New Beach of Smyrna
Space Coast’s northernmost tip, in Volusia County
One of the coolest surfing towns in the world
In November 2013, Travel & Leisure Magazine rate the town of New Smyrna as one of the top 15 “World’s Coolest Surf Towns.”
In fact, it was the only city on the east coast of the United States to make the top 15 list. The New Smyrna Beach is 500 feet wide at low tide – lots of room for everyone, whether you come to soak up the sun, cast a line into the surf, build sand castles with the kids or cruise along the shoreline in your convertible.
New Smyrna Beach activities & attractions
A visit to New Smyrna Beach will make life easy for you. While visitors to the area have been increasing in recent years, it rarely feels crowded, although traffic can be frustrating. What advice do we give? Park your car and walk around.
Residents are immensely protective of their Spanish ruins, some of which claim to be the original settlement of St. Augustine. Nobody knows whether they are or not, but if you’re a history buff, they’re worth a visit.
New Smyrna is in all directions surrounded by attractions. Drive south for an hour and you’ll find the Kennedy Space Center. Drive on the Daytona International Speedway for half an hour north. Let your inner child go to Walt Disney World, Sea World, and Universal Studios for an hour or so so south-east.
At New Smyrna Beach, there’s always something going on at all four seasons. The New Smyrna Beach Visitor’s office has a complete listing, irrespective of the time of year you visit.
Hotels in Smyrna
Artificial light to the beach is minimized from May to October and hotels on the beach are diligent to help their guests fulfill their needs.
The reduction in light is to help nesting tortoises head towards the ocean, rather than towards hotels and the street. But you won’t miss the light on your own; the ocean is beautiful.
Inn on the Avenue – Located on the iconic Flagler Ave, the Inn on the Avenue is smack in the center of all the shops and restaurants and a 5-minute walk from the beach – close enough to enjoy the sand but far enough to escape the wind.
Although the inn was built in 2013, it imitates a hundred-year-old fashion with over-sized duvets and cozy rooms. Rates range from $170 per night to $350 per night. They are known for breakfast, so make sure you have time to eat before leaving for the day.
Riverview Hotel & Spa – Built more than 130 years, you’ll fall in love with the charm of the Riverview Hotel & Spa the moment you arrive. Small but luxuriously appointed rooms overlook either the pool or the river.
Bikes are available to all guests, and bike lanes are available everywhere, so safety is not a concern. Nightly rates range from $170 to %350 per night. We highly recommend cocktails on the Key West Deck to enjoy your meals at the Riverview restaurant. Bliss!
Best Western – If you want a room that overlooks the ocean and is literally on the sand, the Best Western is an economical choice.
Don’t expect anything fancy, but the hotel is clean, the staff is friendly, and if necessary, there’s a restaurant on site. This hotel is our top choice if your need for creature comfort is overridden by the proximity to the beach.
We recommend exploring Booking.com for more hotel recommendations across the New Smyrna Beach area.
Restaurants in Smyrna
Norwood’s Eatery and Treehouse Bar – If you’ve never eaten dinner in a treehouse, you must visit Norwood’s. The restaurant is actually built with a catwalk between the two around a pair of trees. The food is equally impressive while the experience is very cool.
The Garlic – Also built around a grove of trees, The Garlic is all on one level and it’s very hard to tell whether you’re eating inside or out. Unless it’s raining.
I walked to the restaurant, and from blocks away I could smell the garlic. Their signature is served with bread (no charge) – soaked in olive oil and roasted slowly, the garlic clove is mashed at the table and used as a spread on Italian bread. Equally inspired will be the rest of your experience.
Wake-Up Café – If you’re a breakfast foodie, the Wake-Up Café is the best place in town to start your day. They don’t have a website, but if you’re curious what other travelers have to say about them, you can catch them on Facebook.
Some of our other favorites are Spanish River Grill, Third Wave, Garden Fusion and Café Verde.
Beach in New Smyrna
The Florida coast’s Atlantic side is distinctly different from the inner gulf coast. Winds buffeting off the ocean will affect this Atlantic side more frequently, affecting water currents, tidal effects, and undertakings.
More prone to the harsh effects of hurricanes, it’s amazing how the weather patterns change from 100 miles from Gulf to Atlantic. Temperatures in the summer can reach well into the 90’s where winter weather is milder with highs reaching 70 ‘F and lows falling to 40 ‘F. In the heat of July and August, the water temperature fluctuates from 65°F (coolest December through March) to 80°F.