Only have a few days on the Space Coast? Experience the Best of Cocoa Beach!
Cocoa Beach on Florida’s Space Coast is an amazing weekend getaway destination. Here you can watch rockets take flight, learn to surf or kayak with manatees and dolphins, and dine at some unforgettable local restaurants. However, with so much to see and do, where do you even begin? Here’s a few ideas to make the most of a weekend escape to Cocoa Beach.
Where to Eat
First thing’s first, what’s on the menu? No trip to Cocoa Beach would be complete without an experience at one of the many local restaurants.
Breakfast:
Juice ‘n Java Cafe -Fresh Coffee, scratch-made options, grab-n-go to the beach
Southern Charm Cafe – Stick-to-your-ribs homestyle cookin, go hungry and have a place to nap later.
Cafe Surfinista – Fresh, healthy acai bowls, rich coffee, light snacks perfect for a beach breakfast
Sunrise Diner – Breakfast for champions, fresh, flavorful traditional take on breakfast options for the whole family
Lunch and Dinner:
Coconuts on the Beach – Oceanfront views, fresh seafood, tiki bar, live music you can’t go wrong
4th Street Fillin’ Station – Funky, fresh, unforgettable food, extensive beer, wine and cocktail lists, DESSERT BAR, and a pet-friendly patio.
The Fat Snook – Scratch kitchen serving fresh, local seafood with a Caribbean vibe, pull out your best Tommy Bahama shirt and lock down some reservations!
Need more options? Check out our Top Dining in Cocoa Beach Blog!
Dessert
The Fat Donkey – just go, thank us later.
Florida Key Lime Company – Key Lime Pie, local sweet treats, pet alligator. What’s not to love?
Need more Ice Cream in your weekend? Check out the Space Coast Ice Cream Tour
Explore Cocoa Beach
No day at the beach is complete without a trip to Ron Jon Surf Shop, Cocoa Beach Surf Company or Surf Style to grab some last-minute essentials like boogie boards, bikinis, or beach towels. Stop back for some souvenirs on your way home too!
From the Cocoa Beach Pier to Minutemen Causeway you’ll find tons of easily accessible beach access points. Places like Lori Wilson Park, and Alan Shepard Park all have ample parking options. If you head further south to Downtown Cocoa Beach, near Minutemen Causeway, you’ll find street parking, a parking garage, and tons of boutiques, restaurants, and shops to check out as you make your way to the shoreline!
Take A Surf Lesson
Once you’re at the beach, do as the locals do and SURF! Cocoa Beach is the Surf Capitol of the East Coast and home to several pro surfers including the legendary Kelly Slater, Hobgood twins, and Caroline Marks! Hit the waves yourself by taking a lesson with the good folks at one of the many surf schools in Cocoa Beach. Or, just relax and soak up the sun and watch the surfers at the Cocoa Beach Pier. Maybe toss a line from the shore and try your hand at surf fishing. It’s your weekend escape – do what makes you feel good!
Try Something Different – Paddle the Lagoon
The Thousand Island Conservation Area is on the Lagoon-side of Cocoa Beach and one of the best ways to access the Indian River Lagoon. All of the Kayak Rental and Tour operations in Cocoa Beach explore these islands on private or group tours. Navigate through mangrove tunnels, paddle next to manatees, and follow dolphins and wading birds through their natural habitats! Even better if you’re planning a weekend escape in the summer, bioluminescent tours are the perfect way to blow your mind on a Cocoa Beach getaway.
Take a Break from the Sun
This is Florida and weather can be unpredictable, but that doesn’t have to ruin your Space Coast escape to Cocoa Beach! Have kids in tow? Make your way over to The Dinosaur Store and Museum of Ancient Cultures for a day of digging for treasures, playing in the arcade, and seeing dinosaur bones and replicas. Escape Cocoa Beach is a great escape room experience with several adventures in store. The Florida Surf Museum is an amazing FREE attraction located inside the Ron Jon Surf Shop where you can learn the history of surfing in Florida with the creature comforts of air conditioning.
More Fun on Cocoa Beach
For those looking to get off the ground of Cocoa Beach and into the salty air above Florida’s Space Coast, there are some interesting options there, as well. Get a birds eye view and have the experience of a lifetime airborne above the beautiful Atlantic Ocean through Cocoa Beach Parasailing, where anyone age 5 and up can enjoy the wind in their hair while viewing the Kennedy Space Center and our gorgeous coastline, perhaps catching a glimpse of majestic sea animals swimming off our shores. Or test your skills while suspended in the air at Cocoa Beach Aerial Adventures, an obstacle course above the trees. You’ll navigate your way through 48 different challenges, moving at your own pace, and at the difficulty level of your choosing for a fun take on problem solving and coordination, with a great view. We also have amazing mini-golf courses, including Lighthouse Cove Mini Golf – with beers on tap and handmade ice creams served up by the scoop, or Golf-n-Gator, both fantastic experiences for the whole family.
A Drive Away
There’s a whole lot to do in Cocoa Beach, but just a short drive away more adventures await! The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is 24 miles north of Cocoa Beach and well worth the drive! Want more info on the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and what else to do in Titusville, checkout this blog.
Historic Cocoa Village is 10 miles west of Cocoa Beach over the Intracoastal Waterways! This quaint downtown shopping area offers a splash pad and huge park for the kids, a collection of boutiques, and excellent restaurants including two craft breweries! It’s a great place to find that perfect meal and souvenir.
Port Canaveral is only 6 miles north of Cocoa Beach and home to some of the best waterfront dining on the Space Coast. Here you can choose from many local restaurants serving up fresh seafood, pub food, cold brews and tropical cocktails while watching cruise ships, wildlife, and SpaceX boosters glide effortlessly through one of the busiest ports in the US.
Here’s a great start to planning a quick Cocoa Beach getaway on the Space Coast. We can’t wait to have you!