We love the ability to walk to the pool, the beach, enjoy the ocean without needing to cross a road. There is just nothing like being able to look out at the ocean and to be able to walk out there and enjoy it!
Flagler Avenue, north of us, on the beach side is known for it's Art studios and small shops. Canal Street on the mainland is known for it's historical significance and its quaint shops and city services (Hospital, library, senior center, museums, etc).
New Smyrna Beach has the conveniences needed without the traffic. Two bridges over the intracoastal waterway are your access to the beach side and back to the mainland. Since you can't go north or south of New Smyrna Beach on the Beachside, we have no through traffic! We are 10 minutes from the highway (I-95), 20 minutes to Daytona, but lack the busy roadways.
Canaveral National Seashore is 3 miles south of us, the longest National Seashore on the East coast! The road then ends 6 miles further. No through-traffic to south of there. One can also access Canaveral National Seashore from Merritt Island, south of us ON I-95, but there are no roads connecting the two parts of CNS.
Walt Disney World, Island Adventures, Universal Studios, SeaWorld, and other Parks are about 1.25 hours away. Best plan: spend more time at the beach, especially at the end of your trip for the Best vacation!
State Parks with manatees, dolphins, natural springs for swimming and boating are close.