We Ignored New Smyrna Beach for 2 Years. One Weekend Changed That.
New Smyrna Beach is a little over an hour from where we live in Winter Park, Florida, which is just north of Orlando. It’s a short drive to the east coast, where beaches and plenty to do abound.
Throughout the years, co-workers and friends have talked about what a great place it is, but for whatever reason, we never had — or made — time to get there. But we’re here to tell you: don’t wait. Put New Smyrna Beach on your list of weekend getaways. You’ll relax, dine, and find plenty to do for a trip close to home if you’re in Central Florida.
Even if you're not in Central Florida and you make New Smyrna Beach your weekend destination, with a fantastic boutique hotel you won't want to leave, plenty to do, and many restaurants, you'll leave satisfied, feeling refreshed and satiated from your coastal vacation.
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Map of Our New Smyrna Beach Getaway
For reference, especially if you're a visual person, like me, here is a map of the things we did and saw so you can see how close everything is once you're in town.
Stay at The Black Dolphin Inn
The best thing we did was stay at The Black Dolphin Inn. This quaint B&B offers waterfront views, where you can literally see dolphins in the Indian River Lagoon right in front of the property.
We checked in around 4:00 pm and were shown to our spacious room, complete with multiple ceiling fans and a thermostat to control the air (Florida must-haves!), a wet bar area, plenty of space to unpack and store our clothes in drawers and a closet, and a tub with jets in the bathroom, along with the shower.
Throughout the property are various indoor and outdoor seating areas. There’s also a fireplace if the weather calls for such warmth or charm. We wanted to use it during our stay, but between all our weekend activities and meals, we never found the time outside the morning hours, when it was already too hot in Florida in April to make sense to use it.
While we didn’t bring any pets, we loved that two dogs were staying on the property with their owners. It was fun to have their energy around us, and the pets made it easy to strike up a conversation with the pet parents.
This was great because what struck us most about the property was the number of repeat guests, which clearly attests to the quality of The Black Dolphin Inn. One couple had stayed 28 times. Wow!
Another couple we met was on a road trip along the East Coast. They had stayed at the B&B before and spontaneously decided to see if a room was available. They got lucky and were able to stay at The Black Dolphin Inn for a second time. With just 14 rooms, they were lucky to grab the last available room that week; it was meant to be.
We quickly realized that's what the Black Dolphin Inn does. It grabs you, and you don't want to leave! So the only solution is to come back.
Everyone was incredibly friendly, and the staff was delightful. Upon check-in, the woman at the front desk showed us to our room and mentioned that she could provide bubble bath and bath salts; I took her up on the offer.
The property has Wi-Fi and a small bar inside that serves beer and wine at night. There is no pool or hot tub, which we missed, but the whirlpool in the room made up for it.
Delightful Breakfast with a View
The day prior to the next morning, you select what you want for breakfast. We loved this for three reasons: it gave us something to look forward to the next day, it meant there wouldn’t be food waste, and it meant we’d get exactly what we wanted.
The breakfasts were really yummy. We chose to sit outside on the front porch both mornings, though there is indoor seating as well if it’s too sunny on the porch or the weather is unfavorable. The most fun part of breakfast was spotting dolphins in the water, which we could see from where we sat.
Coffee and tea were plentiful. The chef kept the morning pots of coffee coming, and there was a Keurig with more flavors of coffee, including plain coffee too, than we had ever seen.
There’s also a water-filling station and ice in the main building.
Restaurants around New Smyrna Beach
The Black Dolphin Inn does not serve lunch or dinner, which is just as well, as we wanted to try several restaurants in the area. A very short drive brought us over the Intracoastal to Norwood's. It was a spot that we quickly learned is a New Smyrna Beach staple.
It was packed when we arrived around 6:00 pm. Happy hour, which is Monday through Friday from 4:00 to 6:00 pm throughout the entire restaurant, had just ended. By the time we left at 8:00 pm, there were only a fraction of the people left. However, happy hour starts again at 8:00 pm and runs until close, Sunday through Thursday, only in the treehouse portion of the restaurant, where we were sitting. It's the most fun place to sit, but it's also 21 and over because most of the seating is in a bar area.
We fully enjoyed the “treehouse” vibe and shared two dishes for dinner: shrimp ’n grits and the seafood pot pie. The fried okra on top of the shrimp ‘n grits brought us right back to when we lived in North Carolina.
We enjoyed the vibe at Norwood's so much we considered going the next day, but decided against it in favor of other spots in New Smyrna Beach that deserved our attention.
Address: Norwoods Eatery & Bar, 400 E 2nd Ave., New Smyrna Beach, FL 32169
We had a late dinner at Third Wave Cafe after a sunset kayak that ended at 8:00 pm. By the time we got back to the main part of New Smyrna Beach from the kayak launch, not much was open late for dinner. We were happy to arrive at Third Wave to find we were in good company, though, with a packed backyard filled with other diners.
The outdoor space is a hidden oasis right off Flagler Avenue, a popular street where tourists shop and dine, that terminates at the beach. The pizza and salad we shared were delicious, and we each had a glass of red wine; we highly recommend a meal there.
Address: Third Wave Cafe & Wine Bar, 204 Flagler Ave, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32169
Must-Visit Bars & Breweries in New Smyrna Beach
Downtown Brewery
If beer is your thing, don’t miss New Smyrna Beach Brewing Co. on Canal Street, part of the Downtown Arts District.
We hopped over to the brewery for an after-dinner beer before heading back to The Black Dolphin Inn for bed. It was easy to find parking on Canal Street that late at night. (Please drive responsibly if you are drinking. There are taxis and rideshares available in New Smyrna Beach.)
Address: New Smyrna Beach Brewing Co., 143 Canal Street, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32168
Local Distillery
We also absolutely loved the cocktails we had at Sugar Works Distillery. They make their own syrups and infusions, and the spirits, distilled on-site, are great, too. Pick up a bottle of vodka, tequila, or gin to bring home from your trip. If you like craft cocktails, this is the place to go in NSB; do not miss it!
We were happy to learn about the distilling process directly from the owner, Michael Scorsone, who was clearly very passionate about the care, thought, time, and energy put into their process. We were also pleasantly surprised to learn that Michael and his wife, Ali, a Navy Desert Storm veteran, run “Michael's Ali,” a coal-fired pizza restaurant at Plant Street Market in Winter Garden, Florida, about 35 minutes from our home.
Michael really leans into Florida farming, sourcing ingredients grown within six miles of the distillery. For example, their vodka is made with sugar cane because it's grown nearby. If you order a Bloody Mary at Norwood's, you'll be tasting Sugar Works' Fins vodka. He uses Cherokee White Eagle heirloom corn to make his small-batch bourbon.
The bartenders create all the drinks on the menu, which changes at least four times a year. The drinks were truly delicious, and you could taste the care and fresh ingredients — from the spirits to the syrups and shrubs — in the glass.
Address: Sugar Works Distillery, 214 N Orange St, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32168
Kayaking, Beach Enjoyment, and Dolphin Tour in NSB
New Smyrna Beach is a premier surfing destination in Florida. However, we aren't much for sandy beaches other than strolling on the shore or cruising on the ocean, so we saved our time for Indian River Lagoon activities, which is considered the Intracoastal, geographically speaking, just before the beach.
Foot-Pedal Kayaking with Eco Viking Tours
When the option to kayak presented itself, we thought it would be a great way to see a different side of New Smyrna Beach and get a workout. Little did we know that the kayaks with Viking Eco Tours are powered by your feet and pedaling!
Even though the website proclaims it's pedal kayaking, it didn't quite register until we saw our kayaks in person. And lo and behold, one of the coolest things about the experience ended up being those foot pedals because we’d only ever kayaked with paddles before.
Being on the Indian River Lagoon with our guide, Eric, was educational and relaxing. We learned about the small islands we were floating past as manatees’ noses bobbed up and down along us in the water here and there. It was a wild experience to be in the water, so close to them!
We also learned that the lagoon, which is brackish water, is typically only three to five feet deep, so if you're scared of deep water, fear not. It's more than likely that you could stand in the depth of water you're pedaling through.
As the sun set over the water and the sky presented beautiful purples, oranges, and pinks that only a Florida sky knows how to do, we paddled in. They also offer evening tours to experience the water's bioluminescence.
For practical purposes, we were glad to find there was a bathroom at the park where the kayaks are launched. Though we wore swimsuits for the activity, it was necessary in retrospect. We barely had a drop of water touch us the entire time!
Dolphin Tour with Marine Discovery Center
If you’re staying at The Black Dolphin Inn, you’re treated to stellar views of the water where dolphins play throughout the day. However, there’s nothing like getting up close to these playful mammals on a boat.
Our Dolphin Discovery Tour with the Marine Discovery Center proved to be an enjoyable two-hour ride on the water, during which we learned about local birds and the ecosystem of the Indian River, which is not a river at all but a very special and important lagoon.
We saw pelicans feeding their young, learned about the mangroves, and were treated to dolphins putting on quite the show next to the boat. If you've never been to Florida and want to see these birds and mammals, it's a good opportunity. However, this would be the activity we would recommend skipping if you didn't have enough time and you saw the dolphins playing in the water from your waterfront hotel, as we did.
If you're choosing between this and a kayaking adventure, choose the kayaking. You're more up-close-and-personal with the animals and, along with your kayaking guide, have more freedom for where you take the boat.
Sugar Mill Ruins
A special area to visit, which we were shocked to have to ourselves for our 40 minutes there, is the ruins of the Cruger-dePeyster Plantation Sugar Mill, right next to Dunlawton Sugar Mill Gardens.
In the 19th century, a sugar mill functioned there for a short time. What remains are historic ruins where you can learn a little about the local history of sugar production and start a hike on one of the hiking trails. Parking is free, so it’s easy to pop in and out, whether you stay for minutes or hours, depending on what you intend to do there.
Address: Cruger-dePeyster Plantation Sugar Mill Ruins, 600 Mission Dr, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32168
Visiting New Smyrna Beach Throughout the Year
Peak season in any Florida destination tends to be in the fall and winter. This is when temperatures cool down, and snowbirds head from the north to the south to enjoy the warmth of the Florida sunshine.
There are events throughout the year in New Smyrna Beach, including:
But no matter when you visit, there is always something going on and something to see and do, especially if coastal relaxation is on your agenda! When will you visit New Smyrna Beach?
