Welcome guest blogger, Elizabeth Boyd talking about my favorite thing, the beach :)
New Smyrna Beach has a few hotels, motels and several bed & breakfast style inns, but is mostly comprised of condominiums and a hearty mixture of quaint old Florida bungalows and million dollar breathtaking beach homes.
While there are full time residents that live both beachside and across the bridges on the mainland, the busy season for NSB is between spring break and the end of summer when families flock to the beach for vacation and then again in the winter when the northerners take refuge from the cold. The weekends stay busy with people visiting from the Orlando area.
New Smyrna Beach has plenty to offer including historical sites to explore, a growing arts scene and an amazing if not eclectic foodie scene. There are events nearly every weekend including Farmers Markets, Wine Walks and Car Shows.
NSB features two main streets, one beach side, Flagler Avenue, and one on the mainland, Canal Street, with plenty of unique shops and restaurants. Of course, the best part of it all is the beach!
Here's a few local tips: don’t swim in the ocean at dawn or dusk: that’s feeding time for the sharks. Be mindful of people fishing, it can draw in bait fish and then sharks. My most important tip is to swim near a lifeguard station and don’t hesitate to ask them about current conditions. Rip currents are a real thing and can be very scary if you’ve never experienced one before. It is recommended to swim parallel to the shore until you are free from the current rather than fight it as it can quickly exhaust you and put you at risk for drowning. If you stay safe and informed, you can absolutely have a great day at the beach!
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| Running from the Causeway Bridge to the beach, Flagler Avenue offers lodging, dining, and shopping. |
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| Ponce de Leon Lighthouse Station |
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| Rocket launch at Cape Canaveral as seen from NSB. |
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| Sunset on the beach |
“Winston: A Love Story” is the publishing debut for Elizabeth Boyd and will be featured in the upcoming anthology, How I Met My Other: Furry Friends, True Tails by Orange Blossom Publishing.
Besides reading, writing and an obvious love of dogs, she is passionate about working as a social worker. She and her husband are life long Floridians and can often be found beachside.
Follow her on Instagram: @elizabeth_boyd_614
Or you can just safely stroll along the beach and not go in! LOL
ReplyDeleteGood point, though I love the water. Being afraid of sharks is killing me. I never worried about them when I was young. It seems to be a fear that is growing with me as I age.
DeleteSuch a lovely place, long to be there. Especially as we are entering an autumn that promises to be grey and very wet. Sad that going into the water there is such a risk.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure I could relax in the water there.
DeleteHow beautiful, especially that sunset.
ReplyDeleteWishing much success to the anthology.
Sunsets are one of the most gorgeous things ever!
DeleteHi everyone! Thank you all for reading my guest post! New Smyrna Beach is a second home to me and for the sharks, dolphins and other sea creatures, it is their first home. The beach is definitely not as scary as it seems though I too am more cautious as I have gotten older. 10 year old me was only worried about catching waves! The great thing about NSB is that there are so many lodging options and many include pools overlooking the beach so it is the best of both worlds! Thank you, Sandra, for the well wishes on the anthology! Have a great evening everyone!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for stopping by and sharing your love. I love the beach too. I could boogie board before I could ride a bike. (I never did get the hang of surfing- not enough coordination!) I never gave sharks a second thought, but like you said, I grew up knowing to avoid swimming in the mornings and evenings or near piers. I'd also ask the fisherman on the beach what they were catching- bad day for them is a great day for a swim! If they're catching a lot, I'll move on down the beach.
DeleteIf I wear a shark costume can I fool the sharks?
ReplyDeleteThat certainly would be a sight to behold!
DeleteSure sounds like a happening spot, even for the sharks. Best to avoid being shark bait indeed.
ReplyDeleteIt's not a party town to be sure, but there is so much to experience. No one wants to be shark bait, but that's true for any beach! Come visit anytime!
DeleteNew Smyrna is about two hours from I live. It is a very nice coastal town. I have not gotten in the water there but when I first moved here I did walk along the beach. I like driving around the coast in that direction.
ReplyDeleteThere are beautiful beaches north and south of NSB for sure. The Gulf Coast of Florida is very different than the East in my opinion and just as beautiful in its own way. Isn't it wonderful having so many options within driving distance to get away for a weekend?
DeleteThe scenery is beautiful! I'll enjoy it (shark-free) from the shore, though. I do enjoy walking along the beach, but must admit I prefer the more rugged beaches off the northern coast.
ReplyDeleteI visited the beach in Massachusetts as a child, but would love to explore more of the New England coast as it too looks beautiful though perhaps the water would be too cold for this Florida girl!
DeleteSunsets are beautiful indeed, Lizabeth. Right up there with the ocean.
ReplyDeleteYOU have a wondrous evening.
All the best to both Elizabeths;)
The sunsets on the Gulf Coast of Florida are really breathtaking. We've stayed at Sanibel Island and they are famous for their sunsets and shells. It's another quaint town that is full of charm and well worth the experience. The waves are much calmer there too.
DeleteWell worth a visit! The media loves to talk about the sharks, but really, most bites are not serious and most of the bites are from young sharks that get confused and won't pursue you after a bite. I'd be more concerned about the rip currents. It's easy to check in with a lifeguard about conditions to know if you should go in or not. I personally enjoy sitting in the pool watching the ocean just a few steps away!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! The ocean is truly inspiring :)
ReplyDeleteI agree! I went out West last year for a family wedding and I was equally as inspired by the mountains. The natural world is really something to behold!
DeleteThe beach is my favorite place to be, and we watched a Cape Canaveral launch from an area near NSB some years ago. No matter what time of year it is or how cold the water may be, I can't visit the beach without getting my feet (and usually more...) wet. to tell the truth, I think I'm more afraid of jellyfish than I am of sharks. I've been stung lots of times, but sharks have never bitten me... :)
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the anthology!
The launches are pretty special even from Orlando. My in-law's live about 5 miles from KSC. During one of the last shuttle landings, we watched the final approach from State Road 3. It was something I'll never forget. You're right too about jellyfish! The only time I would NOT visit is when a hurricane is approaching. Nature is beautiful, but powerful!
DeleteHi Elizabeth 2.0 :)
ReplyDeleteHave visited NSB many times in the past, but haven't been for a few years.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, pics and tips and I, too, miss the ocean, but luckily my nearest beach is only 45 minutes away, so it's there when I need a wavy fix :)
PS: Miss you, Twinny. Hope all is well!!
Hi Mark! Thanks for reading! I'm glad you've gotten to experience NSB. Happy you get to live near the beach. It's my favorite FL feature. Have a great weekend!
DeleteHi Mark!! I'm hanging in there. Hope you're doing well!
DeleteHave a lovely weekend, Elizabeths.
ReplyDeleteThank you and to you as well!
DeleteGorgeous pictures! Congrats on the release.
ReplyDeleteI love going to the beach! I think it's wonderful to get in the water for a good wade. Being cautious and giving sharks (and other creatures) their space is a good idea, but I think being on the beach can be wonderful and getting in the water is definitely doable and fun in most places on most days. :)
ReplyDeleteIt looks and sounds wonderful. I only even enter the ocean to about my knees, so I would probably be safe there. LOL
ReplyDelete