Hey Guys!
Recently I had the pleasure of heading out to Cocoa Beach, Florida. For those who have never been to, or even heard of this beach, it can be found about an hour & a half to two hours from Orlando City. In all my years living in Florida, I find this is one of the closest and most popular beaches for Orlando locals. I have always had a wonderful, memorable time at this beach and would love to share some of my personal favorite things to do, things to see, and places to eat! So follow along as I share some of the greatest things Cocoa has to offer!
If you have ever traveled to a beach in Florida, you will most likely know they go on for miles and miles and there is plenty of places to pull off and enjoy. This is nice because it gives you the ability to spread out and away from people if you're looking for a less crowded area. A place I recently discovered that I enjoyed and found to be a peaceful area, since it is further down the beach, is the parking lot connected to Lori Wilson Park. If you enter this park in your maps, it is right off the main road and there is a playground near the entrance and towards the back is the parking lot. Once parked you can find multiple pathways down to the beach. These boardwalk styled pathways are a GREAT spot to snag some good Instagram worthy photos with lots of greenery and archways made of plants. Definitely gives off that moody beach vibe. From these pathways you can make your way down to the beach.
As you can see in the photo above, there is plenty of space to spread out and enjoy a good day soaking up some sun.
If you're looking for a good place to shop for all your beach needs, look no further than Ron Jon Surf Shop. This shop has you completely covered for whatever you may need for a fun day in the sun.
( Photo Above is not my own. Artist UNKNOWN. Sourced Via Google Images )
One of my favorite things about going to the beach is it's such a specific atmosphere. There are so many different beach stores ( honestly selling mostly the same things ) but it's such a vibe. I love to look and explore through the shops along the beaches because sometimes you can find really cool, unique things like a lot of different local art. Being an artist myself I tend to gravitate towards other artists' work. My favorite place to shop when I visit Cocoa Beach is the Ron Jon Surf Shop. This specific location is the BIGGEST location they have. It's a store filled with honestly anything beach related you can think of. Its a nice place to find home décor, if you're creating a beach theme. They have tons and tons of shirts, sweaters, tank tops, sandals, water shoes and more. They are also, of course, a surf shop supplying all your surfing gear, including surf boards, wetsuits and more. If you forget anything such as sunscreen, a beach towel or a beach blanket, this is your one-stop shop. I highly recommend stopping by the next time you're in Cocoa Beach, the whole shop is such a cool experience.
My favorite time of the day, especially when I am visiting a beach, is sunset. There is something so powerful, yet so peaceful, about hearing the beach waves crashing on the shore and feeling the sand in your toes while feeling the golden hour sunlight hit your skin. One of my favorite spots at Cocoa Beach to experience the beautiful views of the sunset is the Cocoa Beach Pier.
The Cocoa Beach Pier is famous for its food and the fun activities around it. Personally, I enjoy straying away from the crowd. The parking lot is directly outside the Pier Entrance. I find that to the right of the Pier is where MOST people tend to go, since it's the obvious spot and the location where you eat and rent equipment. For me, I discovered a little path that's directly to the LEFT of the Pier. If you follow this little path to the beach, it will take you to the left side of the Pier where it is WAY less crowded, sometimes there is barely a soul. For me the Pier is blocking the sun so you can enjoy the warmth without the sun directly on top of you. This is a good place to set up your beach blanket and relax with good company. I love to pack a cooler with fruits, drinks and of course a Publix Sandwich, a true Florida staple. It's a peaceful spot to go and sit on the beach look out at the water and enjoy the Pier in your view.
Now remember, I said sunset is one of my favorite times to be at the beach and I will show you why I love the Cocoa Beach Pier so much at this time.
From that left side of the Pier I recommended visiting, down by the water you can actually walk directly under the Pier itself. Seeing the waves crash into the structure is so magical. For photographers, it's a great spot that allows you to get some really cool photos. The Pier structure itself gives for texture and depth in your shots. It really gives that total beach vibe to your photo. You're able to capture the Pier, the ocean, the beach and the sunset all at once. It's very calm and very peaceful, but gives you such a rush. The ocean is such a powerful magical place and this spot does not disappoint.
So, whether you're a Florida local or you're just visiting the Orlando area and looking to spend a day on the shore, Cocoa Beach has plenty of exciting things to enjoy. Such a fun little beach day experience that I highly recommend if you get the chance!
I love getting to share my journey and experiences with all of you! If you want to experience a close up view of my day to day travels, check out my social media pages. Where you can find me traveling and exploring this beautiful earth.
Until the next adventure, this is Dom signing off!