Slip on those sunglasses, dig out the sunscreen and load up the kids — it’s vacation time, and we’re headed to the beach. Beach-goers continue to be lured to Florida’s east coast by the natural setting of New Smyrna Beach.

Quiet New Smyrna Beach has 13 miles of white-sand beach. Its offshore rock ledges create excellent wave breaks — which surfers love — and lessen dangerous undertows. National surfing championships are held several times a year at Ponce Inlet, north of New Smyrna. Surfboards and boogie boards can be rented from concessionaires and surf shops.

THINGS TO DO

North New Smyrna Beach is accessible to cars, but most of the beach, starting at 27th Avenue and going south, is traffic-free. At the south end of New Smyrna Beach is the north entrance to Canaveral National Seashore, which boasts 24 miles of coastline framed by cabbage palms and palmettos. The 57,000-acre reserve serves as a refuge for a variety of bird species and as the nesting grounds of loggerhead sea turtles. Park programs in June and July give visitors the chance to watch the turtles come ashore to lay eggs. The program is free, but space is limited; call 386-428-3384 for reservations and more information. While at Canaveral, take a walk on its winding nature trails or visit Turtle Mound, an archaeological site of the Timucua Indians. Park fees are $5 per vehicle.

Visitors also can view wildlife at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, near Kennedy Space Center east of Titusville. The 140,000-acre refuge, open sunrise to sunset, serves as a haven for many native creatures. Call 321-861-0667.

ACCOMMODATIONS

There’s no shortage of accommodations that will suit a family’s needs in New Smyrna. Many properties are on the beach or within walking distance, and most have pools. When you call for reservations, ask if there are special packages or summer deals available.

An elegant lodging option is the restored 1880s Riverview Hotel, 103 Flagler Ave., New Smyrna Beach, on the Indian River. Lounge by the historic hotel’s pool, or walk a few blocks to take a dip in the Atlantic. Guests get continental breakfast and free bicycles. For information, call 386-428-5858 or check out riverviewhotel.com.

DINING

New Smyrna is surrounded by water, so you can expect to find lots of fresh seafood in local restaurants, many of which have great water views.

At the Riverview Hotel, you’ll find a casual restaurant called Kelsey’s Riverview Restaurant (386-428-1865). As they enjoy such dishes as macadamia-encrusted grouper or bourbon-molasses New York strip, diners can watch dolphins play in the Indian River. Java lovers might want to try the flaming citrus coffee. Live music is offered most evenings.

J.B.’s Fish Camp, 859 Pompano Ave., New Smyrna Beach, is housed in a down-home building with screened windows that overlook Mosquito Lagoon. You’ll find plenty of seafood, and there’s live music on weekends. Hours vary. For information, call 386-427-5747.

Jensen Beach a water sports paradise!

The toughest decision facing those who come here to enjoy the water is where to go and what to do first. Anglers can fish for snook, sea trout, redfish and tarpon in the Indian River or in the St. Lucie River or they can fish for kingfish, cobia, sailfish, bluefish and Spanish mackerel in the Atlantic Ocean.

Kayakers can paddle the expansive, shallow grass flats in the rivers or explore secluded creeks in the North Fork of the St. Lucie River.

Boats heading to and from the Gulf coast on the Okeechobee Waterway travel on the South Fork of the St. Lucie, personal water craft and ski boats buzz up and down both rivers and sailboats race offshore and in the Indian River by the US Sailing Center.

This city of 12,000 residents is about 80 miles from Fort Lauderdale and 130 miles from Orlando located along the Atlantic coast between Stuart and Fort Pierce.

Martin County recognizes the importance of boating, as there are plenty of ramps with lots of parking and no launch fees.

Sam Heaton and I met Ed “Kayak” Zyak at Jensen Beach Boat Ramp Park, which was a short walk from where I was staying at River Palm Cottages & Fish Camp. A restored remnant of Old Florida on the Indian River, River Palm is ideally located for outdoors activities. Many guests launch their boats at the park and dock them at River Palm, while others launch their kayaks into the river from River Palm.

One of the area’s top inshore guides, Zyak loaded three kayaks on his 22-foot bay boat and took us to a spot in the river that was too shallow for powerboats to access and popular with kayakers, many of whom paddle over from the boat ramp at Stuart Causeway.

After Zyak anchored his boat, we paddled off in our kayaks to a grass flat that had schools of mullet everywhere. Wading around the flat while casting big topwater plugs, we caught snook, sea trout and jacks. Best of all, we had the flat all to ourselves.

When we had our fill of fishing, we loaded the kayaks back on the boat and Zyak ran up the St. Lucie River to the aquatic preserve in the river’s North Fork. Protected from development, you can’t help but think that this must be what Florida looked like when Spanish explorers first arrived.

“I don’t ever see a lot of people back in here,” said Zyak as we paddled along one of many nameless, winding creeks, most of which are dead ends.

“It’s very pleasant in the wintertime when the wind’s blowing, because you’re protected from the wind.”

Zyak, who can take up to four paddlers on his guided trips, said there are several parks where you can launch a kayak and paddle in the preserve. The advantage of loading the kayaks in his bay boat is he can take his clients to the best spots based on what the wind is doing so they spend more time relaxing and less time fighting the wind.

Read more:  http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/columnists/fl-woods-waters-jensen-beach-0816-20110815,0,2937405.column