06 Oct 2026 6 min read

OFF THE SCREEN : GET THE KIDS OUTSIDE : FALL 2026

New Smyrna Beach and Edgewater • Fall 2026–Spring 2027

Growing up around here, surfing, skating and riding bikes gave you something to do and somewhere to belong. You didn't have to be good at it. You just needed a place to start. There are still places for kids to get into that stuff around New Smyrna and Edgewater, whether they're ready for a lesson or just need somewhere to burn through a Saturday afternoon.

Surf

Jimmy Lane Surfing Academy offers lessons at the Sapphire Road beach walkover by North Beach Community Park, starting at $75, with boards included. Fall and spring small-group sessions are $55 per person. Book through the website or call 386-314-1356.

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Surfin' NSB charges $90 for an individual lesson or $60 per person in a group, also with boards included. It's a way to try surfing before buying a board that might spend the next year in the garage.

For kids already surfing, the Surfari Club's Spooktacular returns to Flagler Avenue on October 31, starting at 8:30 a.m. Entry starts at $33, and there's a costume surfing contest after the final heat. Surf contest registration closes October 30 at noon.

Skate

The NSB Skate Park on Industrial Park Avenue is free and open noon–8 p.m. every day, with a newer street section alongside the park's other features. For lessons, call 386-410-2895.

Edgewater has Whistle Stop Park on Roberts Road, with a skatepark, playground and splash pad. Pettis Park on Mary Avenue also has a free mini concrete bowl. Having somewhere to ride without another monthly payment is a pretty good thing to keep around.

Farther north, Port Orange Skate Park at City Center has bowls, ramps, rails and ledges for skateboards, scooters and BMX. Ormond’s skatepark at Nova Community Park would be my pick for little kids. Think a parade of scooters and kids in mohawk helmets. In my experience, Port Orange and Ormond are more on top of helmets and creating a safe environment for kids. Depending on what you care about, that might be a selling point compared with the atmosphere at a non-supervised park like Bethune Point in Daytona.

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BMX and dirt bikes

Daytona BMX, at Robert Strickland Park in Holly Hill, runs practices and races. The track's calendar has current dates; call 386-405-8031 for beginner sessions and pricing.

For dirt bikes, Pax Trax MX Resort in Bunnell has full-size, intermediate and pee-wee tracks. Its Little Bike MX School runs Wednesdays, 5–8 p.m., at $70 per rider. Check the day's schedule before loading up: 386-437-7191.

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School breaks on the lagoon

The Marine Discovery Center offers holiday camps for ages 5–12, with fishing, kayaking, boat trips and time exploring the lagoon and marsh. Camp runs 8:30 a.m.–3 p.m.

Camp	Dates	Price
One-day camps	Nov. 11, 2026; Jan. 18 and Feb. 15, 2027	$55 each
Thanksgiving	Nov. 23–25	$165
Winter break	Dec. 21–23 or Dec. 28–30	$165 per session
Spring break	March 15–19, 2027	$275

Something indoors, too

New Smyrna Beach Jiu Jitsu is in Edgewater on North Ridgewood Avenue, despite the name. It has a kids program and a free trial, so they can try it before you commit. Contact the gym for tuition: 407-995-6590.

October plans

Oct. 16 — Spooky Ooky Estuary: Marine Discovery Center, 5:30–8 p.m. Trick-or-treating, a scary trail, crafts and games. Free admission; some activities cost extra.
Oct. 17 — Trick or Trails: D Ranch Preserve in Osteen, 4:30–7:30 p.m. Costumes, candy and $5 hayrides. Free entry with RSVP.
Oct. 23 — Halloween Teen Bash: Babe James Community Center, 7–9 p.m., for grades 6–12. Free.
Oct. 24 — NSB Fall Festival: Sports Complex, 4–8 p.m. Free admission; rides cost extra.
Oct. 24 — Edgewater Fall Festival and Trunk-or-Treat: YMCA/Hawks Park area, 5–9 p.m. Hayrides, pony rides, a petting zoo and the Haunted Forest. Bring one nonperishable food item per person for entry.

A kid doesn't need to become a competitive surfer or spend every weekend at a track to get something out of this. Maybe they find a hobby and some friends. Maybe they just have a good afternoon and want to go again. Either seems like a decent reason to get them out of the house.

LOCAL SKATEPARKS:

New Smyrna Beach Skate Park — New Smyrna Beach
Address: 245 Industrial Park Avenue
Hours: Noon–8 p.m. daily
Price: Free
What’s there: Concrete bowl and street course with rails, ledges and ramps. Phone: 386-410-2895. www.cityofnsb.com
Pettis Park skate area — New Smyrna Beach
Address: 800 Mary Avenue
Hours: Sunrise–sunset; lighted park facilities remain open until 11 p.m., but the listing doesn’t specify skate-area lighting.
Price: Free
What’s there: A smaller concrete bowl (no flat areas). www.sportsvolusia.com
Whistle Stop Park — Edgewater
Address: 651 Roberts Road
Hours: 7 a.m.–10 p.m. daily—published park hours
Price: Free
Extras: Playground, splash pad, courts and picnic areas make this useful when the kids want different things. CivicPlus.CMS.FAQ
Port Orange Skate Park — Port Orange
Address: 4655 City Center Circle, next to The REC
Hours: The REC opens Monday–Friday at 8:30 a.m., Saturday at 8:30 a.m. and Sunday at 11:30 a.m. It closes at 7:30 p.m. weekdays and 6 p.m. weekends; the skatepark closes earlier if dusk arrives first. Additional gate-open hours may be offered.
Price: Free; registration, waiver and front-desk check-in required when The REC is open.
Riding: Skateboards, scooters, BMX and inline skates. www.port-orange.org
Bethune Point Skate Park — Daytona Beach
Address: 11 Bellevue Avenue
Hours: County listing says 7:30 a.m.–9:30 p.m.; the city’s current skatepark page doesn’t confirm separate hours. Confirm late sessions: 386-671-8337.
Price: Listed as free
What’s there: Concrete bowl, large clam-shell feature and street obstacles. Skateboards, BMX and inline skates welcome. Daytona Beach, FL - Official Website
Ormond Beach Skate Park at Nova Community Park — Ormond Beach
Address: 440 North Nova Road
Hours: The surrounding park is open 6 a.m.–11 p.m.; current skatepark-specific hours need confirmation.
Price: Listed as free
Family angle: My pick for younger scooter kids. Playground nearby. sportsvolusia.com
DeLand Skate Park at Earl Brown Park — DeLand
Address: 615 South Alabama Avenue, near Hubbard Avenue
Hours/price: Not published on the current city skatepark page. Confirm: 386-626-7280.
What’s there: A 12,000-square-foot facility for skateboards, skates and bicycles. Helmets required. DeLand Skate Park and Earl Brown’s skatepark are the same stop. DeLand, FL
Eddie Rios Skate Park, formerly Lake Butler Skate Park — Deltona
Address: 301 Courtland Boulevard
Hours: Monday–Thursday 5–9 p.m.; Friday 5–10 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.–10 p.m.; Sunday noon–6 p.m.
Price: $10 admission pass, valid for two years
Know before going: Bikes and skaters have separate sessions within those hours—check the city schedule before heading out. Eddie Rios Skate Park
Colin’s Dream Skate Park at Coleman Park — Orange City
Address: 210 East Blue Springs Avenue
Hours: Sunrise–sunset; closed Thursdays from 6 a.m.–noon for maintenance, reopening when work finishes.
Price: Free
Riding: Skateboards, scooters, inline skates and BMX. No public restrooms. City of Orange City, FL
Timothy Pollard Memorial Park skate area — Ponce Inlet
Address: 4680 South Peninsula Drive
Hours: Published skate rules say 10 a.m.–8 p.m.; the surrounding park has longer hours.
Price: No skate admission fee published in the linked town information.
Know before going: Waiver and helmet decal required; parental consent for riders under 18.

Surf

Skate

BMX and dirt bikes

School breaks on the lagoon

Something indoors, too

October plans

LOCAL SKATEPARKS:

Sources