81°*Disclaimer* Due to COVID-19, hours and operations of the attractions listed in this blog may be inaccurate. Please check with restaurants, attractions, and other businesses prior to your arrival for the most accurate information. For an update on the Space Coast’s guidelines and regulations check here.
It’s time to get away and plan your next vacation! Every time you think about where to go, you keep coming back to the idea of heading to Cocoa Beach. This town has been a vacation spot since the space industry blasted off, and over the last 50 years, the appeal of this little town has spanned the globe.
Whether this is your first or fifth trip to the Cocoa Beach area, there is always something new to experience to help take your vacation to the next level. Check out these ideas to make your next trip to Cocoa Beach the best vacation ever.
Get Breakfast
Some of the Space Coast’s best breakfast and brunch spots are located right here in the Cocoa Beach area. So whether with family or friends, get started right with the most important meal of the day. There are plenty of grab-n-go options for a quick wake up such as Juice and Java, or Café Surfanista. Or you can opt for a more chef-inspired Sunday brunch experience at Flavour Kitchen in Cocoa Beach. Or for a down-home, stick-to-your-ribs breakfast every day of the week head up to Cape Canaveral where you’ll find Southern Charm Café. This locally-loved diner offers the “best and biggest breakfast” in the Cocoa Beach area and the only place you’ll be able to find biscuits and gravy that will put your grandma’s recipe to shame. It’s not hart to start your day off right in Cocoa Beach.
Spice up Your Beach Day and Learn to Surf or Parasail
It’s obvious that hitting the beach when visiting is going to happen, but what about experiencing the beach a different way? How about getting a bird’s eye view of the famous coastline while parasailing with Cocoa Beach Parasail. Or better yet, see why this beach is a world famous surfing spot by hanging ten yourself with some surf lessons.
Indulge your inner foodie for lunch/dinner
After surfing, sunning or exploring Cocoa Beach for the day you’re sure to work up an appetite. New and exciting restaurants are always establishing themselves in Cocoa Beach. No matter what style of cuisine you’re craving you can find it here. Check out Jazzy’s Mainly Lobster for some authentic New England style fare where the north and south get along just fine. Or enjoy twilight at Cocoa Beach while overlooking the Atlantic Ocean at Rikki Tiki Tavern. Head to 4th Street Fillin’ Station to enjoy craft beer, cocktails and inspired eats at a renovated gas station Everything’s on the table in Cocoa Beach, so whichever eatery you step into, you’re sure to love!
Get Ready for Take Off in the Cocoa Beach Area
People flock from all over the world to catch an up-close glimpse of a rocket launch. In Cocoa Beach there’s a million places for you to get an amazing view of the launch pad and feel the shockwaves and sonic booms these rockets send into the sky. Check out the launch schedule prior to your trip. There are plenty of beach and port-side eateries you can post up at to watch a launch. While these missions can be scrubbed without notice, they are rescheduled soon after. Stick around, you won’t want to miss history in the making especially when they send the Mars rover to the Red Planet.
Learn Something New
The Cocoa Beach area is filled with little museums you can pop into for a quick education. The Dinosaur Store and Museum of Ancient Cultures takes you back in time where young and old can learn about these prehistoric giants and the ancient civilizations that called Florida home before it was even called Florida. Just a few blocks away learn about history of surfing at the Florida Surf Museum, conveniently located in the Ron Jon Surf Shop rental store.
Explore the outer limits of Cocoa Beach
Cocoa Beach is just a small (although exciting) slice of Florida’s Space Coast. Grab an Uber or Lyft to explore the area further. Head north to Cape Canaveral’s Kennedy Space Center and immerse yourself in one of the greatest engineering feats of our time, space exploration. Or discover more than outer space by walking the historic streets of Cocoa Village during a “Sip and Stroll” event where you enjoy the best of local shops and samples from restaurants with a glass of wine in hand. It’s a truly unique experience.
Enjoy the Night Out
The Cocoa Beach area is perfect for night owls. With live music at many restaurants and venues around town, it’s not hard to find some fun to get into. Check out the Longboards Tiki Beach Grille, located in the Hilton Cocoa Beach for star-lit ocean views, late night eats, live music and, if you’re timing is right, karaoke. Perhaps a more refined night is what you seek? Head to Pompano Grill for an exclusive date night experience complete with fresh seafood and scratch-made meals. Or head to Port Canaveral where you’ll find several waterfront dining options including Junkanoo Island Kitchen, here you’ll enjoy Caribbean eats and frosty drinks while you listen to live entertainment and watch the cruise ships disembark. No matter what you’re looking for, you’re bound to have a marvelous night out in the Cocoa Beach area.
You can’t experience everything Cocoa Beach has to offer in just one day. Make your vacation count and choose to stay at one of the many hotels and motels in Cocoa Beach. With the new trolley taking visitors from Cape Canaveral to Cocoa Beach it’s a great town to get around and an even better town to stay in. Find your room today!
