Cocoa Beach

This six-mile long stretch of biscuit-coloured sand sits at the heart of Florida’s Space Coast. It’s well known for its watersports scene, with surfers flocking from far and wide to ride the waves here - it’s even where 11-time surfing world champion Kelly Slater learned his craft. 

Cocoa Beach is also home to the world’s biggest surf shop, Ron Jon’s and you’ll find surf schools are dotted along the beach. If you prefer something a little more laidback when the waves aren’t up, there’s paddleboarding and kayaking on the cards too.

And as for the beach, there’s plenty of space to sprawl out, but be warned, it’s very popular during peak times, so if you’re not a fan of crowds then you might prefer to head down the coast a little.

On the facilities front, there’s loads of bars and grills dotted along the beachfront, with fresh seafood a staple dish in most of the restaurants.

If you prefer to cook up your own feasts, you can use the public grills in Lori Wilson Park. This 30+ acre space has a front row seat to Cocoa Beach’s golden sands, and along with the grills, it’s got playgrounds for the little ones, nature trails, a volleyball court, and even a dog park.