New Smyrna beach vs Ormand beach?
 

we are wanting to do a beach day this week which looks like Thursday is the best day, taking a three-year-old to play in the sand, I’m looking for a place to eat, any ideas of which one of the two areas would be better? just looking for Beach area that would enjoy, we are not interested ingoing to Daytona Beach,,, any ideas?

If it matters, Ormond Beach is dog-friendly. :)

New Smyrna beach has a few bar& Grills right at the beach...also have restrooms nearby. That would be my preference.... Ormond is a little more isolated, as far as restaurants, etc. are concerned.

Although, you don't want to go to Daytona Beach, it has the benefit of being able to drive out on the beach and unload your stuff and enjoy the water....we take a popup tent, cooler and snacks for a day at Daytona Beach.

Playalinda beach, just outside of Tittusville, is absolutely gorgeous and there are 11 parking areas there. Park in areas 1 - 10 and the few people you see on the beach will be wearing bathing suits. Don't bring the youngster to parking area #11.

Can drive on New Smyrna also. Check tides. High tide stops the cars driving on the beach. Showers at main entry point.

We have a condo on Daytona Beach Shores where we live at least four months a year. The sand is firm, great for walking and sandcastles. Ice cream truck comes driving by playing Christmas songs and kids songs. You can park, unload, and enjoy. It is less crowded and a great group of people on the beach. Ormand is only dog friendly for a very short stretch. Florida beaches are NOT off leash or on leash dog friendly for the most part. New Smyrna has had a lot of shark bites, be careful in water. We enjoy watching the people on the beach from our ocean front deck. Kids love it.

We like New Smyrna because you can drive on the beach.
No hauling coolers or gear.
New Smyrna Beach Cam

We also like New Smyrna beach on the Atlantic side, but prefer the gulf beaches. Fred Howard beach in Tarpon Springs is the closest nice beach on the gulf. We also like Madiera beach at Johns Pass, Anna Maria Island, Siesta Key, Clearwater, St. Pete beach, Lido beach and many more.

I think I saw a show on the National Geographic or another similar channel about why sharks concentrate in the New Smyrna area. There is some kind of bottle neck or perhaps like four lanes merging down to two on roads so that sharks more densely inhabitat the water there. Anyway, many sharks are present in the area, not that a three year old is going surfing.

So is that inlet thingy at Smyrna.


There used to be shark sitings at Smyrna. I wonder if that is still the case.

special thanks to everyone for all the information,,, downside to the villages is any beach is at least 90 minutes away

:ohdear: Some of us think it's the UP SIDE! :icon_wink:

Shark Attack Facts: Human Shark Bait - National Geographic Channel - Canada

When we first moved to The Villages we took teen grandson to New Smyrna Beach and he had a blast in the water for hours. When we got home his mother called and said; Mom, you didn't know New Smyrna Beach is the shark capital, did you????

I am known for worrying. I didn't know.

Sharks tend to gather where the fish are, around inlets and piers. Stay at least a mile away to reduce the risk.