Accommodations

Most visitors to the New Smyrna [1] area opt for renting a beachside condominium rather than staying in a hotel. Although hotels are plentiful, they’re thoroughly outnumbered by condos, especially along the beach. Quite a few properties are only available on a monthly basis, but weeklies are available from Ocean Properties (386/428-0513, www.oceanprops.com [2], beachfront condos from $725 per week); RentCondos (www.rentcondos.com [3], beachfront condos from $550 per week) is a site used by individual New Smyrna condo owners to list their properties.

For a more homespun and personal environment, the 15-room Night Swan Bed & Breakfast (512 S. Riverside Dr., 386/423-4940, www.nightswan.com [4], from $110 d) is a good choice. The Night Swan is in the tiny historic district and has a fantastic view of the Intracoastal Waterway. The three-story home was built in 1906, and is appropriately decorated in period-specific furnishings; the upstairs Captain’s Suite is spacious, with two queen beds and a picture window overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway. As with many historic homes in the area, the expansive front porch here is a big draw.

The 21 wood-paneled guest rooms at the tiny Seahorse Inn (423 Flagler Ave., 386/428-8081, www.seahorseinnflorida.com [5], from $75 d) don’t appear to have been updated in at least a couple of decades, but the inexpensive motel offers clean, safe, and friendly accommodations right across the street from the beach.