Cocoa Beach

Cocoa Beach is one of the rare places where ancient cypress forests meld with state-of-the-art technology. The perfect balance of sea and space, families and those seeking best value will find vacation nirvana. Here, pristine nature preserves and expansive beaches meet the excitement of a space shuttle streaking into orbit.

Just six miles long, and mostly less than one mile wide, Cocoa Beach is truly a unique place! Where else can you choose between watching a space launch from the beach or precious animal species in their natural habitat? You can choose between a swim in the ocean, or a quiet kayak exploration off the Banana River islands, from our river shore? Play a round of golf at our 27-holes golf course, surf cast from the beach for dinner, or just enjoy a day at the beach where you will likely see dolphins at play or be lucky enough to see an occasional whale in migration. Widely known as the surfing capitol of the East Coast, Cocoa Beach is the hometown of surfing champions.

ocoa Beach is a residential community and a tourist destination. Our base population is 12,800,  our population though swells to as high as 30,000 during the peak tourist season when the hotels, motels, timeshares and condominium rentals are filled. In addition, Cocoa Beach is the destination for another 2.4 million day visitors per year; it is the primary tourist destination on the Florida Space Coast. It is also home to an active retiree population, many of whom devoted their careers to our nation's space program. The casual beach lifestyle is enjoyed by visitors and residents alike

• Six miles of ocean beaches with excellent beach access from one end of the City to the other.
• Three oceanfront parks with restrooms, showers and picnic tables.
• A 27-hole public golf course on the Banana River.
• An outdoor heated Olympic size public swimming pool.
• Numerous children's playgrounds throughout the City.
• A public tennis complex with lighted courts.
• Excellent hotel/motel accommodations - all major chains represented as well as smaller "mom & pop" motels and timeshares.
• A wide range of dining choices to fit the taste buds and budget of everyone.
• A beach trolley system to get you around town easily.
• Tours of the Banana River Lagoon by boat or kayak - see marine life and wildlife in their natural habitat.

Beach Etiquette

Having survived literally thousands of years of onslaught from the ravages of the ocean, one would think that the beach is indeed a hardy mass. Quite the opposite is true - the beach is a fragile and ever-changing ecological wonder that belong to all of us. It needs help from mankind - much of the help is in the form of activities that are prohibited by law. Still other help is in the form of the spirit of volunteerism.

The dunes, which are the mounds of sand on the landward side of the beach, are the barriers that protect properties from high tides and storm surges. Many of the dunes rely on vegetation to stay in place as both wind and sea work at relocating them. For this reason, there is one over-riding rule pertaining to the dunes: STAY OFF THE DUNES! It's the law in Cocoa Beach and in every other beach along the Atlantic Coast.

We ask that you enjoy the beach for what it is and leave only your footprints behind. And if you find that previous visitors have not been as courteous, your assistance in picking up the beach would be very much appreciated. It's an activity that most local beachgoers practice - you will then be mistaken for a local and that's a badge of honor! Here are other restrictions necessary to maintain our beautiful beaches:

• No Vehicles on the Beach - With the exception of emergency and public service vehicles, vehicles are not permitted on the beaches for any reason.

• No Trash - Some people, unfortunately, think of the beach as the world's largest ashtray - if you smoke, please do not leave cigarette butts behind.

• No Glass on the beach - Cocoa Beach is one of the few that allows alcohol on the beach but glass bottles are against the law.

• No Animals on the beach - not even on a leash! The penalty is a fine.

• No Fireworks on the beach - Fireworks are an ecological nightmare, they endanger other people and they cause fires in the dune vegetation. This, too, is against the law!

• No Fires on the beach without a permit - fires are allowed in certain areas of the City during certain times of the year. Contact the Cocoa Beach Fire Department for more information.

• Do Not Disturb Turtles, Turtle Nests or Turtle Hatchlings - Sea turtles are an endangered species, if you are lucky enough to see a turtle come ashore, give it very wide berth, do not shine a flashlight or use a flash camera.

• Do Not Push Stranded Marine Mammals Back to Sea - From time-to-time, large sea mammals such as whales, manatees and dolphins may beach themselves. They do this because they are in distress for one reason or another. If you happen onto the scene of a beaching, here's what to do: 1.) Call the Cocoa Beach Police Department (868-3251) and ask them to call Sea World; and 2.) Try to keep the mammal comfortable by pouring sea water over the exposed skin and keep it shielded from the suns rays by covering it with wet towels. Sea World will send a rescue team to remove it to the Sea World facility for medical treatment and rehabilitation.

• Avoid swimming where people are surfing - Surfers usually are found in areas where the waves peak. It is best to avoid swimming in areas where surfers are enjoying the waves.

• Surfcasting - Fishing from the beach, known as surfcasting, is a popular sport in Cocoa Beach. Year round, many varieties of fish may be caught from the beach. Florida residents are not required to obtain a fishing license for surfcasting. Non-residents age or older can obtain a three-day ($6.50), seven-day ($16.50) or annual ($31.50) license for saltwater fishing. Do not fish where people are swimming. Local fish species are quite accommodating - if you move down the beach to get away from swimmers, the fish will move with you!

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Content courtesy from visitflorida.com