Traveling with Kids to Cocoa Beach

Exceptionally Kid-Friendly Areas

Cocoa Beach is an extremely family- friendly town – but the fun isn’t limited to the beachside of the Space Coast. The entire area boasts a variety of things to do for children of all ages. There are, however, a few areas in particular that we’d like to call out. These are areas of the Space Coast where you can easily spend several hours or even an entire day with the family:

• Cocoa Beach: Start the day with a walk along the beach. The kids can run and burn off that early morning energy while you take in the sunrise- truly a core memories moment. Once you’re done with your walk, grab breakfast at one of the many family-friendly beachside restaurants (see our favorites below) to fuel up for your day. For kids, we suggest soaking up beach time in the morning before the sun gets too hot (but even then, be sure to lather up with sunscreen and drink a lot of water)! Rent boogie boards, take surf lessons or simply enjoy sand castle making and seashell collecting on the shore! To start winding down your beach time, walk to the Cocoa Beach Pier for lunch and/ or a drink. If you’re staying at Lunar Beach Bungalow, this is about a 10-15 minute walk along the beach. After everyone has cleaned up and had some rest, take a break from the afternoon sun by walking around Ron Jon Surf Shop or the Dinosaur Store (there is also a museum and play area here). In the early evening, a game of putt putt golf and feeding baby alligators at Golf n Gator is great fun for the whole family. Top off your perfect day in Cocoa Beach with dinner and a sweet treat (see our favorites below).
• Port Canaveral (aka ‘The Port’): Start the day with a visit to Jetty Park Beach and Pier. You can opt for some beach time or just enjoy walking along the pier but either way, the view of the Port is a must see. You can get a close up look of fishing boats and cruise ships going in and out to sea. There is a playground and covered pavilion making it a great spot to opt for a picnic lunch. Note that you do have to pay for parking and it’s highly suggested you do so in advance to reserve your spot. If you’re ready to cool off, head over to the Exploration Tower (this does require a short, 1.5 mile drive) for 7 levels of exhibits and interactive play as well as an outside deck / viewing area. You can easily spend the afternoon here so once you’re done, be sure to hit one of the waterfront restaurants for dinner. Our favorite is Grills Seafood Deck & Tiki Bar where they have live music *most* nights of the week and amazing food, including plenty of options for the kids. NOTE: Exploration Tower is currently closed for updates until Spring, 2023.
• Historic Cocoa Village. Home to Taylor Park which runs along the Indian River, there is a large playground (complete with a lower- to- the- ground section for younger kids), a fenced-in Splash Pad (free), a wide- path boardwalk ideal for boat watching, bird watching and on occasion, dolphin-spotting. You can grab any meal of the day here as well as snacks or pastries or ice cream in between. You can even have a seat at the bier garten or one of the other local bars during the day – most of them and the shops are kid- friendly, too. The entire area is stroller friendly, though some of the smaller shops may be difficult to navigate with a double or larger stroller. IMPORTANT NOTE: a lot of the restaurants and shops are closed on Monday.