Father’s Day Lasts Longer in New Smyrna Beach
New Smyrna Beach is packed with activities for me and my kids to do together. With greenery-filled parks and miles of beautiful beaches, there are so many things to do that are perfect for making long-lasting memories. And there’s no better time to make these memories than in June, also known as Father’s Month, in New Smyrna Beach.
Head on Out into Nature
One great way for fathers to bond with their kids in New Smyrna Beach is to head out into nature. It’s the perfect way to disconnect from our devices and instead reconnect with each other as a family. Luckily, there are a couple of different nature preserves in New Smyrna Beach that you and your kids will enjoy.
First, there’s Deep Creek Preserve. This 8,000-acre wetland is most well-known for the five-mile Deep Creek Yellow Trail. Along the way, you’ll see blooming wildflowers, thriving shrubbery, and towering pine trees. It’s a fantastic place to simply go outside and enjoy some fresh air and sunshine. And if you’d like to put a cool spin on your hiking adventure, you can also bike or horseback ride on this particular Florida trail.
Since the Deep Creek Yellow Trail is rather long, it’s more well-suited for older kids. If you have younger kids and you’d still like to get a glimpse of this amazing trail, you can simply hike part of the path and turn around.
If you’re looking for a different nature escape in New Smyrna Beach, you and your little ones should consider heading to Spruce Creek Preserve! This awesome preserve includes a fifteen-foot-tall observation tower and three miles of nature trails. And don’t worry – you don’t have to hike all three miles if that’s too much for your kids.
As an added bonus, Spruce Creek Preserve is home to some of the coolest wildlife in the state! You’ll want to keep your eyes peeled for white-tailed deer, Florida bobcats, alligators, green treefrogs, great blue herons, and more! And if you’re a plant lover, you can find everything from wild petunias to blackberry bushes to Australian pine trees in this flourishing preserve.
Spend a Day at the Beach
My favorite thing to do with my kids in New Smyrna Beach is spend a day at the beach. There are so many things that can keep little eyes and hands busy! We can shell, fish, swim, and birdwatch to our hearts’ content.
There are a couple of noteworthy beaches in New Smyrna Beach. The first one is, well, New Smyrna Beach! That’s right – the city and the beach have the same name. New Smyrna Beach, the beach, is 17 miles of white hard-packed sand that’s absolutely perfect for bicycling, swimming, surfing, and sandcastle building all day long!
And here’s a pro tip for you: If you want a slice of paradise just for you and your little ones, head to one of the lesser-used access points, like the 3rd Avenue Beach Approach, the Beachway Avenue Beach Approach, the Crawford Beach Approach, or the 27th Avenue Beach Approach.
But the best kept secret beach in New Smyrna Beach may actually be Canaveral National Seashore. As a matter of fact, these 24 miles of shoreline make up one of the best beaches in the United States! Since this beach is a national seashore, Canaveral National Seashore has remained relatively untouched, so you and your family can enjoy pristine sand and bright blue waters during your day at the beach.
To access Canaveral National Seashore from New Smyrna Beach, you’ll want to enter through the Apollo Beach entrance.
Take to the Water
Of course, the best thing to do during a family day at the beach is get in the water! And to make the day even more memorable, why not add a fun beach activity to the mix?
While at New Smyrna Beach, the beach, you and your little ones can take surfing lessons! And with the relatively calm waters, this shoreline is a great place to learn. A few of the best companies for surf lessons in New Smyrna Beach include the Jimmy Lane Surfing Academy, Nichols Surf Shop, and Surfin’ NSB.
