Cocoa Beach, Florida

Cocoa Beach, Florida is one of those rare places where alluring natural beauty melds with cutting-edge technology. Cocoa Beach is the perfect destination for those seeking the best of sea and space. Cocoa Beach's history is intertwined with the rest of the "Space Coast" in that its growth parallels that of its northern neighbor, NASA. As the space station took off, no pun intended, so did Cocoa Beach. Although increasingly popular, Cocoa Beach has managed to avoid the massive growth of the theme park areas of Central Florida.

Those who cherish the great outdoors will want to visit the Cocoa Beach Pier. You can toss in a line from the pier, or rent a charter from one of the captains waiting to take you to sea. Surfers call the area around the pier the best surf area in Florida. All outdoor activities are available. You can rent jet skis, go parasailing, swim, snorkel, scuba dive, or just relax and soak up some Florida sunshine.

For more sun time, visit Lori Wilson Park. This beach has the distinction of being one of the only coastal hammocks in existence. (A "hammock" refers to a beach that borders a natural marsh.) There is a small nature center in the park giving information about the natural habitat of the area. With its gentle slope to the water, the beach is perfect for swimming. Volleyball nets and horseshoe pits are permanent fixtures.

Golfers will want to play the course at Cocoa Beach Country Club. The facility has 27 holes of golf spread out over natural rivers and wooded areas. These pristine obstacles make for a challenging loop. The club also has lighted tennis courts, if you want to practice your John McEnroe impression!

Nature lovers will love the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. This 140,000 acre state park is home to hundreds of species of shorebirds, waterfowl, alligators, and other endangered mammals. You can drive the 6-mile long Black Point Wildlife Drive, or walk one of the trails that lead through the marshes.

While in the Cocoa Beach area, take some time to visit Cape Canaveral, home of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the John F. Kennedy Space Center. Follow a history of how the space program began and its successes and failures that brought it to its current status as one of the most advanced research centers in the world. Take a tour to see how the rockets and shuttles are prepared and launched. Talk to an active astronaut and find out what it's like to leave the security of Earth and frolic in outer space!

Cocoa Beach is the closest beach to Orlando, so naturally those people vacationing in Central Florida come here for some time at the shore. But the door swings both ways! Disney World, Epcot, Sea World, Universal, and all the Orlando attractions are only an hour west of Cocoa Beach. Take a day and say "howdy" to the most famous Mouse in the world!

If you want to visit a laid back, sun and nature worshiping community, or you want to see the launching of a space ship, Cocoa Beach is just the place to blast off to!