Personally, I love a good road trip. Thankfully for me, my family does as well. Hopping in our car and racing off to Anywhere USA is a common occurrence at Casa Blanco. We’ve seen a ton of The South as a result. And I’m not talking the spots you know about like Atlanta, Greenville or even Charleston. I’m talking about the “In between” treasures that so many people blow by on an interstate. You can find them in any direction from Greater Savannah/Bluffton/Hilton Head Island. In fact, if you put rubber to the road, you’d be surprised at just how much you can find 3 hours or less away. Depending on the time of day that you choose to travel of course.

Some of the spots I’ve come to enjoy the most are South of us in this area. Yes, Florida. A four letter word to a lot of people, usually because all they know are theme parks and carnivals. If you take some time to search out and enjoy what we call “Old Florida” you’d be surprised at how different it really is.

I can say “we” because-many of you know-I was raised in Miami. I won’t use ‘Native Floridian’ because the actual natives can get hostile. That said, I’d put my knowledge of that state up against anyone’s. I know the good and the bad of most every inch of the Sunshine State. There’s definitely a lot of good. Why else would you find over 37 million people visiting the state in the FIRST QUARTER of 2023 alone.

One of the small cities I’ve really come to enjoy the last few years is New Smyrna Beach. Located just South of Daytona Beach, New Smyrna has long been referred to as “Orlando’s Beach” by the locals. On the weekends in the Summer, it can be crowded. Of course it can, it’s the beach in Florida. The good news there is the amount of coastline is significant. It is possible to find a less overrun stretch of beach. Canaveral’s National Seashore being one such place.

All of that as a set up, I’ve been through New Smyrna a few times the last couple of years. This Spring, I popped in for a quick visit to see more than I usually do. My visits to NSB before this one had been largely ‘hit and runs.’ During that time, I saw enough to want to return, slow down, visit with some locals and enjoy what this small city had to offer. My takeaway? I can’t wait to return.

OLD FLORIDA

Those of us old enough to remember love to talk about ‘Old Florida.’ There is no singular definition of what ‘Old Florida’ is, but we can safely categorize it as what the State of Florida used to be long before Disney World and tourism became such big business. The skeptics will refer to Florida as ‘a swamp full of manufactured beauty.’ We certainly see where they are coming from, but most of us never wanted Florida to look like Chicago or Seattle. What made Florida for so many of us was the laid back vibe. Fun in the sun. Fresh seafood on the beach. Cold beverages, good people, and a ‘live and let live’ attitude. New Smyrna Beach embodies so much of that.

New Smyrna’s Downtown area is dripping with history. It was first settled in 1768. The buildings you will see won’t take you back quite that far, but there is still plenty to soak in during a stroll through New Smyrna’s main downtown drag, Canal Street. There are spots to eat and drink scattered throughout the Downtown Historic District, but Canal Street is your spot to park and walk. It is sprinkled with galleries, tourist shops and eateries. More than enough to enjoy an afternoon or evening.

EATING AND LIKING

As I mentioned, I’ve been to the area a few times, but primarily spent most of my time on the beach side of the Indian River. The Garlic is quiet possibly New Smyrna’s most popular eatery and for good reason. It’s a restaurant amost literally in a forest of real trees. It’s quirky, it’s charming, it’s popular and oh yeah, it’s delicious. Absolutely recommend. As I would Limoncello South. There’s a lot of good Italian food in NSB. I’ve never had a bad meal at Limoncello South.

Meanwhile back downtown…

The Spott After a couple of recommendations from locals and a quick peek at their website, I found The Spott appealing enough to give it a shot. The menu was a few steps beyond your usual suspects along the Florida coast. The fried shrimp were a “Nashville Hot” version of that dish, which we enjoyed. Same goes for the Bourbon Glazed Pork Belly with a granny apple slaw. Fine dining? Not at all. ‘Uppity casual’ is how my late mother-in-law would describe it. There are TV’s around the room and a full bar slinging good energy and more. A great little hideaway. Their steak pictured below.

City Market Bistro – City Market Bistro (opened in 2021) was our original planned stop for dinner before we decided to take a peek at The Spott. All anyone talked about was how good City Market’s Burger (pictured above) was. It had been entered in several local contests and always one top prize. Challenge accepted. The burger was wonderful. More importantly, it was hand made (which matters) and absolutely fresh. A delicious gourmet burger topped simply with cheddar cheese placed on a brioche bun. Details matter and this burger showed why. The Steak Frites were delicious as well. Dinner outdoors on the sidewalk provided the perfect historic New Smyrna experience.

New Smyrna Brewing Company – A brewery wasn’t on the original itinerary, but when you are enjoying dinner under the stars and see one across the street, it’s hard not to pop in for a night cap to see what it’s all about. If I am on foot, I am always stopping at a local brewery. This was no different. (Don’t ask how I navigate Asheville, North Carolina. You don’t want to know). New Smyrna Brewery was everything we thought it would be. Local. Friendly, full of locals and industry folk talking shop and a healthy list of great beers. Their signature Shark Attack IPA was so good, we grabbed a growler for the rest of the weekend. If you like local beers, this is a must stop during your visit.

The rest of our visit took us back over the bridge ‘beach side.’ In all, about a 6 minute commute. When we tell you NSB is a beautiful beach town that is easy to maneuver, we aren’t kidding. Our last stop was one I had been trying to get to for a few years. It did not disappoint.

Casey’s NSB – Casey’s is quite possibly NSB’s most popular dive bar. There are a few along the coast, but this one gets a lot of run. And for good reason. It’s a small space, but there is live music most nights. The visitors (aka tourists) in this spot have undoubtedly been here before. They know the spots. As evidenced by the fact that the later it gets, the more locals pile in. The drinks are strong, the vibe is fantastic and the music was over the top wonderful. What more can you ask for across the street from the Atlantic Ocean? Not much.

Others spots to consider while in New Smyrna Beach: Flagler Tavern and their upscale top floor bar The Bounty (my favorite in town). Peanuts Restaurant and Sports Bar (excellent spot to watch a game). Seafood lovers may want to take a look at The Grille at Riverview.

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