10 Things to Do in Cocoa Beach, FL | VISIT FLORIDA (2024)

By Lauren Tjaden

1. Park Yourself by the Shore

You’ll find one of the area’s loveliest escapes atLori Wilson Park. Besides a clean, wide beach, thick with golden-hued sand, the park boasts free parking. Remember to wander the nature trail while you’re there. It winds into a maritime hammock lush with live oak, palmetto and greenery, and you’ll feel like civilization is a world away.

2. Ride a Wave

Cocoa Beachis renowned for its calm, consistent waves. That, combined with the fact the water is shallow enough to simply wade out past the breakers, makes it an ideal place tolearn to surf. You can take a lesson, rent a board, or bring your own. It's one of the best places to surf in the state, making it one of the top things to do in Cocoa Beach.

3. Explore the Cocoa Beach Pier

The Cocoa Beach boardwalkstretches 800 feet over the Atlantic Ocean. Besides giving you a swell view of the beach, it’s brimming with shops, restaurants and boutiques. Don’t miss noshing on a juicy fish sandwich at the Atlantic Ocean Grille.

4. Discover Ron Jon Surf Shop

This iconicRon Jon Surf Shopis the world's largest surf shop, encompassing 52,000 square feet. The store, which is one of the top Cocoa Beach attractions, is open 24 hours a day, it offers everything you could possibly need for the beach lifestyle, including bikinis, surf boards, clothing and sports gear. With its fish tanks, glass elevators and flowing waterfalls, it’s worth discovering even if you don’t feel like shopping.

5. Eat Outside

The only true beach bar in Cocoa Beach, Coconuts on the Beach is a local favorite that promises live music, specialty co*cktails, service to the beach and great food, like the oh-so-yummy bacon-wrapped shrimp and scallops.

6. Paddle Peacefully

Enjoy a nature tourkayakingthe Thousand Islands withAdventure KayakorFin Expeditions. You’ll see manatee, dolphin, and many species of birds while paddling through tropical mangroves.

7. Fun in the Sun

Take your pick from leisurely or extreme adventures at321 Kiteboarding and Watersports. They offer stand-up paddle board and kayak rentals as well as kitesurfing and surfing lessons.

8. Munch on Lunch

If you have time for a beach lunch, make itCoconuts on The Beach. The location, smack-dab on the Atlantic, is a ten. But the view isn’t all Coconuts offers. Sink your teeth into a Fish Reuben, fish tacos, fish 'n chips, and make sure to try the sweet potato fries. Wash it down with an icy beach drink or a pina-colada smoothie.

9. Meet Dorothy and Toto

Conveniently sited close to Cocoa Beach, the Space Center and Port Canaveral, The Wizard of Oz Museum invites families to step into a fantastical celebration of the cherished American fairy tale, utilizing cutting-edge technology that projects images across the walls and floor. Its Immersive Wizard of Oz Experience reveals the magical land that Dorothy and her beloved companions explored-- a place where a tornado swirls, mice pull the Cowardly Lion out of a field of poppies, and the yellow brick road winds into the Emerald City. This highly-rated attraction also offers the Immersive Van Gogh exhibit; a kid-friendly, interactive munchkin room brimming with Oz toys from the 20th century; a guided tour; and a unique collection of rare artifacts from the story’s remarkable history.

10. Conquer the Half Pipe

Cocoa Beach Skate Parkis lovingly described by teens as ‘sick,’ and it's one of their favorite things to do in Cocoa Beach. The Park, a friendly, inexpensive haven for kids, boasts two deep bowls and a half pipe, in addition to a grassy area and bleachers where parents can relax.

11. Paint the Town

Cocoa Beach invites you to explore a myriad of murals, with offerings that include a pink alligator, a mesmerizing sea turtle, and an astronaut and the space shuttle. The Space Coast Mural Map can guide you around town.
If you’re going to be in town in March, make sure to check out the Space Coast Mural Festival. It promises a week-long mural exhibition, a two-day street party complete with top notch musicians, and even a mural maze.