Girl’s Trip To Florida

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If you need a warm-weather getaway with your besties then check out my latest trip to New Smyrna Beach and Orlando, Florida. Here is a bunch of things to do in Flordia on a girl’s weekend getaway. Some things are touristy and some are not, but a healthy mix is always fun!

I just got back from my second trip to Florida. I went last year with the same group and we had so much fun we had to do it again. Plus my nephew lives in New Smyrna Beach, so getting to visit him is a bonus! My sister planned both of our vacations to Florida and I am so grateful she did. I needed the time away and was more than ecstatic to have someone else making the plans and decisions. Single momming means you make alllll the decisions and plans. Letting go is a gift! 

Whether you are traveling or not, I hope you enjoy some silly pictures, beautiful scenery and my encouragement to you. I’m encouraging you to get out there, make friends, enjoy them, travel with them, laugh with them, try something new, do something scary, have FUN! I’ve decided to add pictures from BOTH of my trips into one giant mash-up. That way you can see some fun winter things to do in Florida AND some fun summer adventures to enjoy. **The places I talk about here are in New Smyrna Beach, Orlando or in between the areas. All the activities I talk about are worth the drive if you are a little ways away from them on your vacation.** 

We started off in New Smyrna Beach, because – my nephew (isn’t he the cutest!!!)! Being with a local is always the best, it really cuts down on bad eating and needless excursions. Believe me, we eat so good when we are there! I have some favorite restaurants listed below. 

 

What exactly would a trip to Florida be without seeing the gators in their natural habitat? Book yourself an airboat ride and slide across the glades checking out the locals. It’s absolutely crazy cool. If you’ve never been on an air boat, that’s a treat of it’s own!

While you are visiting take a walk at the Smyrna Dunes Park. Meander through the beachy dunes on an incredible boardwalk, spying native wildlife before you are spit out to the sea. This slice of beach is the reason New Smyrna Beach is named the Shark Bite Capitol. And yet, there are surfers all the time, any season. I will never understand that. Jaws ruined me. 

Next spend some time strolling Flagler Avenue. The beach shops and bars are quintessential beach town. The laid back vibe and slow going pace will get you into vacation mode ASAP. They have tons of festivals and street fairs so check the calendar to see what is happening during your stay. (us shopping till we dropped…)

While you are there grab a slice of Pizza from Flagler’s Pizza and be sure to get soft serve down at Treats on The Beach. Then grab some souvenir tees saying you survived the shark bite capitol waters. 

We did a little fishing while we were there, not deep sea, but inland fishing. My sister hired a fishing guide and we spent six hours driving around the inlets searching for Red Fish and Grouper. BUT…not a single bite. The guide said it only happens a few times a year. Nonetheless we saw tons of Dolphins and Pelican, belly laughed and I even took a nap in the sun. What more could you ask for!? The fish in this photo is our bait fish, it was the only fish we saw all day. 

 

In the warm months rent a kayak and paddle around the mangroves. The water is absolutely stunning. A dolphin almost hit my girlfriend’s boat! It’s breathtaking! We pulled up on sand bars and checked out loads of crabs and shellfish. Such a fun time. 

When we went in the summer we did a TON of kayaking. I loved every single minute of it. You can kayak at your own pace, none of it was difficult and we went to a variety of spots. We started with a guide and launched at Wilson’s Landing Park. The guide took us through Lilypad filled water, we saw birds, turtles and YES – Alligators.

They were all around us and it was a amazing! I saw a baby and as I was snapping it’s picture I decided mom might be near by and I almost panicked!!! We made it through with all our limbs though and memories we won’t forget. 

This particular kayak excursion including a torrential downpour that was so heavy we had to pull over for cover. We kayaked in the rain and it was as if God himself was washing away the pain of my year. Such a beautiful moment I will never forget. 

Another unbelievable kayak trip we did was out of King’s Landing.

This was a small river with the most crystal clear water you can imagine. Cool and fresh. If you don’t live somewhere that offers this kind of nature, you can hardly believe it’s real.

I highly recommend this trek. We did it with no guide, just hop in and follow the water. A special friend joined us at one point (look close)…

The last phenomenal kayak trip we did only happens at certain times of the year and our summer trip hit at just the right time…bioluminescent time! That’s right, kayak at night and see unique species of algae and sea creatures GLOW!

The water literally glows as you churn your paddle through it, stirring up the bioluminescent algae. We had a guide for this kayak excursion and he took us right to the best spots. Unless you are familiar with the area, I recommend a guide. It can be scary out on the water at night if you don’t know what you’re doing. We launched out of Mosquito Lagoon near New Smyrna Beach. 

The sunset alone was worth the trip!!!

My nephew and his adorable girlfriend signed us up for a New Smyrna Beach, city wide scavenger hunt benefiting the American Legion. The four of us know nothing about the area and laughed at the though of us driving around blindly in a strange town. Little did those locals know. We killed it. (many of the silly pictures you see in this post are from this adventure!)

The four of us made teamwork the dreamwork and we went to town. We drove ALL OVER and found all the things, took pictures at all the spots and had a blast doing it.

They gave extra points for creativity in your photos, so you know I showed up for that!!! The scavenger hunt list had us everywhere, from biker bars to the library, hugging trees and admiring local artwork.

We ended up winning 2nd place, a $500 prize!!!! We couldn’t have cared less about the money – we were just so excited to win. The locals were mad. We heard a few snide remarks. They couldn’t rain on our parade though! If you are in town for this event, or see one in your home town – DO IT! They are such a great way to explore your surroundings and laugh while you hunt. 

One of the highlight of both trips was our stay at the Black Dolphin Inn. This waterfront gem is gorgeous.

The rooms are subtle and stunning, the common area is modern with a lived in vibe, the courtyards are homey and inviting.

Each morning we look forward to the yummy breakfast they serve.

The place lives up to it’s name, you can sit on the private dock and watch the dolphins swim by, they are so close you feel like you could touch them. It’s a treat.

If you have time to walk or drive through the surrounding neighborhood, you will fall in love with the old historic homes, the lush landscape and the cozy vibe. 

A few exceptional places to eat in New Symra Beach, Florida are:

1. SoNapa Grille
2. Third Wave Cafe
3. Yellow Dog Eats
4. Norwood’s Restaurant & Treehouse Bar
5. The Garlic
6. Flagler Avenue Pizza Company
7. Treats On The Beach
8. JB’s Fish Camp
9. Outriggers

There is always something fun to see in the water the time of year determines what exactly when you are in the Orlando area. In the winter months Manatee flood the inlets to stay warm and feed. They don’t like the cold water and these gentle sea cows gather by the hundreds. It is an AMAZING sight to see. You aren’t allowed to swim with them, as they are protected, but GO AND SEE THEM! They aren’t there year round, so check before you go looking for them.

We viewed the Manatee from the boardwalk at Blue Spring Park, a gorgeous state park with easy access to the gentle giants of the water. Blue Spring is in between New Smyrna Beach and Orlando. If you are even close, it’s worth the drive during the Manatee season. While you’re there, listen to the park rangers and gain some insight to these beautiful creatures. I learned the Manatee have no natural predators, they swim and sun bath right alongside the Florida gators. CRAZY! 

Not only did we enjoy the Manatees, but the crystal clear water FILLED with fish. Giant fish. I wanted to throw a pole in because you could see them all hanging out right in front of you. Tilapia, Gar, Catfish and a whole other slew of fish I forgot the names of. I’m a sucker for nature and this was a nature bucket list experience for me. ✔️✔️

If all these nature and water activities aren’t working for you let me tell you a little secret. A place that we ADORE. It’s a gem, a hidden treasure. I wish it would lift up and plop down in my town. Legitimately the BEST massage we have all ever had – and that is saying A LOT!!! Treat yourself at the Orlando Spa Oasis. This is not some high class spa you can’t afford, just a basic strip mall massage place, but I promise you. It rocks. 

We also did a day at Disney. With the park hopper pass we hit Animal Kingdom in the morning and switched to Epcot for the evening. The new Avatar ride at Animal Kingdom was a ton of fun, we did it twice. I HIGHLY recommend the lightning lane option to skip the horrific line you might encounter.

This 3D virtual reality ride takes you soaring through the luminescent lands of Pandora (on the back of a Banshee) from the Avatar movie. Complete with blowing winds and fragrant scents to make you feel like you are right there with the Banshee. We hit some other rides and shows for a full day of fun.  I have to say four adults at Disney was a blast – made me feel like a kid again. We all need that now and again!

As for Epcot, I had no idea how much there was to do there. It is definitely a more adult park. Made for foodies and drink connoisseurs. You can make an entire day of eating your way through Epcot and the eleven regions the park highlights. They had an incredible art festival while we there, full of sidewalk chalk art that will blow your mind.

I could definitely have spent more time exploring this park.

All this to say, if you haven’t thought of visiting Disney since the kids left home – rethink it. We spent 13 hours at Disney on this one day and it wasn’t enough! 

Let’s not forget the eating. I have two scrumptious recommendations for you in Orlando. You’ll want to fit them both into your trip. 

Best Places to Eat in Orlando, Florida

1. Kabooki Sushi
2. Vines

Over the two trips my sister and I also made time to visit the Stetson University Campus, because Stetson is my maiden name. It was a beautiful, old campus. Souvenirs were bought. 😉

We squeezed in a few little breweries and spontaneous snacks and meals along the way. It was a beautiful time and I will never forget how blessed I am to be loved and cared for my these amazing women. I pray you have a crew like mine. Now get out there and plan yourself an adventure. xo