machine i
t’s 6am (a perk of jetlag), the air is warm, the sun is slowly rising through varying hues of orangey-pink skies, and the only sound I can
hear is the water lapping against the wooden jetty on the banks of the Indian River. As I sit on the dock with my coffee, I patiently wait for a glimpse of the marine life I had been promised would appear. Within moments, there are ripples in the calm water and a small pod of bottlenose dolphins grace me with their presence, playfully bobbing in the water. I couldn’t dream up a more perfect morning, but for residents of the laid-back Floridian town of New Smyrna Beach, this is just a daily occurrence that comes with the joys of life by the water. As travellers celebrate getting the green light
New Smyrna Beach
PICTURE: Shutterstock/ Javier Cruz Acosta
to return stateside, Florida will no doubt be top of the list for many Brits planning a trip after such a long hiatus. Yet while families flock to the theme parks and attractions of Orlando, just over an hour’s drive northeast lies this quieter, seaside community. Perched right on the Indian River lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean, New Smyrna Beach makes for an ideal outdoor getaway or twin-centre stay for clients looking to swap rollercoasters for relaxation and parades for paddleboarding.
ON THE WATER No matter where you go in New Smyrna Beach – or NSB, as it’s dubbed by locals – you’re never far away from its 17 miles of sandy coastlines or river. This is a surf town at its core, and just about every
resident has a board or boat. During my stay at the charming 16-room Night Swan Intracoastal Bed and Breakfast (where rooms start at $145 a night), the owners proudly told stories of how their professional surfer sons had learnt their craft in NSB. Naturally, the town has an abundance of marine wildlife, with more than 400 species of birds, alongside dolphins, manatees, turtles and more. An ideal excursion for clients to dip their toes into some light adventure is a kayaking tour with the Marine Discovery Center. A two-hour eco-tour with a local naturalist (from $40 for adults or $22 for children) explores the lush mangroves and salt marshes of the Indian River lagoon, which are alive with birds – I saw hundreds of white herons nestled on a small island. The classic Groove Armada song lyrics ‘If you’re fond of sand dunes and salty air’ could have been written for the New Smyrna Dunes Park. The 184-acre park is located right on the shore and has more than two miles of elevated, accessible boardwalks over the dunes, with scenic outlooks across the Atlantic, ²
travelweekly.co.uk 30 SEPTEMBER 2021
DESTINATIONS FLORIDA | THE US
45
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60
