Things to do in Cocoa Beach, FL
There are plenty of enjoyable things to do while on vacation in Cocoa Beach, Florida! A few things to do are see rockets that launch and light up the night sky, there’s the iconic Cocoa Beach Pier where you can take beautiful photos of a sunrise or relax and enjoy something to eat, there’s barbecuing if you’re staying at the Sea Aire Motel, kayaking, surfing, ziplining at Cocoa Beach Aerial Adventures, a skateboard park, the Ron Jon Surf Shop, surfboard rentals, the Dinosaur Store & Museum, Wildside boat tours for photographing and sight-seeing wildlife, and plenty more. This is also where the surfing legend Kelly Slater grew up. There are statues of him around town and there’s also a surfing museum in the Ron Jon Surf Shop. This is no doubt a great place to vacation, and I didn’t even mention the main attraction… the beautiful and relaxing beach!
Where is Cocoa Beach, Florida?
If you don’t know where Cocoa Beach, Florida is, it’s located half way down the east coast of Florida and is inside Brevard County. It is just below Cape Canaveral, which is where they launch the rockets into orbit and have also launched the space shuttle. When vacationing here, you will be in close viewing distances to see a launch if you are here during the right time. You should be able to hear the boom sound and see the rockets from the beach. If you are flying in and landing at Orlando International airport, you could rent a car and drive to Cocoa Beach in about 1 hour.
If you are coming from the North on Florida State Road A1A, you will pass Ron Jon Surf Shop on your left hand side. The roads will probably be a little busy, so in my opinion it would be wise to pass Ron Jon and keep on A1A to get familiar with the speed of the area first. Things start slowing down a little ways down the road. This is where you will see the really cool statue of Kelly Slater and Welcome To Downtown Cocoa Beach sign. I parked on the right side of the road and walked across the street to get the photo you will see next. I think they did a beautiful job here and maybe it’s worth your time to stop by, get a photo and soak up the meaning of the memorial.
Visit Statue of Kelly Slater, and Welcome to Cocoa Beach, Florida!
One of the first things to do when entering Cocoa Beach for the first time, is visit the statue of Kelly Slater. Cocoa Beach, FL is the beach where the surfing legend Kelly Slater grew up. Slater is widely regarded as the greatest professional surfer of all time and has won 11 world surfing championships. He’s the man here at Cocoa Beach Florida, and it’s obvious when you enter the downtown area and are greeted with a statue of him in a very cool pose on a surfboard. Something I think worth mentioning, is that the front of the surfboard is actually pointing to the right. What this means to those who don’t surf is this… The fins on a bottom of the board help you get traction on the water, for someone like me to do what he is doing, the board would slip out from under me very very quickly! So, he is displaying serious balance in a really cool pose!
Welcome to Downtown Cocoa Beach Florida – surfing legend Kelly Slater
At my feet there was a memorial that wrote:
“MIA POW MAY WE NEVER FORGET THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE FOR THE CAUSE OF FREEDOM”.
Where to stay while on vacation in Cocoa Beach, FL?
Not far from the Welcome to Downtown sign, about one minute south, there is a motel named the Sea Aire Motel. The Sea Aire Motel is located in the very center of Cocoa Beach and it’s where I stayed. I enjoyed myself, there were plenty of things to do nearby, and I wrote about my experience which you can read about if you click the Sea Aire Motel link I provided above.
Sea Turtle tracks on Cocoa Beach, FL
One of the most enjoyable things to do for me was to see brand new sea turtle tracks on the shore in the morning. The moons gravity pulls the ocean levels up and down which they call the tide. So by looking at these tracks above and seeing how far out the water is, you can figure about how many hours before the tracks were made.
The coast of Brevard County is the largest nesting area in the world for loggerhead and green sea turtles. So, there’s a pretty good chance that you may find one nesting. If you do, give them their space, and don’t use regular flashlights on the beach at night. There is a specific flashlight that is allowed here that gives off a red light. The lights cause the sea turtles problems so the city asks the residents to turn off all lights after a certain time of night, and even asks that you close your blinds if you are going to have inside lights on. So the beach should be very dark at night and the only thing lit should be the moon. I personally love it being so dark with only the light from the moon, the breeze from the ocean, and the sound of the waves.
Spot wildlife on Cocoa Beach
Another enjoyable thing to do is to photograph or just see the wildlife here at Cocoa Beach. Where there is water, there is life and there’s plenty of water here. This was a beautiful blue heron that wasn’t too scared of me. He acted like he wanted me to take his photo, so I did.
Wildside Tours in Cocoa Beach, Florida
If you are interested in photography, wanting to see more wildlife, or just looking for more things to do in Cocoa Beach, there is a tour you can go on called Wildside Tours in Cocoa Beach that we went on and is a lot of fun. They can provide you with a great chance to see more wildlife, even dolphins and alligators.
This crab was flicking sand out of his home. The crabs act very skittish, but I was determined to get a photo of one, so I had to be patient.
Brown Rock Dove
Pelicans flying in a v.
Look for Sea Shells on Cocoa Beach, FL
Something you may find enjoyable to do is to look for Sea Shells down the beach. If you look at the sand up close near the water, it looks like millions of crushed shells. So finely crushed, that it is soft and smooth for the most part. It has a different look to it than other beaches here in Florida. I was able to find smaller shells that looked pretty nice. Some people make neckaces out of shells, or simply a keepsake to remind you of your time at the beach.
One of the best things to do at Cocoa Beach is Surf!
There are many fun things to do in Cocoa Beach, but the beach is best known for surfing. I myself have surfed here many times and can tell you that the waves sometimes get pretty big, but most of the time they are small to medium sized and pretty consistent. The water is also pretty shallow for a long way out so with those two conditions, it’s a very good place to learn to surf. This is where Kelly Slater grew up, so he spent a lot of time on these waves learning. If you are new to surfing, this would be a perfect place for you to try it out. There are multiple places to rent boards here for the day as well. There are signs you will see for board rentals. There doesn’t seem to be an age barrier either. I’ve seen kids surfing and older adults. There are also multiple different surfing schools. I’ve seen them myself with around 10 students all out learning to surf with one instructor and an assistant. Every single time I’ve ever visited Cocoa Beach to surf I wasn’t disappointed, but I do remember thinking once or twice, oh my God these waves are huge.
This guy looked like a local and he was doing what looked like yoga before he went out. It looked like this was his life, and what a good life. Cocoa Beach does have a very peaceful feel to it for sure. I hope the city doesn’t change much, it is perfect the way that it is in my opinion.
Early Morning Photography Westgate Cocoa Beach Pier FL
One of my favorite things to do is photography, and who doesn’t enjoy a beautiful sunrise on the beach?
Westgate Cocoa Beach Pier was built in 1962. There are places to eat, entertainment, fishing, shopping, surfing, and plenty of beach to enjoy.
Early morning photography at Westgate Cocoa Beach Pier.
If you are a photographer, interested in learning photography, or just simply enjoy a beautiful sunrise, the iconic Cocoa Beach Pier can provide a beautiful setting for early morning photography. I also included in that last link a tip on how to create motion blur in moving water while shooting in the early mornings. It also works during the evening, or any time there is low light.
Lori Wilson Park – Free Parking, Umbrellas, & Dog Park
Lori Wilson Park should be able to provide you with plenty of things to do at Cocoa Beach. Bring a volleyball, frisbee, kite, or even your dog is welcomed at the dog park.There are many shops along A1A where you can pick up beach related items. And there’s also a Ron Jon Surf Shop right down the road where you can find a very large supply of beach related items including surfboards, body boards, towels, hats, flip flops, you name it and it’s probably there.
Lori Wilson Park is a very large park with two entrances both on the same side of the road. It almost looks like two separate parks. Each side has about 100 parking spots and both have beach access. There is a dog park, restrooms, trash cans, a boardwalk, sun, sand, and salt water. If you’re lucky you can even get a spot under one of the permanent umbrellas they have on the beach for anyone to use. These are not for rain, they are to keep you protected from too much sun. I don’t think they allow alcohol on the beach, but you can bring a cooler with other drinks, and the umbrella could help keep your drinks and snacks cool. Which reminds me, bring plenty of sunscreen especially during the summer! Lori Wilson Park made me feel very welcomed.
Umbrellas on the beach at Lori Wilson Park
Ron Jon Surf Shop in Cocoa Beach, FL
While enjoying the many things to do here in Cocoa Beach, be sure to stop by Ron Jon Surf Shop. It has over 52,000 square feet of retail space, and specializes in surfing and bodyboarding equipment. This is also where you can find the Florida Surf Museum. The museum includes exhibits that feature the history and lore that defines Cocoa Beach, FL as one of the premier surf towns in the world!
The Dinosaur Store & Museum in Cocoa Beach, FL
Giganotosaurus
If you’re looking for more things to do in Cocoa Beach, visit The Dinosaur Store & Museum. They have dinosaurs, bones, fossils, crystals, and ancient artifacts. There is a Giganotosaurus on display here that was a similar dinosaur to the T-Rex but was actually bigger. They have many displays setup and beautiful lighting. This is a 3 story museum with a store on the first floor, dinosaurs on the 2nd, and antient artifacts on the 3rd. If you’re in town and haven’t been before, check this place out!
Cocoa Beach Aerial Adventures Park Zipline & Obstacles
Cocoa Beach Aerial Adventures is a well maintained, well built, zipline and obstacles park in Brevard County only a few minutes north of The Dinosaur Store & Museum. The park features 49 unique challenges set in a canopy of beautiful live oak trees. There are differet skill levels that range from easy to hard. There are also refreshments and places to sit and watch if you are bringing the kids or family. If you’re feeling adventurous and looking for things to do in Cocoa Beach, this place can provide fun for the whole family!
*** You’ve got to be hungry by now! ***
Sunset Waterfront Cafe Grill & Bar in Cocoa Beach, FL
This definately makes it on the list of enjoyable things to do in Cocoa Beach, Florida. Eat great food and enjoy a beautiful sunset!
So it was very late and I was hungry… I stopped by a couple of restaurants but had no luck until I reached the Sunset Waterfront Cafe Grill & Bar. They were closed, but the waitress asked me to wait a second.. She walked over to the manager and asked him something. I saw him look over to me and he waved me in which I thought was very nice of both of them. Who knows where I would have gone to eat after that. And something else, was that every single person I saw at this restaurant was just as nice. It was obvious to me that this place had great service. So I ordered the Florida grouper sandwich and I loved it! And I was just as happy about the price! For such a beautiful location, great food, and service, the cost was very reasonable. If you’re in town, it’s a good place to eat, and it is right on the water. I hope you have a great experience too. Be sure to get there before sunset!
FYI, there are two seafood restaurants right beside each other in the same parking lot. This is the one directly on the water on the West side.
Sunset Waterfront Cafe Grill & Bar – Cocoa Beach, FL
Florida Grouper Sandwich
See what’s on the Menu.
– After Hours –
Sunset Waterfront Cafe Grill & Bar – Cocoa Beach, FL
Sunset Waterfront Cafe Grill & Bar
Cocoa Beach, FL
Address: 500 W Cocoa Beach Cswy, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931
Website: https://sunsetwaterfrontbarandgrill.com/
Early morning walks on Cocoa Beach, Florida
Hopefully I’ve provided you with enough enjoyable things to do during your time at Cocoa Beach, Florida. But I’d love to hear from you too! If you have any other enjoyable ideas, feel free to share them in the comments below!
Deals on lodging in Cocoa Beach for any season: Booking.com
