20 Things To Do In Cocoa Beach

Cocoa Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Florida. This beach on the Atlantic Coast of Florida in Brevard County is between Jacksonville and West Palm Beach, directly east of Orlando. Loved for its gnarly waves for surfing and proximity to Orlando theme parks, like Disney World and Universal Studios, there are many things to do in Cocoa Beach and its surrounds. Speaking of surfing, 11-time world surfing champion Kelly Slater calls this part of the Sunshine State home.

Families started arriving in Cocoa Beach in the 1860s, and from there, resorts, communities and businesses started popping up. This area is known as the “Space Coast” of Florida because of America’s space exploration program with NASA’s John F. Kennedy Space Center nearby. Before Silicon Valley existed, Cocoa Beach was home to the brightest technical minds in the world.

Cocoa Beach also had its time in the spotlight of Hollywood as the setting for the hit sitcom, “I Dream of Jeannie.” Whether you want to dive into the Atlantic Ocean or discover the history of Florida, Cocoa Beach has something for everyone. Here are the top 20 things to do in Cocoa Beach.

Cocoa Beach, Florida

20 Things To Do In Cocoa Beach, Florida

Cocoa Beach is the perfect place to kick back, soak up the sun, and even catch a few waves. This area brings thousands of visitors from all over the country each year.

If you’re planning a vacation to Cocoa Beach, you’ll want to look at this list of the best things to do. 

1- Visit The Largest Surf Shop In The World At Ron Jon Surf Shop

Ron Jon Surf Shop has been open since 1993 and has the biggest array of wetsuits, beach accessories, swimwear, boards, water shoes, and other aquatic accessories.

Sizing up with over 52,000 square feet of real estate, Ron Jon is the biggest surf shop on the planet and something you must see to believe.

If you’re not a surfer, don’t worry, kids ages 7 to 17 can enrol in surf camps taught by some of the most renowned surfing professionals in the industry.

They also offer stand-up paddleboarding lessons and kiteboarding lessons.

Ron Jon Surf Shop is at 4151 N Atlantic Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931.

2- Hang Ten At The Florida Surf Museum

Located in the same building as Ron Jon Surf Shop is The Florida Surf Museum, dedicated to preserving and educating about the history of East Coast surfing.

Before you go buying all your surfing equipment, splash into the rich surfing history of Cocoa Beach with vintage boards, official documents, and other interesting surfing artifacts from years ago.

The Florida Surf Museum has a ton of exhibits to explore and even seasonally rotating exhibits.

Some of the most popular exhibits at the museum are Sidewalk Surfing: The Florida Factor, Locals Only, and Florida Women of the Waves.

The Florida Surf Museum is at 4275 N Atlantic Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931.

Book a one-hour private surf lesson in Cocoa Beach here. 

3- Metal Detect At Lori Wilson Park

This state park is located along Cocoa Beach and acts as a dog park, hiking area, and public beach access. Lori Wilson Park is a fantastic destination for metal detecting.

Treasure hunters from all over the world come to scan the beach with their machines to find coins, jewellery, and doubloons from pirates that sailed the seas hundreds of years ago.

You can rent one from local shops nearby if you don’t have a metal detector.

The park also has on-site vendors, outdoor showers, restrooms, barbeque grills, playgrounds, and picnic pavilions if you want to hang out after your treasure hunt.

Lori Wilson Park is at 1500 N Atlantic Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931.

4- Take A Stroll On The Westgate Cocoa Beach Pier

Cocoa Beach Pier is world-famous as a historic landmark.

This beautiful pier stretches out into the Atlantic Ocean over 800 feet (244 m), giving visitors a perfect place to spend the afternoon strolling through shops, eating at restaurants and enjoying live music entertainment.

It’s popular for fishing as you’ll likely catch wahoo, redfish, bluefish, snapper, and whiting.

There’s a fishing fee to pay even if you bring your own gear, or you can also rent fishing equipment if you don’t bring your own.

The Pier is also great for beach rentals like umbrellas, chairs or surf lessons.

If you want to stay close to the Cocoa Beach Pier action, you can stay at the Westgate Cocoa Beach Resort.

The Westgate Cocoa Beach Pier is at 401 Meade Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931.

5- Make Manatee Friends At Banana River Aquatic Preserve

Banana River Aquatic Preserve is a 30,000-acre (12,140 ha) preserve between Merritt Island and Cocoa Beach.

The park has several parks and boat ramps that provide direct, easy access to visitors with their own or rented boats and kayaks.

Among the marshland and mangroves live many species of native wildlife.

The north side of the preserve is home to a large manatee community year-round, making this the perfect spot to make a few underwater friends.

Banana River Aquatic Preserve is at 401 Ramp Rd, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931. You may like these tours:

• Mangrove Tunnel, Manatee & Dolphin Kayak Tour Fin Expeditions of Cocoa Beach
• Mangrove Tunnels, Manatee, and Dolphin Sunset Kayak Tour with Fin Expeditions
• Cocoa Beach Dolphin Tours on the Banana River

6- Visit The Shopping District Of Historic Cocoa Village

Cocoa Village was one of the first areas founded with the conception of the city of Cocoa Beach.

This charming downtown district has unique shops and casual dining establishments in a village atmosphere.

Historic Cocoa Village is the area’s top shopping district and one of the weekend hot spots.

You can also find a few buildings from the National Register of Historic Places, such as the Cocoa Village Playhouse and the Porcher House.

Depending on the time of year you plan to visit, be sure to check the calendar for events in the village.

Car shows, parades, and art fairs are among the best events in Historic Cocoa Village.

Historic Cocoa Village is at Florida Ave, Cocoa, FL 32922.

7- Get A Fresh Slice Of Florida At The Florida Key Lime Pie Company

It’s no secret that Florida has a unique ecosystem for growing fruits and vegetables, producing some of the freshest and juiciest citrus in the world.

That’s why oranges, grapefruits and especially limes are a must-try when visiting Florida.

The Florida Key Lime Pie Company specializes in anything you can imagine key lime flavoured, such as beers, cooler cookies, candies, salt water taffy, chocolates, pretzels and wine.

This family-owned and operated establishment has been open since 2006, and the owner also founded the Florida Key Lime Pie Festival in 2012.

The Florida Key Lime Pie Company is at 102 Dixie Ln, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931.

8- Play A Few Rounds At The Lighthouse Cove Mini Golf Course

Lighthouse Cove Mini Golf Course is a great place to take the whole family.

The facility offers two 18-hole courses with water features, hills, twists, and turns to keep the game interesting.

If you need a beverage while you play, they deliver beer and wine to your exact location on the course!

Stop by the ice cream shop for a scoop or a milkshake when you’re done playing golf.

The Lighthouse Cove Mini Golf Course is at 3811 N Atlantic Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931.

9- Experience The Thrill Of Deep Sea Fishing 

A fantastic way to experience Florida is by being out on the water, and if you want an unforgettable experience, try deep-sea fishing.

Fin & Fly Fishing Charters is one of the companies in Cocoa Beach that provides deep-sea fishing, shark fishing, river fishing and nearshore fishing charters.

Those who book an offshore fishing adventure can expect catches such as mahi mahi, tuna, wahoo, sailfish, kingfish, sharks and plenty of other varieties of fish.

Fin & Fly Fishing Charters is at 951 Bali Rd, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931.

10- Blast Off To The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex has been a staple in this area for many years and the reason this part of Florida is called the “Space Coast.”

Visitors from all over can blast off into outer space adventures through featured exhibits and displays, historic spacecraft and memorabilia, and shows that give us a closer look at the rest of the galaxy surrounding us.

Admission tickets start at $75 for adults and offer deals for bundled days. Skip the line and prebook your tickets here. 

If you only have one day to experience the centre, it’s best to get there early to see as much as possible. 

The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is at Space Commerce Way, Merritt Island, FL 32953.

11- Enjoy A Tropical Cocktail At Rikki Tiki Tavern

Rikki Tiki Tavern is perched at the very end of the Westgate Cocoa Beach Pier, offering some of the best ocean views, open-air seating, and unique cocktails.

Many locals here enjoy the laid-back atmosphere after a long day at the beach.

Try a Pier Punch, Cocoa Set Sail, or Mango Madness to sip some of the most popular menu offerings.

Rikki Tiki Tavern is at 401 Meade Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931.

12- Take A Peek At The World’s Largest Collection Of Fossils 

This small store opened its doors in 1996 and grew to own one of the largest collections of fossils in the world.

They even have exhibitions across the United States with museums such as the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, Science Spectrum in Lubbock, and MOSI in Tampa.

You can browse the large collections or visit the gift shop to take home your authentic fossils!

The Dinosaur Store is at 250 W Cocoa Beach Causeway, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931.

13- Schedule A Kiteboarding Lesson 

Ever wanted to learn a new skill?

Kiteboarding is a fun and exciting water sport that many native Floridians love.

Kiteboarding involves using a hand-controlled kite powered by the wind to glide across the water.

You can take personalised lessons for beginner, intermediate and advanced skill levels to train you to be a pro kiteboarder, including gear setup, safety instructions, hand placement and body dragging.

321 Kiteboarding and Watersports is at 235 W Cocoa Beach Causeway, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931.

14- Graduate From The Mini Course At Cocoa Beach Country Club

If you want to challenge yourself more than the courses available at the Lighthouse Cove Mini Golf Course, play a couple of rounds with the big leagues at Cocoa Beach Country Club.

This public facility is along the Banana River Lagoon.

It offers beautiful views and wildlife while playing along three courses with sand bunkers and other obstacles.

Cocoa Beach Country Club is at 5000 Tom Warriner Blvd, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931.

15- See A Show At Surfside Playhouse

In 1959, a group of thespians called The Surfside Players of Cocoa Beach wanted to bring the beauty of performing arts to the area.

They started with their first production in the Cocoa Beach Firehouse and began the construction of their dream venue.

Surfside Playhouse is a community theatre that houses up to 250 people for productions, presentations, seminars and shows.

The Surfside Playhouse also offers Youth Theater Classes, Playwriting Competitions, and Improv Classes.

Be sure to check the calendar of events to buy tickets to one of their productions!

Surfside Playhouse is at 301 Ramp Rd, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931.

16- Paddle Through Tropical Mangroves On A Kayak Tour

Try kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding if you want a great family activity.

There are many kayak tour options around Cocoa Beach, including daytime tours, self-guided tours, bioluminescent tours and even clear-bottom kayak tours.

This is an excellent way for beginners and experts to explore Florida’s amazing waterways and scenery. 

Several tour companies run kayaking tours. Check them out here:

• Florida Bioluminescence Clear Kayak Tour | Cocoa Beach (Kiwanis Island)
• Fin Expeditions is at 599 Ramp Rd, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931.
• Adventure Kayak of Cocoa Beach is at 598 Ramp Rd, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931.
• Cocoa Kayaking is at 5000 Tom Warriner Blvd, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931.
• The Waterfront Cocoa Beach is at 129 Manatee Ln, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931.

17- Shred The Half Pipe At Cocoa Beach Skate Park

Cocoa Beach Skate Park is a popular local spot where kids and adults gather to skateboard and scooter.

The Concrete skate park with a bowl and ‘street’ areas to shred and practice tricks.

There are also flood lights if you want to skate at night.

Park hours vary daily, so check the website before you skate.

Cocoa Beach Skate Park is at 1450 Minutemen Causeway, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931.

18- Join The Foodies For A Delicious Meal

The Fat Snook is a scratch kitchen seafood joint with an elegant, intimate vibe.

This is the perfect spot for a romantic Cocoa Beach date night.

Some of the most popular menu items are the grilled duck breast, blue point oysters, or the creole shrimp and scallops – all perfectly plated for a foodie’s next Instagram post.

They also have some killer local beer options.

The Fat Snook is at 2464 S Atlantic Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931.

19- Have A Picnic In The Park

This oceanfront park was named after Astronaut Alan Shepard.

This park is the perfect place to watch space and rocket launches because it has many amenities, such as public restrooms, picnic pavilions, barbecue grills, and a playground.

Alan Shepard Park is open from 8 am to 6 pm each day.

If you are driving in, the entry fee is $15 and there are over 300 parking spaces.

Alan Shepherd Park is at 299 E Cocoa Beach Causeway, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931.

20- Treat Yourself To A Healing Treatment At Cocoa Beach Wellness Center

If you’re looking for the ultimate place to relax and unwind, Cocoa Beach Wellness Center is the place to be.

The centre is nestled in a quaint cottage in the heart of downtown Cocoa Beach.

The team consists of six independent State of Florida, Board of Health, Professional Licensed Massage Therapists, and a Licensed Acupuncturist dedicated to healing and making people feel their best.

Services offered at the Cocoa Beach Wellness Center include massages, facials, ear candling, colon hydrotherapy, or ion cleanse foot bath.

Cocoa Beach Wellness Center is at 236 N Atlantic Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931.