New Smyrna Beach Frequently Asked Questions
What is New Smyrna Beach known for? Well that depends who you ask and how long they’ve been in the area! If you ask most of the multi generational natives such as myself, the answer will usually be either surfing or fishing. New Smyrna Beach inlet is regarded as one of the most consistent surfing locations on the entire East Coast of the United States. In fact, much on NSB’s new found fame and popularity is a result of the laid back surfer vibe that became prevalent throughout the late 60’s and 70’s, and the many professional surfers and local surfboard manufacturers that have haled from NSB. There are so many articles that have been published over the years, it would take pages to post the links for all of them. Here’s a more recent article discussing the surf culture in NSB.
That said, if you speak to any of the boaters in the area…they will say fishing! New Smyrna Beach offers a variety of inshore and offshore fishing options and high success rates. As a kid, growing up in New Smyrna Beach in the 80’s, my friends and I would ride our bikes (before our parents trusted us with the boat) to vacant lots or friends docks along the ICW and literally bring home 30 sheepshead fish in a 2 hour session. These days, the river scene has become very popular among boaters for the beauty of the river and small island hangouts, as well as the SUP’s cruising for some inshore backwater fishing. In addition, the variety of new marina options make NSB an ideal location for larger boats to dock and have direct access to the inlet for offshore fishing.
Moving on to our more recent residents…many of them will tell you NSB is known for it’s quaint charming vibe with an art influence and small town activities. A world renowned artist named Bob Ross frequented the area and likely contributed this art trend throughout the city. Many local artists focus on the beach and ocean style artwork, and in recent years have moved to wide range of styles for art lovers. The historic downtown area offers a number of galleries and art shows throughout the year.
Last but certainly not least…most non residents will tell you New Smyrna Beach is known for…drum roll….the sharks!! Yes it’s true, we did hold the title for a few years “Shark Bite Capital of the World”. A silly title if you ask me but none the less, makes for great tourist t-shirts. The fact of the matter is, most of the bites and shark activity occur at the inlet. If you read the first paragraph, NSB is a world known surf spot. What that means is, when the waves are good, there can be as many as 1000 surfers in a small area of the inlet which is a common hunting area for sharks because of the huge amount of fish that love this area. Most of the bites that occur here are minor. In fact, I have seen surfers get bit, come in and wrap their leg, then head straight back into the surf. Shark activity is usually elevated when the water temperatures change abruptly or during normal migratory patterns.
I hope you’ve gained a little bit of information from this article. I am a 4th generation NSB local. My mothers father was one of the first well known doctors in the area in the 50’s and 60’s. My fathers parents opened the first Chrysler dealership in the 50’s on US1. My great grandparents opened the first grocery store in Oak Hill called Baldwin’s Grocery dating back to 1900. Both sides of the family were ocean lovers and that has prevailed through the generations. New Smyrna Beach is a small town and I always hope that our new residents and visitors will remember that in an ever-changing and more distant world. We say hello to our neighbors and always try to keep the laid back vibes that built our fame. There are few places on earth where you can ride your horses in the morning, then drive 10 minutes and head into the ocean for a surf. Enjoy it all!
The beach itself in New Smyrna Beach has a designated area for dogs. Dogs are not allowed on most areas of the beach, in part because, NSB allows beach driving on about 5 miles of its beaches. However, NSB has a stretch of beach surrounding Smyrna Dunes Park that is dog friendly and loads of fun. Not only is Smyrna Dunes Park a great place to bring your pup for a run and a swim, but it’s a beautiful place to spend the day at the beach. Smyrna Dunes Park is on the north end of beachside and very easy to access. There’s also the option of heading south to Canaveral National Seashore. Dogs are not allowed on the beach at Canaveral but they are allowed on the lagoon side which boasts lovely walking trails and calm waters for puppies to romp around.
Is New Smyrna Beach dog friendly around town?
The general walk-ability of beachside and riverside NSB make a perfect environment for walking your four legged family members. NSB goes one step farther. Many restaurants and bars are dog friendly so you can expect a variety of different options for lunch or dinner with your dog by your side. Due to the active nature of the NSB lifestyle, most business owners understand the fun of having your dogs along for the ride. Here’s a quick list of the restaurants and bars in town that allow dogs, we may have missed a few but this list will give you a good start: Third Wave (outdoor dining), Cafe Verde (covered outdoor dining), Yellow Dog (outdoor covered), New Smyrna Beach Brewing Company (inside and outside), JB’s Fish Camp (outdoor partially covered), Clancy’s Cantina (outdoor covered), and Toni and Joe’s (outdoor covered).
Living in New Smyrna Beach with a dog
If you are looking at homes in the area then your possibilities are endless. Beachside and Riverside areas are mostly not part of a homeowners association. You are widely free to fence your yard, add doggie doors, or whatever needs your pup requires. If you are considering condo life then there are certain condos in New Smyrna Beach that allow dogs and certain condos that do not. Sometimes the condo association will have detailed restrictions, such as weight maximums or maximum number of pets allowed per unit. Below is a list of condos for sale in New Smyrna Beach that allow dogs. Feel free to request more information for a complete list or information on weight restrictions.
View All Dog Friendly Condos For Sale In New Smyrna Beach
The short answer is, most definitely! Here’s my 5 reasons why New Smyrna Beach is a good place to live, and why NSB will quickly become one of your favorite beach towns in Florida.
1. Residents that care! One of the first things new residents notice is, we live in a town where the residents have a voice and they use it. Most of the full-time residents take pride in preserving the quaint nature of our town and the beautiful areas of green space, beaches, and waterways. It’s a breath of fresh air to know that the residents around town will actively try and preserve the unique vibe. Too many “small towns” have succumb to big investment and over-development, but the residents here won’t let it happen without a fight. Having so many folks that care says a lot about how special this place really is.
2. It’s a waterman’s and waterwoman’s paradise! If you’ve ever looked up surfing on the East Coast of the USA, New Smyrna Beach probably showed up somewhere in your search results. NSB’s hip culture was vastly created due to it’s popularity as a surfing destination. Here’s just one example of the many publications related to surfing NSB: https://www.surfer.com/features/best-surf-towns-in-america-2017-no-5-new-smyrna-beach-fl/ Don’t like surfing? It’s also a stand up paddle, kayak, boating, and sailing lovers dream. Spend one day on the river and you’ll quickly see why.
3. Crime? Many would say, what crime? NSB has it’s share of crime like most places, but to this point I revert back to item #1. Have someone running around beachside stealing bicycles? What will seem like the entire town, knows about it in 24 hours and is on the lookout. NSB has a very friendly vibe, neighbors helping neighbors.
4. Walk-ability. If being able to walk to a nice dinner spot, a street festival, or just out for a drink is important to you then beachside or riverside area will meet or exceed your expectations. With a variety of restaurants and low key night life, you can stroll at your own pace just a few minutes from home.
5. Quiet neighborhoods. Our residents have fought hard to preserve the zoning that the City of New Smyrna Beach broadly has in place for vacation rentals. It is possible to live in a beach town without the house next door being packed with tourists playing music until 2am. For those that break the rules and vacation rent their homes for less than 30 days, the city usually knows about it and follows up accordingly. We worked hard to live at the beach and the city supports our rights for quiet enjoyment. We welcome tourism, after all any beautiful place that’s accessible is going to have it’s share of tourists, but our city understands we work hard to live here and we deserve to enjoy as much as the tourists.
I could continue on with probably 30-40 reasons why New Smyrna Beach is a good place to live but hopefully you’ve benefited from my top five reasons. If you ever have questions about the community or general lifestyle here in NSB, you are most welcome to call or email anytime. I am not just a New Smyrna Beach real estate agent, I am also a 4th generation local (my family came to the area in the early 1900’s) and I previously owned a surf school that specializes in private surfing lessons for all levels of experience that my sister has now taken over. I traveled the world as a professional surfer for many years and wound up right back here in this gorgeous beach town. I hope you enjoy it and work toward preserving it, if you too eventually become a local. If you’re looking for chain restaurants, hustle, bustle, and concrete jungles this may not be a good fit but always feel free to visit, enjoy, and relax.
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