Hawks Cove is a small neighborhood of townhomes just off SR-44 and close to I-95, making it the perfect place for those who commute to Daytona, the Cape, or Orlando. At the same time, the drive into central New Smyrna Beach is not more than ten minutes. While SR-44 is a busy road, the community is far enough away from it to have a noise and traffic buffer.
Living here, you are close to a few restaurants, the local dog park, and the South Causeway over to the beach. In fact, you and your dog can be on the sand for your early morning walks in no more than fifteen minutes unless you are trying to drive through rush hour traffic. But if you want to get the most out of a walk on the coast, you should be headed that way long before rush hour anyway. Along the way, there are plenty of places to shop including grocery and pet supply stores.
One of the best things about living in Hawks Cove is that, beyond rush hours, you aren't likely to see much in the way of the traffic beyond the mail carrier and a small amount of local traffic. Living here puts you in a rural setting despite the fact this is a townhome community. Outside of your immediate location, the majority of the terrain is very residential and full of single-family homes.
There are plenty of shade trees to help keep the summer sun from beating down during every step of your walk. However, there aren't any sidewalks. You will be walking on the road, so extra care is required. Consider wearing light-colored or reflective clothing to help any motorists see you.
As a residential neighborhood, you may find that you encounter a fair number of kids out playing or getting on and off the school bus. Be sure you keep your dog on a short leash for everyone's safety!
The entire community around Hawks Cove is heavily wooded, including both Otter Park South and Otter Park North which are on the other side of SR-44. These parks cover several hundred acres and include access to the New Smyrna Beach Multi-Use Trail that you and your dog can use to hike all the way out to I-95 or into the center of town. Be careful as you will be sharing the trail with cyclists and joggers.
A five-minute drive will take you and your dog to the New Smyrna Beach Dog Park. The park has two large fenced-in sections, one for small breeds and puppies and the other for larger breeds. There are watering stations in each section for the pups, shade trees, agility obstacles, and a shady pavilion for pup owners to relax under while their canine friends are out having a good time making new friends and catching up with old ones.