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OT: Cocoa Beach 🏖

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Colt2169

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Dec 13, 2021
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This October the wife, daughter and son-in-law and their three kids, my other daughter and her friend and my son with his friend and their family are all heading to Disney.

On the way back, the wife and I are going to stay an extra day and drive over to Cocoa 🍫 Beach 🏖 and spend a day before heading home.

We will probably get there a little after lunch.

So looking for assistance on a good itinerary to hit the beach up, have a decent dinner 🥘 and a place to stay 🏨 for our little one day “sanity” excursion.

PS - I’ve driven near but have never been to Cocoa Beach.

Any advice ???? Thanks 😊!
 
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Midnighter

Midnighter

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Oct 7, 2021
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PSU2169 said:
This October the wife, daughter and son-in-law and their three kids, my other daughter and her friend and my son with his friend and their family are all heading to Disney.

On the way back, the wife and I are going to stay an extra day and drive over to Cocoa 🍫 Beach 🏖 and spend a day before heading home.

We will probably get there a little after lunch.

So looking for assistance on a good itinerary to hit the beach up, have a decent dinner 🥘 and a place to stay 🏨 for our little one day “sanity” excursion.

PS - I’ve driven near but have never been to Cocoa Beach.

Any advice ???? Thanks 😊!
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Will have something for you later - we’re on the tail end of a Disney Cruise/Myrtle Beach vacation that began with a quick stay in Cocoa Beach. Place we stayed was fine for a short stay - had a lazy river and good pool, decent beach bar, and good location. Rooms were hit and Miss in my large group, but again, fine for a night. They even had some NASA/space camp folks come and set up telescopes for the kids to look through at night.
 
91Joe95

91Joe95

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Oct 6, 2021
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PSU2169 said:
This October the wife, daughter and son-in-law and their three kids, my other daughter and her friend and my son with his friend and their family are all heading to Disney.

On the way back, the wife and I are going to stay an extra day and drive over to Cocoa 🍫 Beach 🏖 and spend a day before heading home.

We will probably get there a little after lunch.

So looking for assistance on a good itinerary to hit the beach up, have a decent dinner 🥘 and a place to stay 🏨 for our little one day “sanity” excursion.

PS - I’ve driven near but have never been to Cocoa Beach.

Any advice ???? Thanks 😊!
Click to expand...

I spent a spring break down there one time. Other than eating alligator and that cute little nursing student from JMU, I don't remember a damn thing, maybe because I literally didn't drink a single non-alcoholic drink for 5 days, not even a glass of water. Sorry I couldn't have been more help.
 
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PSU87

PSU87

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Oct 12, 2021
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I live just down the road from there.

The beach is the attraction.

Space Center is definitely worth a visit.

Rent Kayaks or paddle boards and paddle the 1000 Islands on the river side of the island...very cool mangrove tunnels and islands where you'll see a ton of wildlife.

Eat at Port Canaveral and watch the boats go by. Several restaurants right on the water.
 
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TheBigUglies

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Oct 26, 2021
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JoeLion said:
In Cocoa beach try Zarellas for a good Italian dinner. Ron Jon’s of course if you have never been there.
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Spent a week there last January but rented a house about 45 mins from the town of Cocoa Beach and cooked all our meals. Spent everyday on the beach near the Patrick Space Force Base which is South of Cocoa Beach. Plenty of parking and clean not very crowded beaches(it was January though). Be very careful going into Ron Jons, money seems to disappear in that place. :cool:
 
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PSU87

PSU87

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TheBigUglies said:
Spent a week there last January but rented a house about 45 mins from the town of Cocoa Beach and cooked all our meals. Spent everyday on the beach near the Patrick Space Force Base which is South of Cocoa Beach. Plenty of parking and clean not very crowded beaches(it was January though). Be very careful going into Ron Jons, money seems to disappear in that place. :cool:
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Beaches south of Cocoa Beach....in front of Patrick SFB, South Patrick Shores, Satellite Beach and Indian Harbor Beach are going to be less crowded than Cocoa Beach because there isn't much of a tourist presence. There are no hotels on the beach between Cocoa Beach and Indialantic.

On weekends the parking lots can fill up, but October is not going to be crowded. Personally, I think October and November are the best months down here. The water is going to still be in the low 80s. The kids are back to school. The snowbirds haven't arrived yet. The summer heat and humidity are gone but still 80s every day.
 
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Alphabets

Alphabets

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Oct 12, 2021
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Kennedy space center was great. There was a launch today as well, very cool. Took the drive a little more south to Cocoa and went to the pier. Walked around a bit and called it. Just wasn't our scene. Really loving the New Smyrna area, though. Family is having a blast!
 
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mmp121

mmp121

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Oct 8, 2021
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Have had several work trips to the area over the years. If you enjoy watching big ships slip by, have meals & drinks at Rusty's, Fishlips or Grills in Port Canaveral. You may want to check the ships departure schedule to make the most of the experience.

The pier in Cocoa Beach proper is fine, but nothing special.

Definitely visit the museum at Kennedy Space Center if time permits. Make sure you allocate at least 4-6 hours and not rush through.

If you want something different check out Luna at Khahunas (previously called Fat Khahunas). It's expensive and was a hole in the wall restaurant, but food was fantastic!
 
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Picnits

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Oct 6, 2021
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PSU2169 said:
Funny that my daughters in laws are named “Merrick” and they live in New Smyrna
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Interesting - wonder if there are connections? We loved it there - I’m not into birdwatching, but we saw many beautiful birds, lots of gators, and lovely scenery. Very peaceful. You can take the scenic drive in a couple of hours, or spend days poking around - your choice! Also, there is a “clothing optional” beach at the Cape Canaveral National Seashore (we passed on that experience).
 
PSU87

PSU87

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Oct 12, 2021
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PSU2169 said:
Funny that my daughters in laws are named “Merrick” and they live in New Smyrna
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Picnits said:
Interesting - wonder if there are connections? We loved it there - I’m not into birdwatching, but we saw many beautiful birds, lots of gators, and lovely scenery. Very peaceful. You can take the scenic drive in a couple of hours, or spend days poking around - your choice! Also, there is a “clothing optional” beach at the Cape Canaveral National Seashore (we passed on that experience).
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I hate to be the party pooper and break up the family reunion.....but it is Merritt Island...not Merrick :)
 
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PSU87

PSU87

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ODShowtime said:
F the snowbirds. Except for the ones on this board.

That is all.
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Welllll....its a tough call. The taxes they pay on hotel rooms, park admission, etc is one reason we don't pay state income tax.

I tolerate them right up to the point where they start telling me "how they do it up North"
 
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Nittany.Lion

Nittany.Lion

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As several have already recommended the Kennedy Space Visitor Center is definitely worth it. If you go, keep in mind that there are two separate sites to visit, the main visitor center and the Apollo/Saturn Center. As soon as you get to the main visitor make sure to go and get on the schedule for the bus (& tour of other locations) to the Apollo/Saturn Center. If it's really busy, and depending on when you arrive it might be a couple of hours before you go to the second location.
 
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