It’s easy for families to find their sense of wonder and adventure when visiting New Smyrna Beach, Florida. There are plenty of ways kids can connect with nature and explore, which heightens their curiosity, gives them an excuse to explore, and even provides sensory stimulation. Whether you’re on the beach or cruising the inlet, there are great things to do in New Smyrna Beach as a family if you love nature.
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1. Get Hands-On At The Marine Discovery Center
New Smyrna Beach’s Marine Discovery Center is vital to local residents, but also a great stop for visitors. Through engaged community outreach, they showcase local conservation and educate visitors about the local ecosystems. The center offers indoor and outdoor discovery areas. Kids love the live indoor aquariums and touch tanks, where they can hold starfish.
The Discovery Center is small inside, but our kids were fascinated with the aquarium tanks. If you have a rainy Florida afternoon, head to the Marine Discovery Center for some family fun. If it’s not raining, you can take advantage of the outdoor areas, where they have a playscape, called Cuda Cove, for kids. Kids can play and explore nature while having fun. It’s even great for all ages, including toddlers.
The educational exhibits are a nice addition to one of their guided tours, so I recommend heading to the Marine Discovery Center early, before your tour departure.
2. Head Out On A Guided Tour
The Marine Discovery Center also offers several types of guided tours. If you’re taking a boat tour, the launch dock is only a few miles from the Marine Discovery Center. Kayak tours launch from a salt marsh behind the Marine Discovery Center, so you can leave your car parked.
The Dolphin Discovery Tour (a 2-hour tour) was our family’s favorite. We saw dolphins, manatees, birds, and turtles. There’s so much to see in just the lagoon and it’s perfect for kids who want to ask all of their nature questions, as the Captains are very knowledgeable about the area. Since the boat tours are on the lagoon, the water is very calm and it’s an easy boat ride.
Other tours include a sunset cruise, full moon cruise, kayaking group tour, and walking tours. All of these tours are operated through the Marine Discovery Center. Advanced reservations are recommended and they’re weather dependent. The boat tours are great for families with young kids. You never know what you’re going to see!
3. Enjoy The New Smyrna Beach Shoreline
Of course, the beach is at the top of everyones favorite things to do! The New Smyrna Beach is a 17-mile stretch of white sandy beaches. The Atlantic side of Florida is a favorite amongst surfers and New Smyrna is a favorite for expert surfers. If you’re less adventurous, and just want to relax, pack up for a family day at the beach.
The beach is particularly wide, especially when the tide is out. That means there’s plenty of space where kids can build sandcastles, bike, throw a ball, and play.
Some of New Smyrna Beach’s shoreline is drivable and other areas aren’t. Having drivable beach access is perfect for families that tote along plenty of beach gear. It means you won’t have to walk a long way from the car to your beach spot!
At night, you’ll see people catching ghost crabs, which are small, nocturnal crabs found on the beach. These crabs are known for their pale, almost transparent appearance, which helps them blend in with their surroundings. They’re fun to catch and release, but be mindful of sea turtle nesting season, which runs from May 1st to October 31st. You might notice sea turtle nests along New Smyrna Beach marked so beachgoers can be cautious not to disturb the nests.
4. Explore Dunlawton Sugar Mill Gardens
Head to the nearby city of Port Orange to enjoy the beautiful Dunlawton Sugar Mill Gardens. It was once a 19th-century cane sugar plantation and today it’s a beautiful botanical garden with the ruins from the old can sugar production still standing.
It’s 10 acres of pathways that wind through different types of gardens, featuring local flora. It’s naturally shaded and the kids can find the hidden dinosaur statues located throughout the garden. Grab a map upon entering the garden because it’s easy to get lost along the connecting paths. We loved this as a late-morning activity, before the afternoon heat. Thanks to Florida’s year-round warm weather, you’ll see many blooms no matter when you visit.
5. Play and Fish At Smyrna Dunes Park
Smyrna Dunes Park is a 184-acre inlet park located along the southern shoreline of Ponce de Leon Inlet. Guests enjoy 2 miles of elevated boardwalk, where leashed dogs are allowed and there are beautiful water views. The park overlooks the Atlantic Ocean, the Indian River, and Ponce de Leon Inlet. Head to the park at the “golden hour” right before sunset for gorgeous views.
Not only are the dogs allowed on the boardwalk path, but there’s also a dog-friendly swimming beach area along the park’s river shore. Fishing is allowed off of the park’s pier and that’s a great family-friendly area for beginner anglers. New Smyrna Beach is the redfish capital of the world! Admission is $10 per vehicle. It’s a great destination if you’re traveling with furry family friends.
Our Favorite Family-Friendly New Smyrna Beach Restaurants
With all of the outdoor fun, your kids are sure to build up an appetite. I love that New Smyrna Beach has great casual dining options, even with the amount of seafood served. Two great areas for dining options are Flaglar Avenue and Canal Street, where you can park and walk around for some shopping after a great meal.
- Izzy’s Island Tacos & Ice Cream: Izzy’s is the ultimate taco shack that’s beach-friendly casual. They serve great tacos and burritos, plus ice cream desserts that the kids will love. It’s small inside, but they also offer outdoor seating. Or walk across the street, to the beach, and enjoy a picnic.
- The General Public House: Located off Canal Street, our family loved the General Public House. It’s great Americana cuisine with a casual open-air atmosphere. They just remodeled the bar area, where you can grab a craft cocktail. We found their kid’s menu to be great, with options that our oldest enjoyed.
- Avanu on Flagler: Avanu offers more upscale dining options and great traditional beach cocktails. From sushi to bao buns, fresh catches, and steaks, you’ll find a great variety on the Avanu menu. Head to their upstairs roof seating for fun views of Flagler Avenue.