City Guides: Things to do While Boating in Cocoa Beach, Florida

With the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Banana River to the west, Cocoa Beach is a prime destination for boaters, water lovers and surf enthusiasts. The coastal town is the hometown, and current home, of professional surfer Kelly Slater. You can even get a selfie with the local icon, in statue form, at the “Welcome to Downtown Cocoa Beach” sign (505 N. Orlando Avenue, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931, in case you were wondering).

Cocoa Beach is located south of Daytona Beach and north of Vero Beach along Florida’s Space Coast. For reference, Kennedy Space Center is about 14 miles away, but we’re going to focus on Cocoa Beach itself for this post. Private boat slip rentals on the Banana River and the Indian River, as well as historic A1A, offer convenient access to a variety of Cocoa Beach attractions. Keep reading to find some new things to do the next time you’re in town.  

Lori Wilson Park

Nature enthusiasts love Lori Wilson Park for its wildlife, sand dunes, birds and boardwalk path that leads through the forest setting. It’s right along the coast and has beach access, grills, picnic pavilions, beach volleyball courts and a nearby dog park (dogs are not allowed on the beach, so keep that in mind). It makes a great family outing as there are lifeguards, restrooms, on-site vendors and outdoor showers.

Westgate Cocoa Beach Pier

Established in 1962, the Cocoa Beach Pier located at Lori Wilson Park. So, if you’re spending the day at the park, give the pier a visit. The 800-foot-long fishing pier has five restaurants, four bars, gift shops and live musical entertainment. You can rent fishing equipment and beach gear as well as sign up for surf lessons and fish for pompano, tarpon, snapper and wahoo.

The Florida Surf Museum

Photo: Wikimedia

The Florida Surf Museum can be found in the north annex of the Ron Jon Surf Shop. As its name suggests, it relays the history and culture of surfing. Founded in 1999 as the Cocoa Beach Surf Museum, it features exhibits and programs such as digital archiving and an oral history project. It is open to the public. You’ll want to visit Ron Jon anyway, so why not check it out?

Brevard Museum of History & Natural Science

Part of the Florida Historical Society, the Brevard Museum of History & Natural Science hosts regional artifacts and exhibits such as the Apollo 11 moon landing, Florida mapping history, the Florida East Coast Railway, the ice age, the citrus industry, Cape Canaveral and Florida cattle ranching. There’s also a 22-acre nature preserve with a butterfly garden and trails through scrub, wetland and hammock habitats.

Indian River Queen

Dinner cruise anyone? The Indian River Queen is a triple deck paddlewheel boat that sails along the scenic Indian River Lagoon on the ICW. Watch for manatees and dolphins during the day cruises, or enjoy the sunset and live entertainment on a three-hour nighttime dinner show cruise. Boarding is at the Cocoa Village Marina. When you’re done cruising, you can stroll across the street to the historic Cocoa Village district for shopping, dining and live music.

Surf Shops and Culture

The shallow water and consistent waves make Cocoa Beach a great place to learn to surf. It’s also the site of several world-class surfing competitions, including the Easter Pro/Am, Ron Jon’s Beach ‘N Boards Fest and the National Kidney Foundation’s annual Rich Salick Pro/Am Surf Festival (considered the largest surfing charity competition in the world). And where there’s surfing, you gotta have surf shops. Whether you’re looking for a new board, an old school tee or a souvenir to take back home, the area’s surf shops offer a little bit of everything. Here are a couple to check out.

Ron Jon Surf Shop

Photo: Sandy Allen

Ron Jon Surf Shop, founded in 1959 in New Jersey, has 12 stores nationwide. At 52,000 square feet, the flagship Cocoa Beach Ron Jon Surf Shop is the largest surfing shop in the world. You’ll find surfboards, swimwear, apparel, accessories, souvenirs, sunscreen and much much more. It’s also just two blocks from the beach and near the W. Cocoa Beach Causeway and boat lifts on the Banana River. Check out the Florida Surf Museum while you’re there.

Cocoa Beach Surf Company

Located within the Four Points Sheraton Hotel, and next door to Ron Jon, Cocoa Beach Surf Company sells swimwear, footwear and all the sundries, beach toys and towels you’ll ever need (and then some). You can also pick up a new surfboard or stand-up paddleboard and book beach rentals and surfing lessons. Look for brands by Body Glove, Ray Ban, Columbia, Salt Life, Sperry, Life is Good and more.

Catalyst Surf Shop

The Catalyst Surf Shop, open since 1987, is the place to go for wetsuits, sunglasses, swimwear, surfboards, skateboards and apparel for men, women and kids. It’s a quick walk to the soft sand of Cocoa Beach and conveniently near the inlets, canals and private boat slips for rent along the Banana River.

The next time you’re in town and looking for something to do from your private boat dock for rent, check out some of these fun attractions and outdoor activities along the sand and surf of Cocoa Beach. Tell Slater we said hi!