This Stunning Coastal City In Florida Offers Pristine Beaches With Top-Tier Surf Breaks

Dreaming of a surf school in Spain or Portugal? You might not need to cross the Atlantic just yet. About an hour from Orlando is Cocoa Beach, one of the East Coast's most reliable surf spots and a great chance to escape the cold this winter. You probably know it as the hometown of Kelly Slater, who grew up riding these waves before becoming the greatest surfer of all time. While Florida doesn't have the towering waves of Oahu's North Shore or California's Huntington Beach, Cocoa Beach is famous for its consistent surf breaks — perfect for beginners and experienced boarders alike. 

The city itself is more than a surf camp backdrop. Cocoa Beach is packed with shoreline parks, each with its own personality. Alan Shepard Beachfront Park, named for the astronaut, sits near the flagship Ron Jon Surf Shop and is a great pick to avoid the worst of the beach crowds (and maybe even catch a rocket launch if you're lucky). This pristine beach's calmer atmosphere makes it a tranquil alcove for collecting shells and listening to the waves. Robert P. Murkshe Memorial Park, tucked in a quieter residential stretch, has (limited) free parking, a dune-backed beach, and waves beloved by locals. Cocoa Beach Pier is also worth a visit, where you can stroll past retro restaurants and shops — or walk to the end of the pier and watch surfers in their element (perhaps with a margarita in your hand).

Surfboards are easy to rent around town, and lessons abound. Want to really submerge yourself in the surfer culture? Time your trip around one of Cocoa Beach's festivals, like the NKF Rich Salick Festival. The world's largest nonprofit surf festival takes place over Columbus Day weekend with sunrise yoga, movie screenings, live music, and a stacked competition lineup. Film buffs should swing by in the fall for the Florida Surf Film Festival, which screens new projects from surf storytellers worldwide.

Cocoa Beach isn't just for board sports — for a glimpse of incredible ocean wildlife, tour company A Day Away runs wildlife paddles from April to October. Kayakers can wade through the waters around Merritt Island, where there's a chance to spot manatees and dolphins. In winter, A Day Away also leads guided Comb Jelly Bioluminescence tours. The glowing, sting-free jellies look like something out of Avatar — and you can even hold them.

Saltwater works up an appetite, and Cocoa Beach delivers. Southern Charm Cafe serves up classics like fried shrimp, biscuits, and gravy. For a more surf-shack vibe, The Surfinista is a local favorite. Swing by in the morning for bagels with lox or an acai bowl, then return later to clink beers and share tapas with fellow wave-chasers.

Like most Florida oceanside hubs, Cocoa Beach is full of large chain hotels like Marriott and Best Western. For a more unique feel, the Inn at Cocoa Beach is a 50-room family-run hotel with oceanfront balconies. The Juni, just two minutes from the beach, has apartment-style rooms with kitchens and a communal terrace with a grill for post-surf cookouts.

When it's time to towel off, the Kennedy Space Center is a unique experience you can only have in Florida. Stroll through the Rocket Garden for a look at actual spacecraft, or hop on the bus tour for a behind-the-scenes peek at launch sites. For something closer to the sand, the Florida Surf Museum at Ron Jon Surf Shop shows off vintage boards and local surf history.

Cocoa Beach is lined with whimsical shops worth a browse. Check out Medium Cool Goods for casual-chic Florida wear, or Retro Reef Boutique for funky, second-hand festival-style pieces with a southern feel (think lots of fringes and cowboy hats). End the evening in historic Cocoa Village, the city's charming cultural center along the Indian River. A musical at the Village Playhouse or a nightcap at Heidi's Jazz Club make for a colorful bookend to your beach trip.