Cocoa Beach
Visitor Centers
Florida's Space Coast Office of Tourism—Cocoa Beach 430 Brevard Ave. Suite 150 Cocoa, FL 32922. Phone:(321)433-4470 or (877)572-3224
Shopping
When in Cocoa Beach, a stop at Ron Jon Surf Shop, 4151 N. Atlantic Ave., is definitely a requirement. From bikinis, beach toys and boards to sandals, sunscreen and tiki décor, this multilevel megastore of surf holds everything you need for the beach and the beach lifestyle. Even non-surfers won't feel out of place here, and no one should leave without picking up the ultimate Cocoa Beach souvenir: a Ron Jon T-shirt. Phone (321) 799-8888.How about a saber cat fossil or a dinosaur egg as a souvenir? While a shop that specializes in dinosaur paraphernalia isn't the first thing you'd expect to find by the beach, The Dinosaur Store, 250 W. Cocoa Beach Cswy., is a happy surprise (unless you have ornithoscelidaphobia, i.e., a fear of dinosaurs). Dig into the assortment of dinosaur-related merchandise, which includes everything from fossils and shark-tooth necklaces to toy triceratops and museum-quality pieces; phone (321) 783-7300.
Nightlife
After a long, hot day in the sun, nothing quenches a thirst like an ice-cold mug of suds. There's plenty of beer to be had in Cocoa Beach, and what better place to get one than an air-conditioned Irish pub? Paddy Cassidy's Irish Pub, 2009 N. Atlantic Ave., and Nolan's Irish Pub, 204 W. Cocoa Beach Cswy., are both laid-back establishments with inviting Irish interiors and welcoming bartenders; phone (321) 783-0810 or (321) 783-8499, respectively.Local favorite Cocoa Beach Brewing Company, 150 N. Atlantic Ave., is a nanobrewery that sits inside what could be your neighbor's house, except for the glowing neon sign in the window that says "OPEN." Join the off-duty rocket scientists who frequent the place and sip one of the pub's homemade brews in the living room, kitchen or backyard patio; phone (321) 613-2941.
If a dark jazz club featuring talented local performers is what you have in mind, Heidi's Jazz Club, 7 N. Orlando Ave., fits the bill perfectly; phone (321) 783-4559. Get set for guffaws, chuckles and belly laughs at Gregory's Upstairs Comedy Club, 900 N. Atlantic Ave. Nationally known comics take the stage every Thursday through Saturday at 9 p.m. and patrons can indulge in a full or bar menu; phone (321) 799-2557.
Step out of the hot sand and amble along the Cocoa Beach Pier until you reach the Rikki Tiki Tavern at the very end. Order a hurricane (not the real kind) or just name your poison, then kick back and enjoy the salty air, ocean breezes and tiki bar ambience; phone (321) 783-7549.