Ponce Inlet

Crystal Clear Water at Sand Bar by the Inlet

It was nearly noon by the time we had traveled up to this sand bar by Ponce Inlet, Florida. That lighthouse in the distance is at the Inlet.

Sea blue-green, crystal clear ocean water — Toward the lighthouse at Ponce Inlet

Some friends had told my son about this place where the water gets super beautiful when the tide comes in.

It is unusual to find such pretty water in this area of Florida. The many mangroves keep it murky. I could not see to the bottom in the deeper places, like behind the boats in the photo below, but on the sand bar it was very clear.

Boats anchored on shallow sand bar in crystal clear water near Ponce Inlet in Florida — A beautiful day

The water temperature was 85 so we spent a few hours just lounging in the water. The current was pretty strong, pulling inward from the ocean, and floating meant you could quickly drift away.

We took advantage of the current and walked to the far end and floated back.

sun and warm water day on the river — Heading up to ride the current

We did see fish and stingrays in the shallow area because the water was so clear. I am afraid of stingrays and kept my distance to photograph this little group (center of photo).

As the tide kept coming in, the water got more blue. I couldn’t see the bottom in the deep area, but in the shallows, it was very clear. Unfortunately I found no shells here! The current is too strong I suspect.

Deep blue water — The drop from the sand bar to the deeper water

This is the best part of Florida, IMO. We went on a Thursday so there were few other boats around. Plus, storms had been regularly building each day, but this day they never showed.

boats anchored on sand bar Florida — Boats parked along the sand bar

Back toward the Inlet is where Disappearing Island is located. We have been there, but not very often. This gorgeous water makes it worth the trip up this way.

Winter Walk Near the Jetty

I was lucky to have my youngest son come for a visit recently. Unfortunately the weather wasn’t good, with cloudy skies and rain much of the time. We did manage a day at the beach lodging in our chairs and walking in the tide pools, but it was not swimming weather.

Visiting the Park

My son had not been to Smyrna Dunes Park since the boardwalk had been updated. All the old boards have been replaced – rebuilt with long lasting boards and metal sides. He mentioned how nice it looked.

I bought my resident year-long pass which now goes year to year and not just to the end of the year.

We went up to the top of the first lookout area, and the only one on the west side of the walkway, to get some photos. My son dislikes heights and even being this high gave him the willies!

The photo below is looking back toward the parking area with the condos near the beach.

Smyrna Dunes Park view from the two-story lookout

Smyrna Dunes Park view of ICW — Looking west toward the Intracoastal Waterway

These two photos show the view of the ICW, inland waterway. The dirt trail that runs alongside the walkway is where the dogs go for their walks. Dogs are only allowed on the boardwalk early in the morning. Farther up the path dogs and owners can get onto the beach.

I’ll share more photos of our trek out on the beach in a post to come. I found some pretty good shells.

New Smyrna Beach Walk

The first day my son arrived we took a drive onto New Smyrna Beach. I live close and it’s the thing to do. It was cool and windy but we did wear our suits although there was no one swimming. A lone lifeguard looked bored out of her mind.

Breakers Restaurant from the beach — New Smyrna Beach

We found this tiny blue jellyfish, which looks like a man-of-war, just sitting on the sand near the road.

tiny blue jellyfish on the beach — Baby man-of-war?

My son and I scanned the sand for good shells. He has collected them often enough to know I like certain ones. He found this awesome Dosinia – which I don’t think I have ever encountered on this beach – and little scallop, which is also a fairly rare find for this beach.

Dosinia and scallop shells found on ocean beach

In between our beach visits we went out on the boat and had an adventure trying to cook hotdogs over oyster shells. Don’t ask – and don’t try it!

The following day my boys went fishing and caught three keepers – two drum and one trout. Fresh fish for supper! Yum.

He had a nice visit and was glad to have some warm weather to enjoy, then he went back to the New Hampshire winter.

Indian River Boating Photos From Ponce Inlet

We seldom make the trip up to Ponce Inlet in our boat but the other day (this past summer- 2019) we did. Our usual boating area is farther south around Edgewater and Oak Hill. My son dislikes the trip north as it is slow going with mostly minimum wake zones.

A Trip North on the ICW

As we ride up to Ponce Inlet (see my photos from the beach) from the Edgewater area we pass many beautiful homes and see some amazing boats and yachts. We passed a couple of huge yachts on the waterway, but I didn’t have my phone out. The speed is slow the whole way, and we saw paddle boarders as well. It’s a pretty ride with nice views of how the wealthy live.

Boating north on the Indian River ICW toward Disappearing Island and the Ponce Inlet. — Along the river heading north

At the Inlet

The ocean is behind us, just out the inlet. — Our wake as we ride around the Ponce Inlet area

Even though we don’t own an ocean-going boat, my son wanted to see how rough the inlet was. The water was too choppy so we turned around and came back in by Disappearing Island. In the shot above, the ocean is behind us.

View of Smyrna Dunes Park from our boat — South side of the Inlet, beach and condos near Smyrna Dunes Park

It seemed like the channels were all different in the area, and I know they had been dredging, but we found ourselves in a very shallow area where we had to go slow. The water moves the sand around so even unmarked areas can be shallow and especially at low tide.

Condos in the distance as we boat across a shallow area near Ponce Inlet

Photo above: Heading toward the fishing pier at Smyrna Dunes Park, with condos behind it.

coast guard station — Coast Guard Station, Ponce Inlet, Florida

We didn’t see any manatees, but they should be enjoying the warm water this time of year. Boats have to go slow and watch for them. For the most part the manatees stay near the shore and out of the main channel, but we wouldn’t want to hit one. When they are swimming they leave a big bubble-looking wake.

My son will usually drop me at an island so I can explore while he trolls and fishes just offshore. That is when I take most of my photos like the one below with the Ponce Lighthouse in the distance.

Ponce lighthouse beach water — A view of the Lighthouse at Ponce Inlet

My favorite time is when the tide is low or going out. It leaves lots of sandy beaches to explore. No one was on this particular island with us. I believe this beach is part of Disappearing Island, or just south of it.

Ripples in the sand at low tide along an island near the Ponce Inlet in New Smyrna Beach — Outgoing tide leaves a wide beach

Just thought I’d share some riding photos since I usually only share photos from my beach excursions. In this northern area if the ICW (Intracoastal Waterway), just south of Ponce Inlet, the houses are very big and so are the boats / yachts in their front yard.

Nice homes and big boats along the Indian River — Must be nice!

Photos While Boating in the South

Since we mostly stay in the backwaters while we ride, our boating photos are pretty boring. It’s just mangroves and water with the occasional muddy flat. My phone is tucked away in the plastic bag because it’s not waterproof. Even when we see dolphin playing or catch a nice fish I don’t have it handy. Soon I’ll have a new phone which should make things easier.