New Smyrna Beach Vacation Guide New Smyrna Beach is a quiet, seaside retreat located at the mouth of the Ponce de Leon inlet, which serves as the gateway to the historic and picturesque Indian River Lagoon. Bounded at the south by the 57,000 acre Canaveral National Seashore Park and at the north by Smyrna Dunes Park, New Smyrna Beach boosts 13 miles of stunning Atlantic coastline. Our rental condo vacation home is located in the middle of the island offering plenty of interesting historical sites and attractions, like the St. Augustine, Walt Disney World, Sea World, Kennedy Space Center, Cypress Gardens and Daytona Speedway. Comprised of a large barrier island and mainland area, this Florida vacation area encompasses 32 square miles. The area offers outdoor and water related activities like boating and fishing, a thriving cultural scene with jazz and art festivals and environmental and historic treasures. Visit the Turnbill Ruins, the Old Stone Wharf, Atlantic Center for the Arts or the Sugar Mill Ruins. Experience leisure at its finest by swimming and beachcombing at the "World's Safest Bathing Beach," where the temperature of the water and the air average a perfect 70 degrees. Come aboard a river cruise to take in the Indian River scenery while relaxing on deck. For the more adventurous, surfing is the main attraction of New Smyrna Beach. We offer one of the best surfing spots in North America. Rock ledges a few miles offshore cause wave breaks that are perfect for surfing and prevent dangerous undertows. Beginners and experts consider our beach their first choice for catching waves. The American Professional Surfing Association hosts a competition in New Smyrna each year. Named one of the "America's Top Small Cities for The Arts," New Smyrna Beach is active year round with art festivals and gallery openings. Our Top Picks Canaveral National Seashore: Just a few miles from our condo is the Canaveral National Seashore, a 57,000-acre national park nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian River. Canaveral National Seashore is one of the longest stretches of pristine coastline in the United States. The park provides visitors with hiking trails, campsites, seaside horseback riding, a restored turn-of-the-century home, museum and a visitors' information center, which provides ranger-led educational programs throughout the year. Home to more than 250 species of birds and land animals, the salt marshes, mangroves, lagoons and river estuaries provide feeding grounds for its fascinating variety of creatures. Plant enthusiasts can locate more than 700 species of native coastal vegetation. Canaveral National Seashore also serves as a refuge for endangered and protected species of Florida wildlife. Even Florida panthers are occasionally spotted. Read more about Canaveral National Seashore. Spa At Riverview: This totally new facility is the result of a multi-year effort to gather and gain the best aspects of the world's top spas. You will be treated to a highly trained staff at an elegant facility designed for your total peace, wellness and rejuvenation. Treatments include: Massages, Facials, Body Treatments, Manicures, Pedicures and Full Body Waxing. Located on at 103 Flagler Avenue, 386-424-6262. Go to their web site. Smyrna Dunes Park: Located on the north end of New Smyrna Beach, Dunes Park is 73 acres of pristine land surrounded by water on three sides. It's a unique opportunity for naturalists, ecologists, students and the general public to see a wide variety of animals, birds, reptiles, marine life and vegetation in their natural habitat. To protect the natural habitat, more than two miles of elevated boardwalks, picnic areas, pavilions and an observation tower have been erected. Boating, Fishing, Cruising Fishing is a fun way to reel in a good time, whether you surf fish in New Smyrna Beach, the redfish capitol of the world, or spend a lazy day angling on the pristine Indian River in Edgewater or on the Halifax River in Port Orange. Boat rentals, charters and expert guide services make fishing easy, and these resources are almost as plentiful as the fish themselves. Local tournaments like FishStock, held every Memorial Day attract anglers worldwide. So grab a pole and hop on board. The big ones are biting in the Greater New Smyrna Beach Area! Eco Tours at Marine Discovery Center (386) 428-4828 Manatee Scenic Boat Tours (386) 428-0201 Back Water Marine-Boat & fishing Equipment (386) 427-4514 Airboat Rides, Captain Mark Thomas, (407) 920-5505 Golf Turnbull Bay Golf Club was designed using the natural surroundings to preserve the old Florida feel as well as ensuring golfers a memorable golf experience. Recently, Turnbull Bay replaced all 18 greens with new Seashore Paspalum greens. Turnbull Bay Golf Club is now the only semi-private facility in Central Florida with Seashore Paspalum greens. (386) 427-8727 New Smyrna Beach Golf Course is 18-holes with 6,450 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 72. Designed by Donald J. Ross, ASGCA(R)Robert (Bobby) Weed, ASGCA, the New Smyrna Beach golf course opened in 2006. Reduced rates are available for twilight golfing and tee times can be scheduled ahead seven days. (386) 424-2191 Bird Watching Birdwatchers love New Smyrna Beach. Savor the Experience of finding your favorite of more than 400 species of birds. Canaveral National Seashore is a protected bird sanctuary, and the waters of both the Atlantic and the Indian River provide fertile ground for some incredible bird watching. The Great Florida Birding Trail-a collection of sites recognized by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for excellent birding-runs through and includes New Smyrna Beach. This is one destination that makes the heart of every bird lover soar. Day Trips to nearby Cape Canaveral, St. Augustine, Daytona & Orlando Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex at Cape Canaveral: NASA's launch headquarters is the only place on Earth where you can tour launch areas, meet a veteran astronaut, see giant rockets, train in spaceflight simulators, and even view a launch. In two giant IMAX theaters, the dream of spaceflight comes alive with a wall of sound, a five-story screen and realistic 3-D special effects. Dramatic footage shot by NASA astronauts during actual missions will make you feel like you’re floating alongside them. Take a guide tour by space program experts deeper into the operations of Kennedy Space Center. On Shuttle Launch Experience, visitors strap in to the sights, sounds and sensations of a real Space Shuttle launch. The journey begins as passengers enter the Shuttle Launch Simulation Facility, a looming six-story structure that looks like the actual Space Shuttle facilities at Kennedy Space Center. As crew members ascend along the gantry, veteran shuttle astronauts share testimonials, setting the stage for the experience to come. For more, go to their web site. St. Augustine: The City that was never conquered! St. Augustine was founded forty-two years before the English colony at Jamestown, Virginia, and fifty-five years before the Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock in Massachusetts - making it the oldest permanent European settlement on the North American continent. Hidden away in the marshes of St. Augustine, Florida is one of the most important sites in American history: the first free community of ex-slaves, founded in 1738 and called Gracia Real de Santa Teresa de Mose or Fort Mose (pronounced Moh-Say). For more, go to their web site. Daytona Beach: The Daytona International Speedway is a versatile 480-acre motorsports facility that is home to the biggest, richest and most prestigious stock car race in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series- the DAYTONA 500. The track offers three separate tours that take race fans inside the hallowed grounds of NASCAR's marquee race track. Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse, completed in 1887 is the tallest lighthouse in Florida. This majestic facility stretches 175 feet into the sky. The surrounding grounds feature historical and nautical museum featuring a Fresnel Lens exhibit, artifacts on lighthouse life, shipwrecks, a gift shop and more. Read more on the official Daytona Beach travel web site. Orlando: Visitors both young and young at heart immerse themselves in the world’s top theme parks nearby in Orlando. From the classic Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort to the magical Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort, there's a world for everyone to escape into. Also take advantage of experiences that are uniquely Orlando, like flying through a swamp on an airboat or getting up close with wildlife at Gatorland or Sea World's Discovery Cove. At Sea World Orlando, take a fascinating glimpse into world of beauty and mystery beneath the sea through the unforgettable Sea World Orlando shows, up-close Sea World animal encounters and the exhilarating rides at Sea World® Orlando, the world's most popular marine adventure park. From the water-soaked spectacle of Sea World's Believe, featuring Shamu, Sea World's world-famous killer whale, to state-of-the-art thrill rides like Manta, the only flying roller coaster of its kind in the world; Sea World's Journey to Atlantis, which features a 60-foot drop; and Sea World's Kraken, Orlando's tallest and fastest roller coaster with speeds of up to 65 miles per hour. Read more about Orlando Attractions on their official vacation guide. Shopping Near Our Condo Clay Gallery is located on the corner of Riverside Drive and Douglas Street across the street form the intracoastal waterway and Riverside Park. The gallery has a unique feature: two resident artists with studios on the premises. Professional potter and owner Teresa Bowen and professional jeweler Bud Gilbert. Shopping in the Clay Gallery is similar to visiting an art fair. It hosts about 80 artisits from around the nation. The gallery includes a variety of pottery, jewelry, blown glass, wood works, paintings and photography. TA DA Gallery: Jenny Norado and Susan Thornton are the gallery owners and it’s located on the east side of the North Causeway on Flagler Avenue, next to the Riverview Hotel. The Gallery represents over 50 local area artists. A wonderful array of watercolors, oils, graphic design, pottery, stitchery, jewelry, and so much more. Mosquito Mud Pottery: Our work is a collaborative effort in that we share ideas with one another to create and better our work as a whole, not just steps in the process of making pots. We are artists in the sense that we constantly try to find solutions to actualize our ideas creatively through art whether it is photography, painting, making paper, silver-smithing, or beadwork and stone carving. Located at 141 Canal St. Restaurants Near Our Beach Condo Beacon Restaurant: 416 Flagler Avenue, A beachside family restaurant with the best burgers in town. That’s Amore: 103 South Pine Street, Fine Italian cuisine made with the freshest products and always made to order. This is one of owner Terry’s favorite restaurants for homemade pizza and a good bottle of wine. Aunt Catfish’s: 4009 Halifax Dr, Port Orange, No pretenses at this southern seafood joint on the river. Voted best seafood in 2010. Another owner favorite for great seafood and terrific bar drinks like made-from-scratch mojitos and margaritas. Boston's Fish House: 1414 S. Atlantic, Great seafood from New England, quick and easy. Heavenly Barb-B-Que: 203 S. Atlantic Avenue, Real smoked barb-b-que, family atmosphere. Beach views! J.B.'s Fish Camp & RestaurantL 859 Pompano Avenue, Southern Seafood with an Attitude Voted in top 10 Central Florida Restaurants in economy class. A seafood experience for the whole family. Malony's Oyster Bar: 147 Canal Street, A rare find where soups, stews and bisques are prepared individually behind the bar. Malony's prides itself on not using processed foods in its preparations. One of only nine restaurants in the U.S. using a steam kettle. Located in the historic district, a fun pub and gathering place for locals. Norwood's Restaurant & Wine Shop: 400 Second Ave. Excellent wine list and shop, since 1946, Norwood's has served the freshest seafood available. Also enjoy aged Angus Beef. The Grille at Riverview: 101 Flagler Avenue, One of our personal favorites, simply great food, spectacular river views. Historic Sites Near Our Beach Condo Turtle Mound: Dating back to 2000 BC, the Timucuan Indian civilization created Turtle Mound over a period of several hundred years. A kitchen midden made up of oyster and shellfish remains, Turtle Mound is seen seven miles out at sea and resembles the shape of a turtle. The highest point of elevation in the New Smyrna Beach area, Turtle Mound stands 50 feet tall and covers two acres. Located in Canaveral National Seashore Park, a trail to its peak leads to a spectacular panoramic view of the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean. Directions: Located south on A1A in Canaveral National Seashore. Turnbull Ruins: This coquina block foundation represents the colonization by Dr. Andrew Turnbull from 1766-1777. It's believed that he attempted to build his personal mansion on these coquina remains. Although the origination of the ruins is unknown, it's theorized that they may be the remnants of a precolonial fort or a colonial church. Florida Vacation Rentals