New Smyrna Beach

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New Smyrna Beach, Florida holds several key distinctions. First, New Smyrna Beach is believed to be the second oldest city in North America. It's second only to St. Augustine just to the north. The town was founded as an attempt by Britain to gain a foothold in the New World. This attempt largely failed. However, today New Smyrna Beach is known as a flourishing beach town with a thriving tourism industry. The city is also proud of the fact that it is considered one of the top "100 Best Art Towns in America" by John Villani.

You can see the evidence of this when strolling down Flagler Avenue, New Smyrna's Main Street, which houses several art galleries along with retail, cafes and restaurants. Driving to Flagler Avenue, you'll see many signs pointing the way to downtown New Smyrna Beach. Although there are a few antique shops and boutiques on Canal Street in downtown New Smyrna Beach, the real action is at Flagler Avenue a couple miles east and across the causeway.

Flagler Avenue sits on a barrier island with its feet practically on the beach. The area provides a stark contrast only seen in Florida. On the western end of Flagler you have stately oaks, providing a canopy of shade. Businesses include boutiques and galleries. As you head further east towards the beach, the oaks start to disappear, slowly replaced by tall palm trees and lots of sunshine. Businesses on this end include more of what you'd expect at the beach, including surf shops, ice cream stands, and gift shops—including the kind that sell sea shells.

But that isn't to say that New Smyrna Beach doesn't offer a great deal of variety. Other businesses include clothing boutiques, stores that sell home furnishings, coffee shops, and much more. New Smyrna Beach's Flagler Avenue is a great way to spend the day and can easily be combined with quality time on the beach itself. Most of the businesses offer the casual laid-back attitude you would expect at the beach, which makes sense considering that Flagler Avenue dead ends right on the beach. But it's not exactly a dead end. And that's another distinction for New Smyrna Beach (along with nearby Daytona Beach). It's one of the few places in the country where you can drive your car right on the beach and park.

Retail Hours

Fortunately, many shops are open on Sundays—however, not all of them. Shopping hours tend to be Monday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m.

Parking

New Smyrna Beach offers plenty of free parking, both in public parking lots and on the street. Be careful because some lots are for customers of certain stores only. Look for the signs. And of course you can park on the beach. It costs $5 a day and is good from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Attractions

New Smyrna Beach's number one attraction isn't too hard to guess—it's in its name. The beach is just a few steps away from Flagler Avenue.

But if you want to get around town, why not have some fun? You can rent segways at
Segway of Volusia County (323-B Flagler Avenue, Suite 104, 386-402-8992), or rent bikes at Wild Side Beach & Surf Wear (521 Flagler Avenue, 386-427-1664).

Events

Every year, around June, New Smyrna Beach holds the Seaside Fiesta. Flagler Avenue is closed to vehicle traffic to provide room for games, food, and entertainment. Many stores also provide sale specials.

Directions

New Smyrna Beach is about 57 miles from Orlando, Florida and 108 miles from Jacksonville, Florida.

From Orlando, take I-4 east towards Daytona Beach. Take exit 118A-B to merge onto State Road 44 (New York Avenue). Head towards New Smyrna Beach. You'll go about twenty miles and travel over the South Causeway. Turn left at South Peninsula Avenue. Turn right at Flagler Avenue. This is New Smyrna Beach's Main Street.

From Jacksonville, take I-95 south. Take exit 249A for State Road 44 (Canal Street) towards New Smyrna Beach. You'll go about five miles and travel over the South Causeway. Turn left at South Peninsula Avenue. Turn right at Flagler Avenue. This is New Smyrna Beach's Main Street.

External Links

www.nsbfla.com

Directory

Accessories

Angels by the Sea Boutique (308 Flagler Avenue, 386-427-1977)
Janie's Indian River Bazaar (307 Flagler Avenue, Suite 102, 386-426-2556)
LoLo's Boutique (384 Flagler Avenue, 386-478-0442)
Nejma's Boutique (319 Flagler Avenue, 386-424-9086)
Robin's Nest Gifts (409 Flagler Avenue, 386-428-9653)
Sun Magic Beachwear (504-B Flagler Avenue, 386-424-8420)
The Wicker Basket Boutique (401 Flagler Avenue, 386-427-3732)

Apparel

Angels by the Sea Boutique (308 Flagler Avenue, 386-427-1977)
The Big Bamboo (504-C Flagler Avenue, 386-426-0022)
Cor Meth Boutique (201 South Peninsula Avenue, 386-427-1115)
Go Fish (311 Flagler Avenue, 386-423-4787)
Gone Bonkers (314 Flagler Avenue, 386-427-2256)
Island Images Resort Wear (376 Flagler Avenue, 386-423-1441)
Janie's Indian River Bazaar (307 Flagler Avenue, Suite 102, 386-426-2556)
LoLo's Boutique (384 Flagler Avenue, 386-478-0442)
Mika's Boutique (382 Flagler Avenue, 386-427-0862)
Nejma's Boutique (319 Flagler Avenue, 386-424-9086)
Sanctuary Boutique (417 Flagler Avenue, 386-428-2543)
Sea Fox (501 Flagler Avenue, 386-428-3577)
Sue Who? (504 Flagler Avenue, 386-428-9002)
Sun Magic Beachwear (504-B Flagler Avenue, 386-424-8420)
The Wicker Basket Boutique (401 Flagler Avenue, 386-427-3732)
Wild Side Beach & Surf Wear (521 Flagler Avenue, 386-427-1664)

Children's

Baby Sea Fox (306 Flagler Avenue, 386-409-9996)

Coffee and Dessert

Beachside Candy Company (221 Flagler Avenue, 386-424-1883)
Flagler Avenue Coffee & News Cafe (411 Flagler Avenue, 386-426-0098)
Treats on the Beach (504-F Flagler Avenue, 386-409-3456)
Wild Side Beach & Surf Wear (521 Flagler Avenue, 386-427-1664)

Dining

Atlantis Bistro (300 Flagler Avenue, 386-428-4022)
Beacon Restaurant (416 Flagler Avenue, 386-428-8332)
Club Breakers Restaurant (518 Flagler Avenue, 386-428-2019)
DJ's Beachside Burrito Bar (410 Flagler Avenue, 386-427-0999)
The Flagler Tavern (414 Flagler Avenue, 386-426-2080)
Heavenly Bar-B-Que (203 South Atlantic Avenue, 386-423-9995)
Peanuts Restaurant & Sports Bar (421 Flagler Avenue, 386-423-1469)

Galleries

Anthony Bell Creations (316 Flagler Avenue, 386-426-0996)
Jonah's Cat's Art Gallery (220 Flagler Avenue, 386-428-2150)

Gift Shops

The Big Bamboo (504-C Flagler Avenue, 386-426-0022)
Dolly's Gifts (405 Flagler Avenue, 386-427-0954)
Friki Tiki (419 Flagler Avenue, 386-427-7802)
Galleria di Vetro (310 Flagler Avenue, 386-409-0402)
Gyftz (307 Flagler Avenue, Suite 103, 386-409-9336)
Nejma's Boutique (319 Flagler Avenue, 386-424-9086)
Robin's Nest Gifts (409 Flagler Avenue, 386-428-9653)
Solcat (504-D Flagler Avenue, 386-424-0911)

Gourmet

Gyftz (307 Flagler Avenue, Suite 103, 386-409-9336)
Manzano Fine Foods (311 Flagler Avenue, 386-402-4981)

Health and Beauty

Beaches Day Spa (356 Flagler Avenue, 386-427-7770)
Boren & Bassett Beauty Studio (380 Flagler Avenue, 386-424-0014)

Home Furnishings

The Big Bamboo (504-C Flagler Avenue, 386-426-0022)
Gyftz (307 Flagler Avenue, Suite 103, 386-409-9336)
Island Collection (304 Flagler Avenue, 386-409-0089)
Palms Up Pottery (413 Flagler Avenue, 800-405-3726)
Robin's Nest Gifts (409 Flagler Avenue, 386-428-9653)
Solcat (504-D Flagler Avenue, 386-424-0911)

Jewelry

Beachsyde Jewelers (415 Flagler Avenue, 386-409-9000)
The Big Bamboo (504-C Flagler Avenue, 386-426-0022)
Galleria di Vetro (310 Flagler Avenue, 386-409-0402)
Go Fish (311 Flagler Avenue, 386-423-4787)
Jewelry of Joy (307 Flagler Avenue, Suite 101, 386-424-6240)
New Smyrna Rock & Gem (394-A Flagler Avenue, 386-424-0041)

New Age

New Smyrna Rock & Gem (394-A Flagler Avenue, 386-424-0041)
Ocean Lotus Yoga (360 Flagler Avenue, 386-428-1616)

Pets

Silly Willie's (218 Flagler Avenue, 386-427-0196)

Surf Shops

Inlet Charley's Surf Shop (510 Flagler Avenue, 386-423-2317)
Nichols Surf Shop (411 Flagler Avenue, 386-427-5050)
Quiet Flight Surf Shop (508 Flagler Avenue, 386-427-1917)

Taverns and Clubs

OM Bar and Chill Lounge (392 Flagler Avenue, 386-423-2727)
Peanuts Restaurant & Sports Bar (421 Flagler Avenue, 386-423-1469)
Traders (317 Flagler Avenue, 386-428-9141)