Cocoa Beach is a surfers paradise along the Atlantic and the beaches here are why this city is referred to as the surfing capital of the east coast!

 

While the pier is an awesome place to check out, there is also one of the best beaches in the Cocoa area right next to it!

 

Beach amenities include beach and fishing equipment rentals, volleyball courts, showers, and year-round lifeguards.

 

You can also take surfing lessons while in the area!

 

There are beachfront hotels and resorts lined up all along the Cocoa beaches, as well as restaurants and other attractions.

 

 

Walk the 800-foot pier and you’ll understand why the Cocoa Beach Pier is one of the most well-known attractions on Florida’s Space Coast!

 

This pier is also filled with bars, restaurants, and gift shops.

 

 

Normally they do live music and fishing on the pier, but both are currently suspended due to Covid.  Stay up to date online.

 

The beach and pier are free and open to all people. (Most of the Cocoa beaches are free and just charge for parking).  There is plenty of parking for the beach and pier and is just $5 for 2-hour parking.

 

 

 

We went and got drinks at the Rikki Tiki Tavern at the end of the pier.

 

Come to the tavern for food and tropical drinks, and to see the amazing views from their open-air bar!

 

The Rikki Tiki Tavern is a nice spot for watching the shuttle launches from Cape Canaveral.

 

Other bars/restaurants on the pier include Pelican’s Bar & Grill, The Boardwalk Bar, and Sea Dogs.

 

Cocoa Beach Pier and Beach

401 Meade Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931

 

 

 

Named after the astronaut, Alan Shepard Park is 5 acres right on the ocean!  This beach park is also a great spot to watch the shuttle launches and about a 15-minute walk south of the Cocoa Beach Pier.

 

There are amenities such as beach rentals, a picnic area with shelters, fishing, a kids’ playground, showers, and bathrooms.

 

Parking here is $2.50 an hour.

 

Alan Shepard Park

299 E Cocoa Beach Causeway, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931

 

 

Continuing down the island is Sidney Fisher Park.  This beachfront park is 10 acres and just over 2 miles south of the Cocoa Beach Pier.

 

With lots of parking, this park also offers fishing, volleyball, picnic areas & shelters, bathrooms, and showers.   Parking is $2.50 an hour.

 

Sidney Fisher Park

2426 N Atlantic Ave Cocoa Beach, FL 32931

 

 

 

 

A lovely oceanfront park, Lori Wilson Park is 2.5 miles south of the Cocoa Beach Pier.

 

One of the beautiful Cocoa beaches, this is a great spot to take a walk and check out nature and the sand dunes along the boardwalk.

 

Amenities are the biking/walking trails, restrooms and showers, bbq grills, picnic area, playground, and volleyball courts.

 

The park also has lifeguards and parking is free.  Bring your pet to the dog-friendly section of the park if you’d like.

 

Looking for more places to bring your pet?  Another dog-friendly park about 20 minutes south is Canova Beach Park.   This park is almost 10-acres and has lots of amenities, as well as several restaurants and things to do nearby. 

 

Lori Wilson Park

 

 

 

Robert P. Murkshe Memorial Park is just over 5.5 miles south of the Cocoa Beach Pier.

 

Along with Sidney Fisher Park, this 2.5-acre park is named after a former Cocoa Beach mayor!

 

Amenities at this Cocoa Beach park include free parking, fishing, restrooms and showers, picnic tables, a pavilion, and a grill.

 

Robert P. Murkshe Memorial Park

1600 S. Atlantic Ave Cocoa Beach, FL 32931

 

 

Another awesome spot to watch the rocket launches, Jetty Park is about 10 minutes (by car) north of the Cocoa Beach Pier.

 

This popular park is 35 acres and has a 1500 foot pier to try some fishing and enjoy the views!

 

Other features of this beach and park include camping, picnic areas, pavilions, lifeguards, a playground, bathrooms, and showers.

 

A Day Pass to the park is $15 and you can’t pay at the park, you have to pay on their website.

 

Jetty Park

397 Jetty Park Rd, Port Canaveral, FL 32920

 

 

While you’re in the area, check out the amazing seafood and waterfront dining options!

 

Our first stop of the day on the Space Coast was Grills in Cape Canaveral.

 

Grills is a waterfront restaurant along the Atlantic, known for its fresh-caught fish and seafood.

 

Try the Mahi-mahi tacos or Shark Kabobs (delicious)!

 

This place has some of the best food on Florida’s Space Coast.  It’s a laid-back, fun atmosphere here. 

They play live music on their deck and also have great views for space launches.  

 

The restaurant is next to the cruise ship port, so when the cruise ships are running, they dock right here!

There is also a Grills restaurant nearby in Melbourne. 

 

Grills Seafood Deck & Tiki Bar

500 Glen Cheek Dr, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920

 

 

The Exploration Tower in Cape Canaveral is a wonderful area attraction and just a couple blocks away from Grills Tiki Bar.

 

This tower has indoor and outdoor observation decks, several exhibits, a recreation theater, and a cafe.

 

The Exploration Tower is another place where you can typically watch the rocket launches, however, they are not hosting any launch viewings due to Covid.

 

Also, only the 1st-floor guest information/gift shop and 7th-floor viewing area are open to visitors right now due to limited access.  You also must wear a mask to get in.

 

The Exploration Tower is still worth going to, especially if you haven’t been to the area before.  Currently, there is no admission charge to get in.

 

Go to the top and see the stunning views of the area!

 

 

Exploration Tower, Cape Canaveral

 

In an area filled with parks, Cherie Down Park is a 7-acre beach park, just under 2 miles north of the Cocoa Beach Pier!

 

Take a walk on the boardwalk past the seagrass and sand dunes.  This park has bbq grills, pavilions, sheltered picnic areas, and outdoor showers.

 

Cherie Down Park

8330 Ridgewood Ave, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920

 

 

Seagull Park is located in Satellite Beach, a 20-minute drive south of the Cocoa Beach Pier.

 

This small beach park is less than 2 acres and there’s not a lot of available parking here, either.

 

Still, Seagull Park is a nice spot for its appealing landscape, beach access, fishing, and surfing.  There is a small picnic area here, too.

 

Seagull Park

285 Highway A1A Satellite Beach, FL 32937

 

Just north of Indian Harbour Beach and a 25-minute drive south of the Cocoa Beach Pier, is Pelican Beach Park.

 

One of most underrated Cocoa area beaches, Pelican Beach Park is a nice place for a family gathering or picnic since there are several pavilions that you can rent. 

 

The park also has bbq grills, a playground, outdoor showers, and a sand volleyball court.

 

Pelican Beach Park

1525 Highway A1A, Satellite Beach, FL 32937

 

 

 

Just under an hour drive south of the Cocoa Beach Pier is Bonsteel Park in Melbourne Beach!

 

Take a stroll on the boardwalk to the beach or hike the area trails to the Indian River.

 

This beach park is just over 2 acres and also a nice place for surfing and fishing.

 

Bonsteel Beach Park

8455 Florida A1A, Melbourne Beach, FL 32951

 

 

Also known as the Howard E. Futch Memorial Park, Paradise Beach boasts over 12 acres and has lots of amenities.

 

Things offered here are picnic areas with pavilions, bbq grills, a playground, restrooms, showers, volleyball courts, and seasonal lifeguards.

 

Paradise Beach & Park

2301 N Hwy A1A, Melbourne, FL 32903

 

 

Part of the Canaveral National Seashore, Playalinda Beach is noted for being an undeveloped stretch of beach and a popular surfing location.

 

Of all the Cocoa area beaches, this is one of the best spots to watch shuttle launches!

 

This section of beach is almost 25 miles wide and less than an hour’s drive north of the Cocoa Beach Pier.

 

As it’s part of the national park, there are entrance fees.  It’s currently $20 per vehicle/day.

 

Playalinda Beach

 

 

My friends and I came to the Space Coast to watch the Space X shuttle launch.  Soon after arriving, though, we discovered that the launch had been postponed due to rough weather.  

 

Unfortunately, we weren’t able to witness the launch, but there are many spots around Cocoa Beach and on this list, that are great to watch the space shuttle launches!

 

Right now, some of the viewing points have changes and restrictions due to Covid.  See online for details on the best viewing locations.

 

And see the upcoming launch schedule here! 

 

 

 

If you need a break from the Cocoa beaches, Kennedy Space Center is easily one of the top attractions of Florida’s Space Coast!

 

It’s located in Merritt Island, Florida, about 30 minutes north of the Cocoa Beach Pier.

 

The Kennedy Space Center has several attractions including an IMAX theater, space artifacts, shopping and dining areas, shows, interactive games, exhibits, as well as mission and training simulations.

 

 

Just a short drive from the Cocoa beaches, Cocoa Village is a fantastic place to go for shopping, food, and different events throughout the year.

 

When we visited the area, the Arts and Craft Show going on so we decided to check it out.

 

The city has an Arts and Craft Show four weekends a year, in March, May, October, and the first weekend in December.

 

Here, they have a couple of hundred vendors, exhibitors, and shops selling products in the park and on the downtown streets.

 

 

Arts and Crafts Show 

The Arts and Craft Show has paintings, photos, food, drinks, crafts, and more for sale.

 

They also have live music and admission is free.

 

Definitely a fun thing to check out if you’re in the area while this is going on.

 

Cocoa Village also has a Holiday Boat Parade and Holiday Bicycle Parade in December and many other events throughout the year.

 

Other events in Cocoa Village include car shows, market days, and more.