Things to Do on Flagler Avenue in New Smyrna Beach

If Canal Street is the historic downtown, Flagler Avenue is the beachside of New Smyrna Beach. It is beachy and laid-back, and you can walk right from the beach. You will even see people walking around in bathing suits.

What to know before you go

Where: Flagler Avenue, on the beachside of New Smyrna Beach.

Walking: Everything is within walking distance, and you can walk up from the beach.

Parking can be hard to find, especially on weekends, so come early. You will find street parking and a few public lots near Flagler Avenue, some of them unpaved. At the beachfront lots, Volusia County residents park free with a resident pass, and visitors pay a daily fee. And watch out for the roosters in the parking lot!

Best time: weekdays around lunchtime, when it is quieter and easier to park.

Weekly and monthly events

4th Saturday of the month: Wine Walk, 1 to 7 pm.

Throughout the year, there are fun food challenges too, like chowder in January, chili in October, and grilled cheese in December.

Check the Flagler Avenue events calendar for dates before you go.

Where to eat and drink

Flagler Avenue has a lot of bars, and it is a fun place to have a drink near the beach. I'm not a big drinker, but I still love walking around here, and there are good restaurants and cafés too, from a casual lunch to an iced coffee after the beach.

Shops

Flagler Avenue has a lot of fun shops with a beachy feel: boutiques with beach clothes and hats, gift shops, surf shops, and even a leather shoe and bag shop tucked in the back. It is easy to find something cute for the beach.

The beach and Smyrna Dunes Park

Flagler Avenue runs right up to the beach, and New Smyrna Beach is one of the few beaches in the country where you can drive on the sand. A short drive north, Smyrna Dunes Park is one of my favorite hidden gems, with boardwalks through the dunes and both the sunrise and the sunset over the water.

Why I love Flagler Avenue

My favorite time to go is a weekday lunch. I love that you can come straight from the beach in flip-flops, have lunch, browse the shops, and feel like you are on vacation, even if you live here.