Looking for fun things to do around Cocoa Beach? You’ve come to the right place.
Situated along Florida’s space coast, Cocoa Beach is near both the Kennedy Space Center, and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. But space stations are just a slice of what Cocoa Beach has to offer.
To help you plan a fun and exciting trip, I’ve put together a list of the best things to do around Cocoa Beach. From kayaking on the Banana river to watching Broadway shows at the theater, there’s something on this list for everyone.
Here are 20 things to do near Cocoa Beach Florida to help you plan your next trip.
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25 Fun Things To Do Near Cocoa Beach Florida
1. Visit Kennedy’s Space Center
Kennedy’s Space Center is a must visit for anyone traveling to Cocoa Beach. Kennedy’s Space Center Visitor Complex is a space museum with an IMAX theater, attached to a NASA spaceport.
From space simulators to bus tours of rocket launch sites, you can easily spend the entire day at the complex. They offer 1 and 2 day admission tickets, with 2 day admission tickets being recommended to see the entire complex.
Kennedys Space Center’s located on Merritt Island, across the Banana River from Cape Canaveral’s Space Station (30 minutes from Cocoa Beach).
Space Commerce Way, Merritt Island, FL 32953. Open 9am to 5pm daily. Tickets cost $75 for adults (12+), $65 for children (3-11). 2-Day Tickets cost $89 for adults (12+), $79 for children (3–11).
2. Go On A Sunset Kayak Tour
With mangrove islets and an abundance of wildlife, kayaking tours are one of the best ways to explore Cocoa Beach’s natural beauty.
You can go on an evening kayak tour to learn about the local ecosystem, spot wildlife, and enjoy beautiful sunset views.
3. Explore The Wizard Of Oz Museum
The Wizard of Oz Museum is an immersive museum that’s filled with interesting collectible items and exhibits from the Wizard of Oz movies.
From walking down the yellow brick road to watching animated scenes from the books on a projector, this museum is fun for all ages. Entry costs $29.99 for adults, and $14.99 for children.
7099 N Atlantic Ave, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920. Open weekdays 9am-5pm, weekends 8am-6pm.
4. Try Key Lime Pie From The Florida Key Lime Pie Co
Key lime pie is a must try dessert for anyone visiting Florida for the first time. One of my favorite places to get key lime pie in Cocoa Beach is the Florida Key Lime Pie Co.
From key lime pie flavored ice cream to pretzels, foodies won’t want to miss this place. They also sell hot sauce, saltwater taffy, and a variety of unique souvenirs.
102 Dixie Ln, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931. Open 12am to 6pm daily.
5. Have A Beach Day At Shepard Park
If you want to enjoy a beach day in the heart of Cocoa Beach, look no further than Shepard Park.
It has full amenities, with a boardwalk, covered picnic areas, bathrooms, showers, umbrella and chair rentals, and lifeguards.
It’s also within walking distance to Ron Jon’s Surf Shop, and many great restaurants and beach bars.
299 E Cocoa Beach Causeway, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931. Open 8am to 7pm daily. Parking costs $5 per hour or $20 per day.
6. Go Bioluminescent Kayaking At Night
If you love an adventure, go on a bioluminescent kayaking tour of Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.
You’ll get to kayak in the dark, spot wildlife, and learn about bioluminescence from a tour guide. From spotting jellyfish to dolphins and manatees, this is the perfect activity for nature lovers.
7. Stroll Cocoa Beach Pier
Cocoa Beach Pier is a historic pier with gift shops, restaurants, and bars, that stretches 800 feet out into the ocean.
You can stroll along the pier, watch people surf on the ocean, or visit during the evening to enjoy sunset views.
Plus, it’s less than a mile from Shepard Park — one of Cocoa Beach’s most popular beach parks with great amenities.
401 Meade Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931. Open Fri-Sat 11am-10pm, Mon-Thur 11am-9pm.
8. Go On A Boat Tour Of Banana River
Banana River is a 31 mile lagoon lying between Merritt Island and Cape Canaveral. This river’s brimming with wildlife, and mixed with fresh water from the mainland, and salt water from the ocean.
You can go on a boat tour along the Banana River to spot dolphins and manatees, while learning about the area’s wildlife and history.
For a fun night out, you can also go on an evening Banana River cruise to enjoy drinks, music, and beautiful sunset views.
9. Ride Jet Skis Over Banana River
If you don’t want to go on a guided tour of the Banana River, you can explore it on your own by renting jet skis from Cocoa Beach Jet Ski Rentals.
They offer jet ski, kayak, paddleboard, and boat rentals, from 9am to 5pm daily.
1872 East Merritt Island Causeway, Merritt Island, FL 32952, USA. Open 9am–5pm. Reservations from 9am-12pm, and first come first serve equipment rentals after 1pm.
10. Watch A Rocket Launch From Playalinda Beach
Tucked along Canaveral’s National Seashore, Playalinda beach is one of the best places to view rocket launches on the Space coast.
This beach stretches 24 miles, with no hotels or restaurants on site. It has multiple parking lots, a small bathroom, and boardwalks that lead out the beach.
If you want to have a relaxing beach day away from crowds, this is the beach for you. It costs $20 for a 7 day pass to the beach, and is free for veterans.
212 S Washington Ave, Titusville, FL. Open daily 6am–6pm.
11. Bask In The Sun At Lori Wilson Park
Lori Wilson Park is a beautiful beachfront park with a boardwalk, restrooms, shower facilities, and lifeguards.
There are picnic areas throughout the park, and you can rent out lounge chairs and umbrellas to relax on the beach. With free parking and great amenities, this is the perfect place for a fun–filled beach day.
1500 N Atlantic Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931. Open daily 7am–7pm. Free parking.
12. Visit The Brevard Zoo
The Brevard Zoo is a 75 acre zoo with over 900 animals, with everything from rhinos to jaguars. This zoo has animal feeding exhibits, ziplining, kayaking, train rides, and more.
If you’re traveling with kids, you won’t want to miss visiting this place. It’s just a 30 minute drive from Cocoa Beach, across State Road 404 over Banana River.
8225 N Wickham Rd, Melbourne, FL 32940. Open 9:30am to 5pm. Last admission 3:30pm Costs $31.95 for adults (12+), $19.95 for children (3-11). Purchase tickets online.
13. Go Ziplining At Cocoa Beach Aerial Adventures Park
For an adventure filled day, go ziplining at Cocoa Beach Aerial Adventures Park.
This park has 7 different zipline courses, and 49 different obstacle courses throughout the park for all ages. This is a great place to take the whole family, and you can book a reservation to visit on their official website.
6419 N Atlantic Ave, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920. General admission costs $47.99 for adults (12+), $37.99 for children (7-11). Open Sun-Fri 11am-5:30pm, Sat 10am-5:30pm, closed Thursdays.
14. Shop For Souvenirs At Ron Jon’s Surf Shop
Ron Jon’s Surf Shop is a massive 52,000 square foot surf shop with 2 stories. It has a great selection of clothing, unique souvenirs, and beach accessories to shop around. You can rent out surf boards for the day, and it’s within walking distance to Shepard Park.
4151 N Atlantic Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931. Open daily 9am-11pm.
15. Visit The Manatee Sanctuary Park
Manatee Sanctuary Park is a wildlife park north of Cocoa Beach, with beautiful views of the Banana River.
The park is surrounded by greenery, and has a boardwalk, picnic tables, benches, exercise stations, and a children’s playground. This is a great place to spend time in nature and admire Florida’s wildlife.
701 Thurm Blvd, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920. Open 7am–8pm daily.
16. Play Mini Golf At Golf N Gator
For a fun-filled day away from the beach, play mini golf at Golf N Gator. This is a family friendly mini golf center with a go-kart course, arcade, and snack bar.
They also have a mini zoo, and an alligator swamp where visitors can feed alligators hotdogs. This is a great place to take kids, and it’s not far from the Wizard Of Oz Museum.
6355 N Atlantic Ave, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920. Open Sun.-Thurs. 10am-10pm, Fri-Sat 10am-11pm. Mini-golf costs $11.99 for adults (12+), $9.99 for children. See pricing here.
17. Visit Romelia Farms Wildlife Preserve & Petting Zoo
Romelia Farms Wildlife Preserve is a family-friendly farm that’s home to over 150 animals. They have a petting zoo, horseback rides, pony rides, sloth encounters, and more.
If you’re traveling with kids, this is an excellent place to visit. They’re located on Merritt Island, just a 10–15 minute drive from Kennedy’s Space Center.
165 Gator Dr, Merritt Island, FL 32953. Open Sun-Fri 9am-3pm, Sat 9am-4pm, closed Tuesdays. Petting zoo admission costs $20 for adults (13+), $15 for kids (3-12)
18. Dine Out At Florida’s Seafood Bar And Grill
For some of the best food in Cocoa Beach, head to Florida’s seafood bar and grill. This is a family-friendly restaurant with fun decor, saltwater aquariums, and a great atmosphere for a fun night out.
They serve everything from fried gator bites to snow crab, and each meal comes with free hush puppies.
480 W Cocoa Beach Causeway, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931. Open Mon-Thurs 11:30am-9pm, Fri-Sat 11:30am-9:30pm, Sunday 1-9pm.
19. Visit The Brevard Museum Of History & Natural Science
If you love history and science, the Brevard Museum of History and Natural Science is worth a visit.
This is a nonprofit museum with interesting artifacts and exhibits on the Ice Age, Space Age, and history of Brevard County. It’s free to visit, and is open Thursday to Saturday from 10am-4pm.
2201 Michigan Ave, Cocoa, FL 32926. Open Thurs-Sat from 10am-4pm. Closed Sun-Wed.
20. See Wild Peacocks At Peacock Beach
Peacock Beach is a peaceful, hidden gem beach just north of Cocoa Beach. It gets its name because there are wild peacocks roaming around the nearby neighborhood.
The beach has free parking, and no restroom or shower facilities. If you want to see the peacocks, make sure to look around the Harbour Heights neighborhood as you approach the beach.
Harbor Heights, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920.
21. Visit The Sands Space History Center
The Sands Space History Center is another great museum to visit besides the Kennedy Space Center.
The museum has a small gift shop, and lots of interesting displays and information about the Cape Canaveral space station.
If you want to learn more about how the space program developed, you can go on a Cape Canaveral Lighthouse & Spaceflight Tour.
100 Spaceport Way Building 90328, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920. Open Tues–Fri 9am-2pm, Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 12-4pm.
22. Stroll Around Cocoa Riverfront Park
Located in the historic Cocoa village, Cocoa Riverfront Park is a waterfront park with a boardwalk, amphitheater, and children’s park.
This is a popular venue for concerts and festivals, and it’s surrounded by shops and restaurants. If you’re looking for a neat place to stroll around in Cocoa Beach for a few hours, this is the place to go.
It’s located right on the water so you’ll have beautiful views of the Indian river as you stroll along.
401 Riveredge Blvd, Cocoa, FL 32922. View Cocoa Riverfront Park’s upcoming concerts and events.
23. Shop In Downtown Cocoa Village
Downtown Cocoa Village is a charming little village with cafes, book stores, small boutiques restaurants, and a waterfront park.
This is the perfect place to stroll around, shop, and eat before attending an event at Cocoa Riverfront Park.
24. Watch A Show At The Historic Cocoa Village Playhouse
If you’re a fan of theater, head to the Historic Cocoa Village Playhouse to watch a show. This is a beautiful theater that hosts Broadway performances, with many shows starting at 7pm or later.
They’re located in downtown Cocoa Village, just down the street from Cocoa Riverfront Park.
300 Brevard Ave, Cocoa, FL 32922. See their upcoming events here.
25. Get Souvenirs At The Dinosaur Store
The Dinosaur Store is a fun, family–friendly dinosaur museum and gift shop. The first floor is a gift shop, and the 2nd and 3rd floors are a large, 26,000 square foot history museum.
From ancient artifacts to fossils and dinosaur exhibits, this is a great place for anyone that loves history.
250 W Cocoa Beach Causeway, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931. Open Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 12-5pm, closed Tuesdays. Cost $26 for adults, $22 for kids.
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