clues in under an hour to emerge victorious from their Murder 101 room.
A Delightful Evening
Since we couldn’t enjoy the warmth of the sun outside on this trip, we decided to make our dinner a tropical adventure at Avanu on Flagler. With its Polynesian decor and an inviting covered outdoor bar/dining area, the restaurant made us feel like we were deep in the tropics. The menu offers a variety of Asian- and South Pacific–inspired dishes, from spring rolls with a spicy glaze, to pork bao buns, to curries. Topping off the meal with a fruity cocktail made the experience like a mini-vacation inside our vacation.
After our meal, we headed over to the Little Theater to take in their current production. We were lucky to get tickets on short notice to one of the eight shows they put on each year. The theater was renovated in 2005, to become a state-of-the-art facility that supports the local theater scene.
Although the New Smyrna Beach Area is renowned for its outdoor recreation, as we discovered, the region also is home to numerous places to enjoy your time indoors as well.
