The Best Small Towns Along The East Coast Of Florida

Written By Alan Joyce
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Having lived in central Florida for the last 25 years, I’ve had the opportunity to visit many of the towns, beaches and state parks. In particular, weekend excursions within a 2 - 3 hour radius of Orlando has become a regular routine.

While beaches alone are great, they can feel like one-trick ponies without good shopping, restaurants and other activities nearby as well.

The list below are all towns that I’ve found myself visiting more than once for one reason or another. They just seem to separate themselves from other areas along the east coast.

Because people enjoy lists, I’ve put them in a personal ranking but they are all truly fun, unique and interesting in their own way. And, to be fair, I’m less familiar with the south end of Florida. I’m sure they are some quaint areas as well, but my focus is central to northeast Florida in this blog. I hope you enjoy.

#5: Flagler Beach

Old school beach town, literally sitting on the Atlantic ocean. The pier in this photo was built in 1927 and maintained since. The main drag that runs through the town is state road A1A. The great thing about A1A is you can take it all the way from Fernandina Beach (at the northeast tip of Florida) all the way to Key West, with most of the drive is along the ocean.

Flagler Beach is a retro town with salty style. Friendly residents and open-air restaurants set the stage for a laid-back afternoon. Enjoy Flagler Beach's eclectic shops, surfing, a classic fishing pier and a six-mile-plus stretch of spectacular ocean views – with free access to the beach. Gaze at the ocean from rooftop cafes while listening to the music of local musicians.

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#4: Deland/Lake Helen

I’m definitely a bit biased here since this is the area of our AirBnB.

Deland is the home of Stetson University, fabulous restaurants, breweries, coffee shops, antique stores and upscale shopping. You can also see a live play at Athen’s Theater. On Friday nights, you must attend the Farmer’s market in Artisan Alley. Lake Helen is Deland’s more rural counterpart. There are no red lights in Lake Helen, but there is a post office, fire station and police station.

While slightly inland from the Atlantic ocean, this area is centrally located for a day at the beach, kayaking at a nearby state park, the Daytona Speedway, or a day at the park (Disney, Universal Studios, Sea World).

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#3: New Smyrna Beach

Located between St. Augustine and Cocoa Beach, and about 60 minutes from downtown Orlando, New Smyrna beach gets fairly busy on the weekends for very good reason… miles of beautiful beaches, some of the best surfing in Florida, restaurants serving local fresh catch, nightlife/live music/dancing, shopping and a historic downtown. It truly is a beach and a town wrapped into one.

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#2: Amelia Island & Fernadina Beach

Fernandina Beach is the northernmost city on Florida's Atlantic coast located on Amelia Island. I love this area because it’s away from the hustle and bustle, and gives you a blend of beach and historical small town with unique upscale shops. Bring you bikes, there are miles of paved bike trails through beautiful vegetation and past gorgeous resorts. There is a small airport here which the wealthier among us use to visit on their corporate jets. The annual car show in early March is a must see!

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#1: St. Augustine, FL

Located between Jacksonville and Daytona Beach, St. Augustine lays claim to being the oldest city in the U.S. The historic downtown is filled with a variety of shops and restaurants. The kids will really enjoy a tour of the Castillo de San Marcos fortress which sits right on the intercostal waterway. You can hop a boat tour which takes you along the harbor which can be especially spectacular at night. If visiting in December, the city goes crazy with Christmas decorations and lights. Before any of this though, I would recommend the first thing you do is a trolly tour to get a lay of the town and hear about it’s history.

If you’re wanting to stay at one location during your trip to Florida and visit ALL of these locations… and maybe even toss in a day at Disney, boy do I have the perfect spot for you! Our vacation home is literally at the center of it all.

Alan Joyce