Cocoa Beach Parasail

Fly hundreds of feet above Cocoa Beach and the Atlantic Ocean behind the Cocoa Beach Parasail 's high performance speed boat. These guys are the premiere crew for parasailing on Florida's Eastern shore. Their goal for you is to have the most scenic, thrilling flight of your life.

800 feet above the ocean, you get a birds-eye-view of the beautiful Cocoa Beach coast, Cape Canaveral and Kennedy space center. You might get lucky and see marine life like dolphins, whales and sea turtles.

They bring over a decade of parasailing flight experience to the space coast. No prior experience is needed, the crew on Cocoa Beach Parasailing 's boat do all the work. They control your flight, your take off and landing right on the back of the boat. Bring your bikini, you won't get wet unless you want to.

What will I see from the Cocoa Beach Parasail?

They will pick you up at the dock by Rusty’s Seafood and Oyster Bar, located in Port Canaveral’s exciting restaurant and marina spot, The Cove. When you get out in the Atlantic, you'll fly like a kite with the Cocoa Beach Parasail strapped to your harness. You head south out of Port Canaveral along the coast where you will see:

Jetty Park Beach
Cocoa Beach Pier
Ron Jon's Surf Shop
Kennedy Space Center
Cocoa Beach coastline

The round trip from dock to dock could be as long as an hour and a half. The flights are 6-7 minutes for a single and 10-12 minutes for a tandem. Better for two, someone to talk to and the ride is longer, so bring a friend. Any age is OK.

For a small fee you can go along for the boat ride and not parasail. Once you're out there beware, it's to much fun and the captain and crew will most likely talk you into a ride.

Don't forget your camera! Even if you do, you can buy the photo package from Cocoa Beach Parasail.

Celebrate your birthday, anniversary or get engaged up on a Cocoa Beach Parasail.

MapIt! Cocoa Beach Parasail, 628 Glen Cheek Drive, Port Canaveral, FL 32920

Phone: 321-212-8277

See more details at

Cocoa Beach Parasail

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Jetty Park Beach – Port Canaveral

This is a great beach in Port Canaveral with fishing, camping, snack bar and rocket launches.

Jetty Park Beach is located at the north end of Cocoa Beach which is actually in Port Canaveral Florida. This beach is wide and flat. It’s great for the kids to skim board, play catch, Frisbee or just to fly a kite. Little kids love to swim this beach because it’s so flat.

Cruise ship departures to watch. Check the schedules from Port Canaveral, normally two or three ships sail on Sunday’s and Thursdays including Disney’s Wonder. The ships usually sail between 4-6 pm. You can watch from your car or on the beach.  The ports getting bigger so there will be even more opportunities.

Check out the observation deck above the snack bar. It was added after the last hurricane, so climb up for a great view of the beach and harbor.

Map It! enter this address into your navigation radio: 400 Jetty Park Dr, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920. Exit George King Blvd. from 528 (A1A) and head east. Follow the signs to Jetty Park Beach, George King Blvd turns into Jett Park Dr.

Jetty Park has lots of parking along the harbor. You can sit in your car or use a nearby picnic site. After a day on the beach, we like to grill here and watch the cruise ships. We’ve even seen a submarine going into the naval station at the south end of Kennedy Space Center.Ron Jon resort in cocoa beach (Port Canaveral) shares the beach with Jetty Park Beach.

Jetty Park Beach Amenities

Life guards, restrooms, snack bar, bait shop, break wall fishing, camping, picnic area, campground store, board walk…another great place to spend the day. There are also several restaurants in the Cove. See Cocoa Beach Restaurants under Port Canaveral restaurants.

Picnic Area and grills are available in the park. The camp ground store usually has hot dogs, chips charcoal and condiments. They sell beer and pop at the bait store and you can get other supplies at the nearby campground store. So even if you didn’t plan on staying, you can always make some last minute plans and grill some hot dogs for dinner.

Camping - The campground here is a bit rustics, but it’s about as close as your going to get to the beach. If you camp here, you're here for the beach or fishing is what you do. If you’re thinking of camping here for a rocket launches, better make your reservation well in advance.

Fishing the break wall at Jetty Park Beach is a popular spot for the locals. The bait shop seems to have the necessities. I think they even rent fishing poles for beach fishing or casting off the break wall.

Watch Rocket Launches at Jetty Park Beach

Rocket launch days get pretty crowded here, especially the manned launches. Those who watch from here agree that it’s the best place to watch a launch other than Kennedy Space Center. I’ve seen two launches from Jetty Park Beach and one from Titusville. Titusville is a little closer.

The streak of smoke is the space shuttle, your closer than the picture looks and the rumble you hear a few seconds after launch is really cool.  Jetty Park Beach is the closest beach to Kennedy Space center. It’s probably 10 miles to the launch pad. If you want to get closer to the launch you can go downtown Titusville or onto the causeway which heads from Titusville to the National Sea Shore.  Personally I’d rather relax on the beach while waiting for the launch. Whichever option you choose, plan to spend the day.

On a side note, you may also consider the National Sea Shore, which now stays open during launches.

• Other things to do nearby Jetty Park Beach:
• Port Canaveral Cove Restaurants are about a mile east, see Cocoa Beach for details
• Cocoa Beach Pier is a couple miles south.
• Parasailing boat sales from the Port Canaveral Cove, about 1 mile east
• Cocoa Beach Florida, see the Cocoa Beach page for a bunch of other stuff
• Kennedy Space Center, is about 15 minutes north
• Sun Cruz Casino Ship and Sterling Casinos Ships about 1 mile east in Port Canaveral Florida
• Playalinda Beach in the National Sea Shore is about 40 minutes North

<-- Cocoa Beach Florida
<-- Family Beach Home

Cocoa Beach Kayaking

Join Kathleen or for a guided tour around some of the thousand islands of Cocoa Beach. She owns Cocoa Beach Kayaking and up fits you with all the gear you need for a days excursion into the Indian River Lagoon. Just pack your bikini (or swim suit), camera, snack and maybe some binoculars. They supply everything else including:

• Kayak and paddles
• Life Vests
• Hats
• Towels
• Polarized sunglasses
• Sun Block
• Bottled water and insulated drink holders

Spend a nice relaxing day paddling a kayak while enjoying nature. It's an educational float through Florida mangroves where you might see bottlenose dolphins, birds or endangered manatee that swim right up to your kayak. You won't believe how big these guys are!

Take a Guided Nature Tour with Cocoa Beach Kayaking

The goal of Cocoa Beach Kayaking is for you to explore the wilds in a natural quiet setting.

Their guides are local experts on  the plants and animals you'll see along the way.  She's an avid student and scholar of marine mammals and hopes to become a marine mammal medic. 

All the kayaks at Cocoa Beach Kayaking are stable two person, touring kayaks with storage, comfort and support for your back. Again not the white water kind you might find on an adventure trip.

This is a great way to see a part of Cocoa Beach that most visitors never even think about! When you get back home your kids can tell their friends that they saw a Cocoa Beach Manatee or maybe even a dolphin. As a matter of fact Kathleen, one of the guides, has authored children's books about Manatee.

Tours are Mon-Fri with an occasional Saturday trip. Call for prices and reservations. More details on Cocoa Beach Kayaking

The picture at right is Kathleen with a couple of her guests after one of her Cocoa Beach Kayaking tours.

MapIt! Cocoa Beach Kayaking, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931

Phone: 321-784-4545

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Cocoa Beach Hotels

Hotels and condos “on the beach” in Cocoa Beach.   Your choices range from Cocoa Beach hotels, motels, condos and private houses. I can’t tell you where to stay, but this quick guide and details some of the hotels you may want to consider.

These Cocoa Beach Hotels are scattered from Cape Canaveral Florida to the south end of Cocoa Beach. rices and amenities vary so make sure to read the details. Some have restaurants and pools as part of their complex, some don’t. There are plenty of Cocoa Beach Restaurants near by.

All these Cocoa Beach Hotels are… On the Beach!

Cocoa beach isn't that big, I’ve broken down this listing into three areas, all of which are less than ten miles apart:

Cape Canaveral Hotels which are north of the Cocoa Beach Hotels
Downtown Cocoa Beach Hotels on the beach, by Ron Jons Surf Shop Cocoa Beach
South Cocoa Beach Hotels, which are south of down downtown Cocoa Beach.

Cape Canaveral Hotels & Condos

These Cape Canaveral Hotels are just south of Jetty Park Beach and the Port Canaveral cruise ship docks.

Royal Mansions Resort ($$) This is the northern most of the Cocoa Beach Hotels. These units are really various sized condominiums for rent by the week or month. They have 700 ft of beach front, outdoor pool and many other amenities you would expect from a resort. Jetty Park Beach and the Cocoa Beach Pier are a short walk away.

Map It! 8600 Ridgewood Ave, Cape Canaveral Florida 32920Best Western Ocean Front Resort
Map It! 5600 N. Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach Florida, 32931.

Double Tree Ocean Front Hotel Cocoa Beach ($$$) Is probably the most luxurious of the Cocoa Beach Hotels. They have 148 rooms or suites, most of which have a view of the beach and Atlantic Ocean. They have a concierge service who will help arrange all your Cocoa Beach activities. The Cocoa Beach Pier is only a couple of blocks away.

Map It! 2080 N. Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach Florida, 32931

Cocoa Beach Hotels & Condos

These Cocoa Beach Hotels are within a mile or so of downtown Cocoa Beach. If you take the Cocoa Beach Causeway, it will drop you on their door step. Ron Jons Surf Shop, and the downtown Cocoa Beach restaurants are within walking distance from most of these Cocoa Beach Condos.

The Resort on Cocoa Beach ($$$) This is full service resort with all the amenities you would expect. Restaurant, health club, tennis courts… even a movie theatre. Fish, sale or choose from several other activities, they even have a play area for the kids. Rooms have a kitchen, so stay for a day or a week.

Map It! 1600 N. Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach Florida, 32931.

Hilton Cocoa Beach Ocean Front ($$$) As you would expect, the Hilton is one of the nicest Cocoa Beach Hotels. Full service restaurant, fitness center, heated outdoor pool and deck on the beach… and much more. Almost makes this Cocoa Beach Hotel a Cocoa Beach Resort.

Map It! 1550 N. Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach Florida, 32931.

Holiday Inn Cocoa Beach

Map It! 1300 N. Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach Florida, 32931

South Cocoa Beach Hotels & Condos

South Beach Inn on the Sea ($) This is one of the least expensive Cocoa Beach Hotels. It’s not a luxury hotel but for the budget minded it’s still on the beach. Each of their 18 rooms is equipped with a kitchen which can help keep your food costs down. There’s no pool so you’ll be enjoying the Beach

Map It! 1701 S. Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach Florida, 32931.

Anthony’s on the Beach Motel ($) This is another budget motel right on the beach in South Cocoa Beach. They have rooms with fully equipped efficiency kitchens and some with full kitchens. This is a basic Cocoa Beach Hotels for a basic price.

Map It! 3499 S. Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach Florida, 32931.

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Cocoa Beach Restaurants

There are plenty of Cocoa Beach Restaurants, the question is where should you go? That’s a tuff question especially when you take into account Cocoa Beach Pier restaurants and Port Canaveral Restaurants / 

Cape Canaveral Restaurants.

The restaurants I recommend are on the water or beach, after all that’s why you’re here. Many of the Cocoa Beach hotels on the beach also have restaurants as part of their complex.

I tend to like the local (no franchise) type places, so I’d break down the Cocoa Beach restaurants into three different local:

• Downtown Cocoa Beach, by Ron Jons Surf Shop Cocoa Beach
• The Cocoa Beach Pier Restaurants
• Port Canaveral Restaurants in the Cove (Cape Canaveral Restaurants)

Cocoa Beach Restaurants

More downtown Cocoa Beach than not, these restaurants are on or near the beach. So if you're planning on shopping at Ron Jons Surf Shop, most of these Cocoa Beach restaurants are within walking distance.

Captain J’s ($$) - If you stopped for drinks and a snack earlier in the day, don't give up that table, stick around for dinner. You can people watch, as they leave beach. This is a typical seafood bar, nice beach atmosphere that turns into a bar hang out at night.

Discovery Beach Restaurant ($$) - in the Discovery Beach Resort. Their master chef was the Executive Chef for the Thai Royal family, he is also from Switzerland. This background brings some great Thai food and Swiss Fondue to this restaurant. If you're a Survivor TV show fan, these guys also have a huge selection of Survivor collectibles from the TV show.

Sandbar Sports Grill & Bar ($) Need a drink? This is a bar that's always hoping. The drinks are cheap, the front of the bar is open air to the parking lot for people watching. Unfortunately you can’t see the beach, same problem with the porch at Captain J’s.

Cocoa Beach Pier Restaurants

If you’ve never been to the Cocoa Beach Pier, dinner there is the way to go. It’s less than an hour from Orlando and puts you out over the ocean.  Start with a drink at the bikini beach Tiki bar at the end of the pier than choose from one of these three restaurants.

Atlantic Ocean Grill ($$$) is probably the nicest Cocoa Beach restaurant on the ocean. It’s on the Cocoa Beach pier, tables have a northern view up the beach. Succulent steak or fresh seafood are two of it’s specialties. They also have a Champaign brunch on Sunday’s.

Marlin’s Good Time Bar and Grill ($$) Stop in any time, it’s about half way out the Cocoa Beach pier with a great view south towards Cocoa Beach.  Snacks, sandwiches, seafood… in a relaxed casual atmosphere.

Oh Shucks Seafood Bar ($$) Obviously very casual since it's a bikini bar (see above). Oysters and seafood are the fare. It’s located at the base of the Cocoa Beach pier.

Port Canaveral Restaurants

If you just came off a gambling ship, cruise or maybe just a day at Jetty Beach Park. These Cape Canaveral restaurants couldn’t be any more convenient. There also on the way from Orlando to Cocoa Beach. There in an area of Port Canaveral called "The Cove".

Fishing boats off load their fresh catches of the day at the back doors of these restaurants.

Fish Lips Waterfront Bar & Grill ($$) A casual restaurant where the entrees are less than $20.

Grills Seafood Deck & Tiki Bar ($$$) Grills is a unique restaurant with what they call “Island cuisine”. Probably some of the best prepared fish around, try some freshly grilled tuna or the seafood ribs.

Rusty’s Seafood & Oyster Bar ($$$) Sit out side on the large deck overlooking the port and cruise ships while you shuck a bucket of oysters. They catch much of their seafood daily. This is a great casual Florida seafood bar.

Cocoa Beach Bars

Although not necessarily known for their food, you may also find some munchies and some great beach atmosphere in some of my favorite bikini bars in Cocoa Beach and the pier:

The Boardwalk on Cocoa Beach Pier, stroll up from the beach onto the Cocoa Beach Pier and grab a beer or frozen daiquiri. This is where I go for a late afternoon cocktail. Sit in the shade, have a drink and some munchies and watch some bikini beach volleyball, skim boarding and surfing. The crowd on the beach can get pretty interesting after a day of drinking.
Barely off the beach

Wahoo Coffee Company is a great little coffee cafe with live music and artists. It's not far from the Cocoa Beach Pier so stop by. Bob says bikinis are welcome!

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Cocoa Beach Pier – Spend the day

Going on a family vacation? Do you only have a day for the beach? Spend the day at the Cocoa Beach Pier, it has everything you need for a fun filled day. When I go to Cocoa Beach with my family, we always spend one of our days here.

Have more time, check out Cocoa Beach Florida, for more beaches and things to do.

Map It! The Cocoa Beach Pier is located at 401 Meade Ave., Cocoa Beach, Florida 32931. How to get there, from 520 go a half mile north off of A1A from 520. Plug this destination into your navigation system before your leave.

The choices at the Cocoa Beach Pier are almost endless…

Hang out on the beach, surf, skim board and swim. You can rent beach chairs and beach umbrellas.

Restaurants and Bars, if you don’t want to pack a picnic lunch, not a problem, the Cocoa Beach Pier has several places to eat and drink…

Snack bars, ice cream, bikini bars, casual restaurants and a nice seafood restaurant. Stroll off the beach in your bikini or swim suit to the Board Walk Bar or Oh Shucks Seafood Bar for a drink and oysters. These are a couple of my favorite bikini bars in Cocoa Beach Florida.

There are showers, restrooms and plenty of parking so you can be comfortable all day.

Beach Activities

There’s plenty to do here all day long, especially if you don’t mind a nice beach walk and chillin in a chair..

Skim boarding and Surfing in the Cocoa Beach Pier waves. The locals surf out by the pier and the beach seems to draw the skim boarders. This is one of two locations where Ron Jon Surf Shop Cocoa Beach uses for it’s annual Easter surfing and skim boarding contest.

Beach Volleyball - they usually have three courts set up, so bring your own volleyball.

Paddleball

Fishing off the Pier - Rent or bring your own equipment

And more...

Bikini Beach Bars on the Cocoa Beach Pier

Sandbar Sports Grill & Bar Need a drink? This is a bar. The drinks are cheap, the front of the bar is open air to the parking lot for people watching. Unfortunately you can’t see the beach, same problem with the porch at Captain J’s, but girls in a bikini still walk by.

Tiki Bar on Cocoa Beach Pier, have a drink, fish or watch the Dolphins. This Bikini bar is a long way out, 800 feet from shore.

The Boardwalk on Cocoa Beach Pier, stroll up from the beach onto the pier and grab a beer or frozen daiquiri. This is where I go for a late afternoon cocktail. Sit in the shade, have a drink and some munchies and watch some bikini beach volleyball, skim boarding and surfing. The crowd on the beach can get pretty interesting after a day of drinking.

Oh Shucks Seafood Bar, at the foot of the Cocoa Beach Pier and open on all four sides. Suck down some oysters and listen to the band.

Captain J’s, want to take a walk from the pier, walk south on the beach to Captain J's or the Sandbar Sports grill. They are less than a mile.  See Cocoa Beach for more details.

Cocoa Beach Pier Restaurants

Atlantic Ocean Grill ($$$) is probably the nicest Cocoa Beach restaurant on the ocean. Sit at a table with a northern view up the beach. Succulent steak or fresh seafood are two of it’s specialties. They also have a Champaign brunch on Sunday’s.

Marlin’s Good Time Bar and Grill ($$) Stop in any time, it’s about half way out the pier with a great view south towards Cocoa Beach. Snacks, sandwiches, seafood… in a relaxed casual atmosphere.

Oh Shucks Seafood Bar ($$) Obviously very casual since it's a bikini bar (see above). Oysters and seafood are the fare. It’s located at the base of the Cocoa Beach pier.

Other  Cocoa Beach Restaurants

Other Beaches near by

Check out Cocoa Beach Florida for other nearby beaches like: Jetty Park Beach (two miles north), Cocoa Beach Ocean Beach Park (1 mile south) and Cherie Beach Park (1 mile north).

Events

Music, surfing and the beach. The Cocoa Beach Pier sponsors “Concert on the Beach”, where they bring in big bands like the Beach Boys for a concert with the ocean and pier as a back drop.

Beach Fest, brings all kinds of Musicians and bands to the beach to compete.

Annual Easter surfing festival fills up the beach. Between the pier and Cocoa Beach Ocean Park, hundreds of surfers and skim boarders compete for cash prices. This event is now sponsored by Ron Jon Surf Shop Cocoa Beach.

O’Shucks and the Board Walk usually have bands or musicians playing on the weekends.

Shopping

Stop at the Gift Shop on the pier, a small shop where you can pick up some Florida trinkets and t-shirts. I think the name of it’s now Ocean notions and they have their own line of beach gear.

Seadogs, located at the base of Cocoa Beach Pier, has you covered. From beach umbrellas to suntan lotion you can get all your beach gear here. See My Beach Gear List.

If you don’t mind a short walk (less than a quarter mile) or you can drive. There is a large beach store on the corner of A1A and Meade Ave where you can pick up anything you may have forgotten like Sex Wax. 

Pull your mind out of the gutter, your kids may need some Sex Wax if they surf or skim board.

About the Pier

Over a million visitors check out the pier every year, you should too. I did a little research on the history of the Cocoa Beach Pier.  It's privately owned, it was built in 1962 with a major addition being added in 1983. Open 365 days a year, it employees over 150 people. The Pier has changed it’s look several times and so have the restaurants.

The wood pilings, which support the pier, are constantly being battered by the cocoa beach pier waves, requiring continual maintenance. Stand in the ocean and take a wave, these pilings which are driven fifteen feet into the ocean floor, take this 24 – 7. When you walk under the pier, it’s kind of amazing that it’s still standing and worth millions.

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