Discover New Smyrna Beach

When looking for a hotel in New Smyrna Beach, your travel interests can help you decide where to start: coastal scenery, history, art, or water activities. The places and offerings also differ depending on whether you are interested in a park, an archaeological site, a historic district, an art collection, or an eco-tour. This lets you plan your trip around the themes that matter to you.

Coastal Scenery and Archaeological History

Smyrna Dunes Park covers 184 acres and is located on a sea inlet. Its size and location give you concrete points of reference if you want to include nature and a connection to the water in your plans. Turtle Mound offers a different focus: the site is one of the most significant archaeological sites on Florida’s east coast. If you want to explore history not only through historic city areas but also through archaeological sites, this offers a distinct point of reference for your planning.

Historic Places and Their Time Periods

The New Smyrna Beach Historic District was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on April 26, 1990. It encompasses an approximately 100-acre section of New Smyrna’s concentrated historic commercial and residential areas, which developed between 1885 and 1935. The dates serve different purposes: 1885 to 1935 refers to when these areas developed, while 1990 is the year they were listed in the register. This makes it possible to distinguish the district’s development from its later formal recognition.

Remains of a former military fortification are preserved in Old Fort Park. Historical markers explain its significance during the Second Seminole War. Here, a specific structural remnant is paired with an account of its historical role. The Cruger-dePeyster Plantation Sugar Mill Ruins offer a different look at the past: they are the remains of a once-thriving 19th-century sugarcane mill. Visitors can explore the ruins and learn more about the history of the plantation and its impact on local agriculture. Alongside the history of fortifications, agriculture is another theme to consider.

Art in Galleries and the Cityscape

The NSB Downtown Arts District is an easily walkable hub around iconic Canal Street. It includes galleries, murals, and artists’ studios. The different art forms offer different points of interest: you may be drawn to exhibited works, art in the public cityscape, or the work of artisans.

Arts on Douglas features a diverse collection of paintings, sculptures, and mixed-media works by local artists. Exhibitions, workshops, and events are also frequently held there. In contrast to the Arts District’s broad mix, Arts on Douglas pairs a specific collection with a recurring program. If art is an important part of your trip planning, these differences can help you consider which kind of art offering interests you.

Eco-Tours and Planning on the Water

The Marine Discovery Center offers boat and kayak eco-tours led by certified naturalists and educators. A boat and a kayak are two different ways to take part; expert guidance is part of the offering described. When planning, you can choose between a boat tour and a kayak tour without separating nature-focused topics from experiences on the water.

There is also specific planning information for travelers with their own boats: boats passing through are welcome at the Marina at New Smyrna Beach. Public slips are assigned on a “first come, first served” basis; availability may vary depending on operations. So do not treat a slip as guaranteed when planning your trip around it.

Discover more destinations: Deltona, Daytona Beach Shores, Lake Helen, De Bary, Edgewater, Ormond Beach, Timber Pines, Osteen

For the broader travel overview: Volusia.