Visit the beautiful shore of Cocoa Beach. By Jules Romero.
Let’s face it: 2020 was a tough year. For many months, most of us have been stuck at home due to shelter-in-place regulations. Due to this, many of us may be itching to travel once the coronavirus pandemic starts to die down. And, there’s no better way to enjoy the great outdoors than a trip to the beach!
Cocoa Beach on Florida’s Space Coast offers a sunny shoreline with many activities such as parasailing, boarding casino cruises, and visiting the Brevard Zoo.
Also, the beach is the closest beach to Orlando, meaning you can enjoy all of Orlando’s attractions and also get to relax on Florida’s coast.
Today, we’re going to tell you everything you need to know before booking your trip to this amazing beach!
Location
Cocoa Beach is located in Brevard County in East-central Florida, and it lies on a barrier island just between Banana River and the Atlantic Ocean to the southwest of Orlando.
The beach was initially a small resort linked to Cocoa on the mainland across Merritt Island. In recent years, Cocoa Beach has enjoyed rapid urbanization and development.
Closest Airport to Cocoa Beach
Whether you are flying domestically or internationally, the airport closest to Cocoa Beach is the Orlando Melbourne International Airport. It’s roughly twenty-two miles South of the heart of Cocoa Beach, which is approximately a 30 minute trip via Florida A1A N/S Atlantic Avenue and US-1 N.
American Airlines and Delta Airlines offer non-stop flights to and from their hubs in Charlotte and Atlanta everyday. Also, they provide a one-stop service to locations all around the globe.
As of writing, Elite Airways is working on creating routes from its hub in Melbourne, Florida.
You’ll be pleased to note that the Orlando Melbourne International Airport offers the following amenities:
- Free wifi
- Food and drinks
- Pet assistance
- Collection of artworks by local artists
- Airport museum with free admission
Check out the best flight deals.
When to visit
Average temperatures vary from year to year. Keeping humidity in mind, temperatures may feel hot for about half the year and fair with a decent chance of rain for the other half of the year. The climate is somewhat temperate compared to most other tourist destinations worldwide.
If you’re hoping to visit during the very warmest months, it would be best to book trips for August, September, and July.
The warmest time of the year is typically early to mid-August with highs of around 32 degrees Celsius. Temperatures at Cocoa Beach rarely drop below 25.4 degrees Celsius at night.
Where to Stay
Are you looking for great accommodations during your stay at Cocoa Beach? Tourists can find some of the most famous hotel brands across the beach. Top choices for accommodations include the Four Points by Sheraton and the Hilton Cocoa Beach Oceanfront.
If, however, a resort-style extended stay is what you are looking for, then the Westgate Cocoa Beach Resort is perfect for your needs. It comes complete with a beach concierge and a water park on-site.
Seven Things to Do in Cocoa Beach
Eager to know what kind of fun things you can do during your stay? Here are just a few of the many great activities and attractions suitable for the entire family.
1. Relax by the Shore
One of the area’s most beautiful escapes is at Lori Wilson Park. In addition to vast and clean sands, the park also boasts free parking. While you’re there, you might as well visit the excellent nature trail. It winds into greenery and lovely oak trees. You’ll feel like civilization is hundreds of miles away.
2. Catch a Wave
Cocoa Beach is well known for its calm, consistent waves. Along with the shallow water, make it an ideal place to learn how to surf. You can even take lessons and rent surfboards at the beach. You wouldn’t want to miss out on this.
3. Explore the Cocoa Beach Pier
The Cocoa Beach boardwalk spans a whopping 800 feet over the Atlantic Ocean. Aside from giving you a beautiful view of the beach, the pier is brimming with restaurants, shops, and boutiques. While you’re there, consider ordering a juicy fish sandwich at the famous Atlantic Ocean Grille.
4. Visit the Ron Jon Surf Shop
The legendary Ron Jon Surf Shop is the world’s largest surf shop, covering over 52,000 square feet. The store is open 24 hours a day and offers everything you could ever hope to buy for the beach lifestyle.
You’ll find bikinis, surfboards, clothing, sports gear, and more at this shop. Even if you don’t feel like shopping, the fish tanks, glass elevators, and flowing waterfalls at the shop make it worth visiting.
5. Eat Outside
Take time to visit Fat Kahuna’s Beach Side Grille. It boasts a breezy outdoor setting and a gorgeous view of the ocean. Not a fan of outdoor dining? Not to worry. The restaurant also has an indoor section complete with serene Hawaiian music, a bar, and surfing television channels.
6. Go Kayaking
You can enjoy a kayaking nature tour with Adventure Kayak or Fin Expeditions. Throughout the journey, you’ll see manatees, dolphins, and many unique species of birds along the tropical mangroves.
7. Fun in the Sun
You can choose between leisurely or extreme activities at 321 Kiteboarding and Watersports. They offer kayak and stand-up paddleboard rentals. If you’d like to learn a new skill, the center provides kitesurfing and surfing lessons, as well.
References
10 Things to Do in Cocoa Beach, FL. (n.d.). Retrieved July 08, 2020, from https://www.visitflorida.com/en-us/cities/cocoa-beach/10-exciting-things-to-do-cocoa-beach.html
Cocoa Beach, Florida, Family Vacation Guide, Cocoa Beach hotels, attractions, restaurants, events, rocket launches and more! (n.d.). Retrieved July 08, 2020, from https://www.cocoabeach.com/
Cocoa Beach. (n.d.). Retrieved July 08, 2020, from https://www.visitspacecoast.com/cities/cocoa-beach
