The 1960s TV sitcom "I Dream of Jeannie" made the area famous, as Cocoa Beach was the home of Jeannie (Barbara Eden) and her astronaut "master" (Larry Hagman)." Drive twenty minutes in any direction from downtown Cocoa Beach and you can sprawl in the sun on gorgeous beaches, parasail 800 feet over the water, fish in coastal rivers, or glide through silent wetlands in an airboat. Cocoa Beach is the best kept secret of coastal Florida.
The world famous Cocoa Beach Pier, built in 1962, is a historical landmark that stretches out 800 feet over the Atlantic Ocean. It's not just a fishing pier, but an adventure spot. The pier sports four restaurants, at least two of them offering fine seafood. It's home to five bars that jump on weekends with bands pounding out intoxicating rhythms. The pier also has a dress shop, a bait-and-tackle shop, as well as the requisite gift and souvenir shops.
I would recommend staying at any hotel or motel facing the pier and ocean. One of my favorite activities during my stay in Cocoa Beach was a leisurely walk on the beach or to the pier. I felt safe walking around well into the evening hours. The Holiday Inn Express, Best Western and Days Inn are practically across the street from the pier. For those who want to be closer to the action in downtown Cocoa Beach there is the Four Points Sheraton Hotel. Its pool is small, but it's on the beach with the Ron Jon Surf Shop right next door, not to mention a Starbucks in the lobby. For those who want the downtown scene on a budget, try the Wakulla Suites, a good family value. Jetty Park offers RV travelers and campers a great spot to enjoy the beach.
Cocoa Beach is obsessed with surfing and has been called "the surfing capital of the east coast." Our family was there last October. We were surprised how many surfers we saw riding the waves at that time of year. We stayed ten days and were able to swim in an unheated pool four of those days. Granted we're Yankees and were coming from a much colder climate, but there were other people swimming in the hotel's pool. So, we weren't the only ones who found the water temperature to be just fine. My husband and children were able to swim in the ocean, something I chose to pass up. They swore the water wasn't cold, but I dunno. Autumn in Cocoa Beach also means there's going to be a mean volleyball game on the beach.
In the spring, the place is crawling with surfers, as the Cocoa Beach Pier sponsors the annual Easter Surfing Festival. The pier also sponsors a warm weather concert series that recently offered the Beach Boys as headliners. The summer brings with it bikini contests, some super skimpy, but from what I can glean, no thongs. In January there's the battle of the professional surfers, going for ,000 in contest money. Spectators can bring a picnic lunch, spread out on the beach, and watch this death defying competition.
For those who want to combine sea, surf, and nature, why not try the Cocoa Beach Kayaking Guided Nature Tours? You can paddle through the Indian River Lagoon, a mangrove estuary that is home to bottlenose dolphins and the endangered Florida manatee, as well as all manner of exotic bird life. A little known gem is the Cocoa Beach Manatee Sanctuary Park, off North Atlantic Avenue. Get up close and personal with Florida's gentle giant, in this beautiful, clean park. Bring your lunch. Picnic tables are provided in a sheltered area. Great family fun and you can't beat the price. Admission is free.
There are more restaurants in Cocoa Beach than you can shake a stick at. We loved the Atlantic Ocean Grill on the pier for Sunday brunch, where it's all about the view. The atmosphere is both beachy and romantic and the complementary champagne flows. There was something delectable for everyone in our family of four as we sat over the ocean's waves enjoying a very good buffet. Be warned, there's a dress code. Men must wear shirts and there's no bare feet allowed. If you want to zone out on Chinese, go to Yen Yen, in downtown Cocoa Beach, for awesome food, and an extensive menu. You won't expect Chinese cuisine of this quality in a beach resort area. We ate at the Pig and Whistle for lunch, though I wouldn't recommend it for dinner if you're eating with kids. It looks like the bar out of "Cheers" and gets noisy after dark.
The fish'n chips were awesome and the staff was extremely friendly. Our ten year old said the chicken fingers were great! Our family of four ran into Wahoo Coffee Company during a short rainstorm. The coffee was wonderful and so were the baked goods. They have an array of not-so-current issues of magazines to read while drinking your brew. The ladies behind the counter heard my husband and I daydreaming aloud about relocating to the area and they insisted I take a few back issues of "Coastal Living" with me. Really, terrifically nice staff! For a beach-bummy night out take a short drive north to Grills Seafood Deck & Tiki Bar in Cape Canaveral. My childhood friend who lives in the area claims it's been a local haunt for years and has the rep for being the coolest nitespot. Our family went for a late dinner and saw lots of other families there with kids. The food was excellent. I had coconut shrimp that was out of this world. After dinner, our family hung out on the restaurant's pier and listened to a vocalist bang out classic rock tunes on his keyboard while the crowd at the tiki bar sang along with him.
If you absolutely have to, Orlando is only an hour away. With two children, we decided to spend a day at Sea World and another at Disney. I was disappointed in the Sea World. It costs an arm and a leg to get in and then all the shows were an additional price. However, the Sea World water park, Aquatica, was ab fab (absolutely fabulous). Disney is great. Well you knew that! We did The Magic Kingdom. A word to the wise, if you don't want to eat fast food all day, you must make a reservation for dinner in a park restaurant a day or more in advance. Just call Disney customer relations and they'll help you. Trust me this is a must!
