| Things to Do in New Smyrna Beach | |||
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Aerial Tours Get a bird's eye view on an aerial tour and you'll see why the Indian River Lagoon is North America's most diverse estuary system. Here, where salt and fresh water mingle, are more than 4,000 species of plants and animals. Check with the New Smyrna Beach Municipal Airport for current aerial tour operators. With miles of endless, hard packed sand from Ponce Inlet to well beyond the 27th street beach ramp, beach biking is not only a great scenic tour of the oceanfront but a great workout as well! If the beach route is not enough then you might want to cruise along North Atlantic Avenue from Flagler Avenue to where the street meets with north Peninsula and on to the Smyrna Dunes Park. The park has a great boardwalk but bicycling is not permitted. Another great ride starts from Saxon Drive, just behind the beach side Publix, where there is a bike path that runs south to the Indian River Lagoon Preserve Park - or IRLP as it is sometimes referred to locally. IRLP also has a number of hard-packed dirt paths that run under and around majestic oak trees ending at a shaded viewing deck overlooking the mangrove-lined lagoon waters. For the hearty rider there's the double-bridge challenge! Starting from Flagler Avenue head west over the North Causeway bridge and continue until you reach North Riverside Drive turning left at the corner of the NSB Marina. Head two blocks south until you reach Canal Street, then turn right until you reach the traffic signal at Live Oak where you will then turn left and ride until you reach Lytle Avenue - also known as A1A. You are now at the base of the South Causeway bridge and if you approach from the left side there is a sidewalk which runs east all the way back to Peninsula Avenue where you take a left ending up at the start on Flagler Avenue. If this does not give your lungs and legs a workout- nothing will! If you have not brought your own bike you can rent from Beach Bicycle and Kayak - just around the corner from A1-A and Peninsula. If you are not a surfer you might want to try your hand - or your body that is - at body surfing! Also known as boogie boarding, which is actually a brand of body boards, body surfing is easy and fun for all ages and can be accomplished wherever there are breaking waves. Body surfing requires the use of a small, mini-like surf board where you basically lay your chest to waist on top of the board as you launch in front of an oncoming wave. Avid body surfers will use short, duck-like fins to aid in steering. Sometimes the waves break with such gusto, that one is bound and determined to ride that wave. Keep in mind, that when body surfing, you are actually in the wave, unlike board surfers who ride atop the wave. Therefore when that wave crashes into the hard ocean floor below it, so might you - unless the depth of the water is sufficient to give you enough room to recoil from the crashing wave without crashing into the bottom. We often forget the incredible awesome power of the ocean. Canoeing Canoeing can practically be done from any place where there is [public] access to the waterfront. Many of these access points are the same locations used by kayakers [refer to the Kayaking section for locations]. If estuary canoeing does not interest you, you may want to consider a leisure paddle up a creek! Cracker Creek is located on the original 20 acre homestead of Roland "Rollie" F. Johnson, caretaker for the James Gamble Estate. The cabin he lived in along with the home built in 1933 for his wife, Lela E. Miller, and nurse of James Gamble, are located on the property. Canoes can be rented from Bicycle and Kayak Adventures located south side of Third Avenue as you approach beach side from the south causeway. Many of the eco tour guests are surprised to learn that the Indian River Lagoon is North America's most diverse estuary system and has been designated as an Estuary of National Significance. Here, where salt and fresh water mingle, are more than 4,000 species of plants and animals, including 35 listed as threatened or endangered. Mangrove plants line shorelines and provide habitat for many species of animals and invertebrates. Birds such as osprey, pelicans, ibis, herons, roseate spoonbills or even bald eagles are commonly seen. In the estuary, bottlenose dolphins chase pods of bait fish, and manatees charm us with their slow-moving gentle ways as they swim with their newborns. Numerous species of fish live in the Indian River Lagoon, including mullet that leap from the water and the predators that savor them, such as saltwater trout and redfish. Sea turtles traverse the River. Each outing is a new adventure as the estuary reveals its seasonal treasures. As your Captain skillfully navigates the backwaters of the lagoon, you will experience first-hand the solitude and natural beauty of this Florida treasure while learning of our efforts to ensure we preserve its uniqueness for generations to come. Nearly every day of the year you can enjoy one of the following tours on board "Discovery" which enthrall visitors and residents alike. Our vessels are United States Coast Guard inspected. MARINE DISCOVERY CENTER There is a new twist to touring and it is called the Segway. This is a great way to get the most mileage in the shortest period of time - up to two hours - as you glide onto the beach and float alongside the white sandy shoreline where you can see dolphins pelicans turtles and other wildlife. The adventure then glides through some of the lovely hidden neighborhoods and local parks with winding nature paths, beautiful foliage, giant oak tress and gorgeous views. Anglers at nearby Mosquito Lagoon have set international records with giant redfish catches. Deep-sea charters leave daily, giving offshore fishers an easy way to wet a line in the beautiful Atlantic Ocean. A new fisheries facility is in the planning stage for the repopulation of redfish that are the most popular catch in the lagoon. The Fishing Trip - Captain Doug Hicks The Indian River Lagoon has dozens of kayak areas from south of Port Orange to Oak Hill but the only marked kayak trail is off the IRL Park managed by the Marine Discovery Center. Mosquito Lagoon is a favorite place for many paddlers and is truly one of Florida's treasures - described as "one of the top 10 places to paddle in the U.S." There are multiple places to launch but most frequented are: the National Seashore Park, the Indian River Lagoon Preserve Park, the third Ave and Peninsula launch, the Marine Discovery Center and the Spruce Creek launch. Low tides expose mud flats and oyster bars that in fall, winter and spring attract a wide variety of wading birds and shorebirds; American oystercatchers are fairly easy to find. Dolphins and manatees are commonly seen in the deeper waters of the intra coastal waterway. Throughout the lagoon you can stop on islands with white, sandy beaches - areas that are protected because of shallow water. Motorboats are unable to negotiate them, leaving them virtually untouched. Numerous wading birds, including roseate spoonbills and wood storks, shorebirds, ospreys, cormorants, brown pelicans and, in winter, white pelicans should be seen. Bald eagles are a good possibility. Look for a stunningly handsome, black-and-white shorebird with a big reddish-orange bill. Oyster bars in Mosquito Lagoon are likely places to see American oystercatchers. Look down in the water and you may see horseshoe crabs, redfish, mullet and stingrays. There are many backwater areas where there are few visuals for positioning - thus the potential of getting turned around in a tight mangrove lined waterway that can quickly turn into a maze. If you are not familiar with the area, it is highly recommended that you contact one of several kayak operators: the Marine Discovery Center, Beach Bike and Kayak, JB's Fish Camp or Sunset Eluay. Going sailing for a day on the ocean in a catamaran is sure to challenge the most avid thrill seeker. There is almost always a brisk wind off the water to get you cruising along the waves at a fair speed. You are the "cruise director," so to speak, depending on how you adjust the sails. Be prepared for salt water spray, windblown hair, bands of dolphins and other sea life. Everyone is talking about what's SUP?! We are excited about bringing SUP (Stand Up Paddleboarding) to New Smyrna Beach. We are your source for salt water fun in NSB. We offer paddleboard rentals, lessons, tours and sales from our waterfront location on the North causeway in beautiful New Smyrna Beach. Grab a board and cruise the intracoastal waterways where Dolphin, Manatee, and a wide vareity of birds abound. With a combined 35 years in the watersports and hospitality industries you can be sure your experience will be professional and most importantly loads of fun. Stand Up Paddleboarding is our passion and we look forward to sharing it with you! Bringing the community together is a key part of our mission, as well as keeping our community waters and parks clean and safe for all to enjoy. Paddle Boards NSB Sea Dogs is a full service PADI Dive Center with over 25 years of experience. They offer a full range of Certifications from beginner to Divemaster. They are also the Spearfishing Specialists! The Daytona/New Smyrna Beach area has over a dozen world famous wrecks and beautiful reefs. This area also has some of the largest lobsters on the East Coast. SEA Dogs Dive Center It's a well known fact that the strip of ocean off the coast of New Smyrna is one of the best surfing spots in Florida. Rock ledges 4-5 miles offshore cause excellent wave breaks and protect swimmers from dangerous under tows. Not only can accomplished surfers rip up New Smyrna's waves, but beginners can learn the sport in safe waters. No matter your level of expertise, surfing gives you a rush like no other. Every summer, the American Professional Surfing Association holds one of its premier contests here. Rookies and veterans from all over the country compete for the titles being given in several categories. A number of locals have gone on to make names for themselves in the surfing world. South side of the Ponce Inlet is a mecca for locals. New Smyrna Beach is graced with so many great self-tour walking paths. The Smyrna Duns Park located on the North Peninsula, is 73 acres of protected habitat for turtles, birds and reptiles surrounded by an elevated boardwalk. The newest location is the Indian River Lagoon Preserve Park, located off south Saxon Drive, has both paved paths - handicap accessible - and sand paths that run throughout the pristine giant oaks and saw-grass prairies. The IRLP Park is a favorite location for watching lagoon sunsets. And for those wanting to experience the majestic Atlantic Ocean venue, the National Seashore Park is home to thousands of plant and hundreds of bird species. It is not uncommon to see the occasional loggerhead, green or leatherback sea turtle clamoring to get onshore to lay their eggs. |
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