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Tour New Smyrna Beach, Florida: See wildlife up close – and social distance



Slide 1 of 22: The Marine Discovery Center boat can seat 40 for a tour of the Indian River Lagoon, but capacity was limited to less than 20 passengers to keep people socially distanced. During the two-hour journey of the Indian River Lagoon, a certified Florida naturalist shared information about the estuary’s wildlife, including dolphins, manatees, wading birds and sea turtles.
Slide 2 of 22: A paddler makes his way through the mangroves of Indian River Lagoon in New Smyrna Beach, Florida.
Slide 3 of 22: As part of the Marine Discovery Center’s kayak tour, Dix stops along a sandbar in the center of the Indian River Lagoon to give paddlers a rest and a chance to see and explore hermit crabs in the sand.
Slide 4 of 22: Roger Dix, a Marine Discovery Center naturalist, steps out of his kayak during a small group tour of the Indian River Lagoon to point out an edible plant along the mangroves that shape the New Smyrna Beach estuary.

Slide 5 of 22: Dix describes the diversity of species that live in the Indian River Lagoon during a kayak tour.
Slide 6 of 22: Egrets gather before sunset in a rookery, where birds come to lay their eggs and raise the chicks. Marine naturalist Jasmine Schwadron said, “These islands are great spots because they’re free of predators like raccoons and snakes.” At least seven species of shorebirds nest in them, attracting about 1,000 birds at night, she said.
Slide 7 of 22: At least seven species of shorebirds nest in the mangroves, attracting about 1,000 birds at night.
Slide 8 of 22: A brown pelican lands on a post jutting out of the Indian River Lagoon in New Smyrna Beach.
Slide 9 of 22: Turtles, sharks and certain species of fish are on display at the Marine Discovery Center, where visitors can book kayak and boat tours of the Indian River Lagoon.

Slide 10 of 22: Marine Discovery Center naturalist Jasmine Schwadron displays a set of teeth that came from a shark that lived in the Indian River Lagoon in New Smyrna Beach. She navigated a socially distanced tour of the estuary, home to thousands of species of marine birds, plants and mammals.
Slide 11 of 22: A few visitors fishing in the Indian River Lagoon took extra precaution, wearing masks as they enjoyed the outdoor recreational activities in New Smyrna Beach.
Slide 12 of 22: A young boy fishes along a stretch of New Smyrna Beach. Social distancing guidelines were easy to follow on the sparsely populated beach, located just a mile north of New Smyrna’s iconic Flagler Avenue.
Slide 13 of 22: New Smyrna Beach’s smooth sand provides a great tread for cyclists and runners throughout the day.
Slide 14 of 22: A father guides his young son into the waves.

Slide 15 of 22: A teen frolicks along the shoreline of New Smyrna Beach at sunset.
Slide 16 of 22: Two teens play leapfrog on New Smyrna Beach at sunset.
Slide 17 of 22: A couple enjoys the sunset as they wait to be seated at JB’s Fish Camp located along the Indian River Lagoon, where dolphins and manatees are often spotted.
Slide 18 of 22: Dozens of shops, eateries and boutiques line New Smyrna Beach’s Historic Flagler Avenue Business District.
Slide 19 of 22: Flagler Avenue leads straight to New Smyrna Beach.
Slide 20 of 22: A man and his dog take in the view of the beach from Flagler Avenue.
Slide 21 of 22: The laid-back town is known for its surfing and smooth shorelines.
Slide 22 of 22: However, New Smyrna Beach also has a less alluring reputation as the “shark-bite capital of the world.”
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