VOLUSIA VERVE
A little about New Smyrna Beach
New Smyrna Beach is a small surf town with a big personality. It has two downtowns, Canal Street and Flagler Avenue. Both are easy to walk, and each has its own feel.
I'm simply sharing my local experiences: events, shops, art classes, and food. I hope they inspire your next weekend adventure. Explore New Smyrna Beach with me!
Updated monthly with new local discoveries
The story goes back to 1768
The story goes back to 1768, when Andrew Turnbull started a colony here
and named it after his wife’s hometown, Smyrna.
Later, in 1892, Henry Flagler’s railroad arrived and brought more people to town. In 1947, the city became New Smyrna Beach, the name we use today.
You can still feel that old history when you walk Canal Street.
You can drive on the beach
This is one of the few places in the country where you can drive right onto the sand. You park next to your chair and your cooler.
The driving areas are marked, there is a daily fee at the entrance, and the hours change with the season.
Tides matter too, so check Volusia County’s beach driving page before you go.
The sharks
New Smyrna Beach is known as Florida's shark-bite capital. It has the most recorded bites in the state. Most are minor, and they usually happen near the inlet, where baitfish gather. It is part of the town’s personality, and locals mostly shrug it off.
Latest Posts
Latest Discoveries
— Eat, shop, and explore along the way
Canal Street • Day PLAN
A walkable Day on Canal Street
A simple day plan featuring waterfront views, local shops, restaurants, and a sweet stop,
all within walking distance on Canal Street in New Smyrna Beach.
Flagler Avenue • Day plan
A Walkable Day on Flagler Avenue
A simple day plan featuring the beach, local shops, restaurants, and places to stop along Flagler Avenue in New Smyrna Beach.
From the river to the beach, with plenty to explore
— Ask for the table by the willow tree.
CANAL STREET • MONTHLY EVENTS
Nature / outdoors
Plan your visit around Canal Street’s recurring events, including art, local vendors, gallery walks, classic cars, shopping, and dining.
Dining & Cafes
Bricks
Ronin Sushi Bar
The Spott
Cafe De Soul
AJ Chocolate House
Bar Leona
Yellow Dog Eats
Little Griddle
Pan Head
Corkscrew
Dutch Oven
City Market
Bee fly Grab
General Public
Thai Mango
Spanish River
Voo La Voo Cafe
BelAroma
Magrita Island
Thai Mango
Shops & Arts
Coastal Corner
The Vintage Mermaid
The Posh Pineapple
Claiborne's Closet
Wishbone Vintage
About Ayumi
Why I started this blog
Hi, let me introduce myself a bit. I was born and raised in Japan. In 2002, I moved to Volusia County with my husband and our son, who was only a year and a half old.
For many years, my life here was about being a wife and a mom. We had three boys, and wherever we went, a restaurant or something fun to do, I always thought about what my boys would enjoy.
Now they’re grown, and we’re in this empty nest stage of life. I started exploring for myself, with my friends or my husband. There is so much to do in a big city, but I keep finding good places right here in Volusia County too.
I’m simply sharing my experiences, from local events and antique shops to art classes, food, and festivals, hoping they inspire your weekend adventure.
So come explore Volusia County with me!
LOCAL discoveries
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