FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 1, 2018
Recharge This Spring in New Smyrna Beach
17 Miles of Beaches to Enjoy in East Central Florida
NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. – As winter blues fade and spring breaks through, travelers seek a brighter forecast full of sunshine. New Smyrna Beach’s 17 miles of sand stretches from Ponce de Leon Inlet to Canaveral National Seashore, answering the call. This barrier island in east Central Florida is an ideal and affordable escape offering stays in oceanfront flagged hotels, condominiums and vacation rentals with short walks to the beach and in many cases, just steps from the shore. Lift is available from three nearby airports including Orlando International Airport, Orland Sanford International Airport and Daytona Beach International Airport offering direct service to Atlanta and Charlotte and nonstop service to New York City.
Trading snow for sun, visitors can enjoy this coastal town and its enduring seaside spirit at beaches that speak to their personality.
North Beach
Popular with surfers, this stretch of beach is best known for its consistent and performance-friendly break. Surfer magazine recently touted it one of the “Best Surf Towns in America”. Surf fishing is also prevalent here with anglers anchored in the sand with rod in hand trying to catch Pompano, whiting, flounder, redfish, Spanish mackerel and more. Convenient for transporting your surfboard or fishing gear, visitors may drive on this section of beach with access from Crawford Road and Beachway Avenue. Off-beach parking is also available at Grayce Kenemer Barck North Beach Community Park and Esther Street Beachfront Park where the kids can enjoy an oceanfront playground and beach volleyball court.
Smyrna Dunes Park
Four-legged visitors have brought fame to this stretch of sand through #puppiesofinstagram stars like
@hankthetank_frenchie and @elote.the.dachshund who enjoy their daily walks while taking in the incredible view of Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse. Smyrna Dunes Park has a quiet beach along the Intracoastal Waterway that rounds the tip of the barrier island and is just steps from where the 73-acre park opens to pristine land surrounded by water on three sides. Wildlife is plentiful with daily sightings of birds, turtles and dolphins. And outdoor explorers can enjoy a two -mile boardwalk and 350-foot fishing pier.
Central Beach
Beginning at the island’s main street, bustling Flagler Avenue, and home to the NSB Lifeguard Station, this shoreline is popular with families. Heading south for roughly two-and-a-half miles, vehicles are welcome to drive on the beach obeying a strict 10 mph speed limit and driving with headlights on. Convenience is key here with parking available right on the sand. Nearly 500 feet wide at low tide, this stretch of sand can accommodate vehicles and pedestrians with plenty of space for running, tossing the football or frisbee, or building sandcastles. For those who prefer to walk down to the beach, off-beach parking is available at Marianne Clancy Park, and the Flagler Avenue, Third Avenue, and 27th Avenue beach approaches.
Traffic-Free Beach
Beginning at 27th Avenue and heading south, visitors enjoy a completely traffic-free beach. A place to enjoy the sea with a good book in hand, swim in the surf or be buried in the sand. Off-beach parking is available at 27th Avenue and in historic Bethune Beach at Mary McLeod Bethune Park. As we celebrate Black History Month, Bethune Beach stands out as the only beach in the first half of the 20th century in Volusia County that welcomed African Americans. It is named after Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, educator and founder of Bethune-Cookman College in nearby Daytona Beach.
Canaveral National Seashore
Canaveral National Seashore begins where AIA ends in New Smyrna Beach. A 24-mile stretch of pristine shoreline welcomes visitors to enjoy an unspoiled paradise. This beach is a sanctuary to visitors and refuge to native wildlife including nesting sea turtles. It is a place to discover and find tranquility like that of its early settlers.
Unique for Florida beaches, New Smyrna Beach offers five fire pits where beach bonfires are allowed. Whether celebrating your first night or your last, this time-honored tradition brings together family and friends around a flame enjoying s’mores, telling stories and entertaining. Available outside of sea turtle nesting season, November through April, guests only need to bring the wood and themselves. Use of the fire pits is complimentary and reservations are on a first-come, first-serve basis and can be made online.
About the New Smyrna Beach Area
New Smyrna Beach is an eclectic mix of old and new; of subtle sophistication and bohemian soul that is as “real” as Florida gets. It occupies a notable place in history as the second oldest city in Florida, site of the largest single attempt at British colonization in the new world. In 2018, the destination celebrates 250 years of New Smyrna Beach. The city’s barrier island is recognized worldwide for its incredible surf with Surfer magazine recently touting it one of the “Best Surf Towns in America”. Accommodations range from charming bed and breakfast inns to family-size condominium units and oceanfront hotels. Natural attractions include 17 miles of sandy beaches from Ponce de Leon Inlet to Canaveral National Seashore and North America’s most diverse estuary – the Indian River Lagoon. Two distinct downtowns along Flagler Avenue and Canal Street and connected via the Waterfront Loop welcome visitors with independent restaurants, unique shops, artisanal coffee shops and art galleries.
For more information, visit www.VisitNSBfl.com or call 386-428-1600. For the latest news, follow Facebook.com/VisitNewSmyrnaBeach, @visitnewsmyrnabeach on Instagram or @NewSmyrnaBeach1 on Twitter. Download the free ‘New Smyrna Beach’ Mobile App for iPhone and Android to receive this information on-the-go.
Media Contact: Gentry Baumline-Robinson, Communications Manager
New Smyrna Beach Area Visitors Bureau
Phone: 386.428.1600
Email: Gentry@visitnsbfla.com
