What to do in Cocoa Beach, in April, in debt, in stress?
DH and I are going in April to the Cocoa Beach area. Our primary focus is to see Kennedy Space Center and relax on the beach. We have ZERO interest in Disney, Ron Jon’s or bars of any kind.
1. Which hotels are actually located on the beach? I’ve heard many advertise oceanside, but aren’t.
2. Is there anything free in the area we can do other than get sunburned on the beach?
3. What else is there to do beside KSC and the beach for budget minded people? (Remember we care nothing about Disney, Ron Jon’s or bars)
4. If we get a hotel that isn’t directly on the sand, are there areas that are posted "Public Beach" or do you just head for the water and hope you aren’t trespassing?
5. We will splurge on a restaurant. What do the locals recommend as a great place to eat?
6. Is it less stressful to fly into Orlando or Melbourne? Which roadway to the Cocoa Beach area has less traffic?
More than 1 question, but I appreciate your answers.
Locals have a better chance at getting voted best answer.
Another thing I wanted to add but couldn’t think of at the time; Since we’re going for KSC and beach, would it be cheaper to stay north or south and avoid Cocoa Beach completely?
If we do get a place to stay that isn’t on the beach, how do we know where the beach access is?
1. I don’t know of any specific hotels in Cocoa Beach (I lived in Melbourne), but if you look for something a little further south, the Hilton, the Doubletree, and the Crowne Plaza are all right on the beach.
2. There isn’t too much for free, but if you’re looking for inexpensive, the Brevard Zoo in Viera is a great place to spend an afternoon. It’s not huge, but there is plenty to do (and if you care to spend a tad extra, they even have options where you can kayak through some of the exhibits).
3. See above.
4. There are plenty of public beaches in the Cocoa area. If you are budget-minded, you might even be better off staying somewhere that isn’t on the beach, as these places are often cheaper.
5. My favorite restaurants in the area are City Tropics in Melbourne (great outdoor patio with big umbrellas and a very diverse menu) and the Melting Pot in Viera (excellent fondue experience).
6. Melbourne is less stressful to fly into (great little airport), but is often more expensive. It is about the same distance from Melbourne to Cocoa as it is from Orlando, so I’d say go with whatever makes more sense financially.