New Smyrna Beach

With the nickname of "Florida's Secret Pearl" and a motto of "cygnus inter anates" which means "a swan among ducks", you can expect to find a unique city.

New Smyrna Beach prides itself on being a laid-back small island town with southern charm even though it is close to such major attractions as Daytona Beach, Kennedy Space Center, and Disney World.

It has the distinction of being the largest attempt by colonization in the New World by a member of the British Crown. Scottish physician Dr. Andrew Turnbull established "New Smyrna" in 1768 by bringing 1500 settlers to the area. However, disease, Native American raids and mistreatment by Turnbull caused it to be abandoned until 1887 when the Town of New Smyrna was incorporated with only 150 residents. In 1892 Henry Flagler's Florida East Coast Railway helped the area's economy. It became New Smyrna Beach in 1947 and now attracts over 1,000,000 visitors a year.

New Smyrna Beach has been voted Florida's Best Beach and is also known for water sports, fishing tournaments. a historic downtown, museums, performing arts centers, parks, festivals, concerts, etc.