The 42 best things to do with kids in Cocoa Beach

Plenty of parking and a short walk to the beach over the dunes, and it opens up to a beautiful white soft sand, a very long and shallow beach edge, you can wade out 30 feet and just be up to your waist, Great for the little one. waves are medium to low on a good day, great for boogie boarding but not so much for surfing, there are vendors walking the beach, but my advice pack up your own snacks and beverages. no pets tho i did see a doggy living his best. Great view of the rocket launches if your lucky and the big cruise ships heading out to sea. also very sunny an umbrella is a must, grab the family and enjoy this beautiful local getaway!

This is a cute place for kids! We’ve been here a few times, but today was the first time we toured the museum. Kind of small but tons of things to look at! We love the small adventure section - kind of an arcade but also a reptile area. All the games are free when you pay to get in. Good for a multitude of ages!

This store lived up to the hype with a ton of great merchandise. We're not from the area and I imagined this store would be a little gimmicky, but I was so wrong. The store has so much to offer. We all got some shorts and other small things, but could've walked out with so much more. I really liked the beach-safe "glassware" made from silicone. They had plenty to offer from other brands than their own. The staff members were super friendly. The store was very clean and well-organized. Definitely stop in if you're in the area!!!

Great little stop if you’re at Ron Jon’s. Free, one room museum. They’ve got some cool pieces of history including Kelly Slater’s first Pipeline Masters trophy in all its rough glory. Worth a quick stop.

This place was so fun! We brought our friends who were visiting from out of state, and everyone loved it. The mini golf course was really entertaining, and at the end, you even get the chance to hold a gator or take a photo with a live one. Definitely a unique and cool activity to check out!

We stopped by the Cocoa Beach Pier early in the afternoon while exploring the area and were pleasantly surprised. The pier itself is fantastic, a vibrant mix of eateries, shops, and great ocean views, all right on the beautiful, pristine beach. The beach atmosphere was relaxed and inviting, perfect for a stroll or simply soaking in the coastal vibe. We were able to park right out front, which was convenient, though it cost $20. We didn’t really look for other parking options, but the ease of access made it worth it for us. Overall, it's a great spot to take in the scenery, grab a bite, and enjoy a classic Florida beach experience!

We had a blast! My 8 year old grandson made it through the challenging yellow level but is waiting until next year when his legs are longer to try the red level. Seemed like everyone was having a great time and the staff is fabulous. Very safety oriented and very helpful and friendly. We will be back!!

Nice clean beach with lots of shells 🐚 $20 parking. Parking lot is very close to the actual beach and there aren’t any stairs to the beach which makes it easy to bring a beach wagon. They have 2 volley ball courts. Multiple bathrooms. Chairs and umbrellas available to rent.

I recently visited Lighthouse Cove Mini Golf in Cocoa Beach for a date night, and it was a pleasant experience. The location is great, right in cocoa beach! The atmosphere is relaxed and casual, perfect for unwinding. The facility was clean and well-maintained, which I appreciated. The staff was friendly and attentive, contributing to a welcoming environment. The mini golf course itself is quite enjoyable, featuring multiple levels and interesting holes that kept our game engaging. It’s well-designed and offers a nice variety of challenges. Additionally, they serve drinks and ice cream, which is a nice touch for those looking to enjoy a treat while playing. Overall, Lighthouse Cove Mini Golf is a solid choice for a fun outing, and I would recommend it for anyone looking for a low-key activity in the area.

We are skateboard beginners, and we love this park! The small ramp area is very beginner-friendly! We have a blast learning pumping and carving.

A must visit for Cocoa! Right across from the street entrance for Ron Jons, this little gem will impress. Amazing decor with painted fish on the ocean floor to the colorful sheet metal fish on the ceiling and for sale in the next room. There's lots to look at. But the store lives up to its name as well. Key Lime everything! My favorite was the absolutely delicious saltwater taffy. Sold separately by flavor / weight, each clearly labeled in its own bin.

Picture perfect place to relax on a boat to view the sunset with friends and family.

Went out with Capt. Jersey John and we couldn’t have had a better experience! Went out and got on a couple different sharks, and my favorite of the day, a beautiful ribbon fish! After that, we went back in where the water was a bit more calm and got on another dozen different species. We had 3 first timers and 2 experienced fisherman and every one of us had the time of our lives out there. Capt. Jersey John knew where the honey holes were at, how to rig up, and was the best at explaining the details of how to get the fish in the boat. I would recommend this charter and Capt. Jersey John to anybody looking to get after the fish. Thanks to everybody involved!!

Thank you to the owner and instructor Victoria for the perfect surf lesson. We were on a Royal Caribbean cruise and I’m so glad we ventured out on our own and booked the 2-hour lesson with Victoria for my 11-year-old daughter who has never surfed before. From the beginning to end, Victoria was patient and informative. The 2 hours breezed by and my daughter can actually stand on a surf board! I was very impressed with what they were able to cover in the initial lesson. My one advice for other cruise goers is to arrange your own transportation instead of doing the group shuttle. In terms of the surf school, you can tell the owner takes pride in her business and I would highly recommend a surfing lesson to everyone who has an interest! Enjoy.💕

We visited here after we got off of our cruise and we met Fred and Vincent who were absolutely amazing. The museum is full of wonderful surprises. Vincent was extremely knowledgable on everything OZ and Fred was extremely helpful finding a great book! There are so many collectible items in this museum. Don’t let the vintage exterior scare you away. You will walk away learning something from the World of OZ.

ALAN SHEPHARD PARK: Of the two Atlantic Ocean parks, Wilson & Shephard, I recommend Shephard hands-down over the perfectly nice Wilson. NOTE CAREFULLY: Virtually ALL condo bldgs / hotels on ocean side of Cocoa Bch restrict ocean access to their guests and threaten towing. Forget trying to park at any of them. Use the paid beach parking. In addition to paid parking access, clean restrooms, showers, Shephard has, among other features, two excellent restaurant/bars: the Sandbar and Twisted Tides right there--and many other nearby shops. Sandbar is a family-friendly "sports bar." Flat screens everywhere. "Seat yourself" In-door / patio seating. Serves unusual food (try fish tacos). Often live music and karaoke. Locals hang here, giving it an interesting "raffish" vibe. Twisted Tides next door is more conventional. Nice Sky Deck w/ocean views. Excellent food. ROCKET LAUNCHES: Shepard Park & beach is a good place to watch Cape Canaveral launches. After ocean-ing, drive 2 minutes over to Ron Jon Surf Shop w/free parking (if full, there's a clearly signed lot off west side of A1A.) Ron Jon is vast! Every type of beach apparel and beach accessory. Surf & bogie boards, touristy knick-knacks. You can easily spend an hour or more at RR. In Shepard Pk vicinity are virtually all the establishments needed for a comfortable day-at-the-beach. McDonald’s, Winn-Dixie Market, CVS and Walgreens. Key Lime Pie shop. MEDICAL CARE / EMERGENCIES: Medfast Urgent Care--Hours: 7:30AM-7:00PM, 7 Days a Week. Medfast is in strip mall beside 520 Causeway, 5 minute walk west from Shepard Park. I've been there 3 times. Excellent, professional medical attention. Across 520 from Medfast is, of all things, a Dinosaur museum. Intriguing! Cocoa Bch also has a "Wizard of Oz Museum!" (??) I've not been there. Why are they at CB? Don't know. But "off-beat." COCOA BEACH PIER: 1 mile north of Shephard Pk is very popular Cocoa Beach Pier. Parking varies from free to expensive, depending on...I can never figure out! Demand, I suppose. An excellent Publix Market is short drive west of pier on A1A. Being high and long, pier has BEST VIEW of rocket launches anywhere in Cocoa Beach. And you can eat / drink while watching. The beach below pier is usually crowded. However, a short walk down beach provides vast open spaces. A successful "beach sand replenishment operation" by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 2025 increased beach width considerably. So, while Lori Wilson is an excellent "basic" park with its park facilities, it is...just that. Alan Shepherd provides far more with its nearby establishments. Mid-March to end of May is a great time to visit Cocoa Beach. The weather has stabilized into uniformly 80+- degree days and yet isn't blazing hot. Avoid disappointing weather December to February. Grim 50 deg days are common. Beach is virtually deserted. Also in mid-March, the World Surfing League has a Board / Beach fest surf riding contest attracting pro surfers from all over. During WSL fest, Shepherd Pk has food trucks for every conceivable taste. And a large skateboard half-pipe to keep young skater / surfers busy. Cocoa Beach, one hour drive east of Orlando International Airport / Disney / Universal, is an excellent beach town to visit. It's minutes south of the cruise ship mecca Port Canaveral. Shephard Park a good place for your beach HQ if you're not staying right on the beach. Friendly locals. All the shops one could want, Not overly built-up. Just be careful: stay away Dec - Feb when grim cold north wind weather can really dampen a beach visit.

We visited on a Saturday night as a group of 8. We hadn't booked and only had a 20 min wait to get a table. Our waiter Chaisson was fantastic and friendly/welcoming - and real credit to your place. There was live music throughout the night and a great friendly atmosphere along with nice views of the beach from our table. The food was all cooked to a high standard and good sized portions that were fresh and tasty. We'd all recommend Coconuts On The Beach and gladly return for another visit.

I'm a HUGE ice cream fiend and I must say, this is one of my favorite ice cream shops I've ever been to! The ice cream is so smooth and creamy- you can tell it's very high-quality. The prices are really fair too- about $5-6 for the 2 scoops. You have to come here!

A calm and lovely experience! I had an 8:30 tour booked and when I arrived I was the only one there (I think it was the off season). I was so happy that they didn’t cancel the tour and instead, took me out solo! My guide, Holly, was awesome. Down to earth, super friendly, and so full of so many interesting facts and information about the area, the mangroves and all of the wildlife. A true nature lover! We had great conversation and she knew exactly where to go to see the wildlife. We saw at least a dozen manatees (such docile creatures), about 15 pelicans, a blue heron, and a tiny tree crab. The weather was perfect and there were no bugs. Highly recommend! Thank you Holly for a great trip on the water! Oh…and she takes great photos of you and sends them to your email, free of charge. Nice touch!

This place is awesome! We booked The Florida Man room, and it was a lot of fun. So much fun, that on our way out my husband and son asked if we should do their Bancock room too. We did end up going back later that day to escape that room as well. On both games we had about 10 minutes to spare before the time runs out to escape. Belle was the absolute sweetest, patient, and helpful game host ever!! Don't hesitate to try out this spot. You won't regret it.

A Hidden Gem in Cocoa Beach – Can’t Wait to Go Back for the Full Experience! We recently visited Lazy Turtle in Cocoa Beach, and while our timing wasn’t perfect, our experience was absolutely wonderful! Unfortunately, we had just had a late breakfast before arriving, so we weren’t particularly hungry when we got there. At the time, we didn’t realize that Lazy Turtle offers some truly amazing food—something we only came to appreciate once we saw the dishes being served to other tables! From the moment we stepped in, we were greeted with warm smiles and outstanding customer service. The staff was friendly, welcoming, and attentive without being overbearing. It’s always a great feeling when a place makes you feel right at home, and Lazy Turtle certainly does that. The ambiance was fantastic—clean, well-maintained, and situated in an absolutely stunning location. Since the weather was nice, we opted to sit out on the patio, which was a perfect choice. The view, the fresh breeze, and the relaxed atmosphere made it the ideal spot to unwind. Even though we weren’t planning on eating, we couldn’t resist ordering some drinks to enjoy the scenery. The drinks were well-made, refreshing, and just what we needed to complement the laid-back beach vibe. But then, as we looked around and saw the food being brought to other tables, we couldn’t help but feel like we were missing out. We finally decided that we had to try something, so we went with the oysters—and WOW, what a great decision! They were fresh, flavorful, and perfectly prepared. The quality was outstanding, and it made us regret having eaten beforehand. If the oysters were this good, we can only imagine how incredible the rest of the menu must be! Watching the waitstaff bring out dishes to other tables only made us wish we had arrived with an empty stomach. The food looked absolutely mouthwatering, and you could tell that every plate was carefully prepared with fresh ingredients. The seafood dishes, in particular, caught our attention, and we knew right away that we’d have to come back to fully explore their menu. All in all, we had a fantastic time at Lazy Turtle. Even though we didn’t get to try as much as we wanted, we still left with a great impression—thanks to the excellent service, the inviting atmosphere, and the small taste of their food that left us wanting more. Next time, we’ll make sure to come hungry so we can dive into their menu properly! If you're in Cocoa Beach and looking for a great place to eat, drink, and relax, Lazy Turtle should definitely be on your list. We can’t wait to return and give it the full experience it deserves! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Highly recommended!

Great place to sit down, relax, and have a meal or a drink (or both). Nice atmosphere along with a nice ocean breeze. Food was great! I had the fried shrimp with fries, which to me were more like small seasoned potatoes wedges. Both were tasty. My wife got the Kahakai firecracker shrimp tacos.(also tasty). Our children got the Honey Dusted Nashville chicken sandwich, a sushi roll and a southwest bowl. Food was delicious. Service was great! We will more than likely come back on our next trip.

This place is so beachy and cute. The service was great and the drinks and food came out quickly. We had the avocado toast and the hummus wrap and they were both delicious. The restaurant is also a gift shop. They decor and overall aesthetic of this place is super cool and cozy. There are tons of places to sit and relax or get work done. We are just visiting but we will definitely be back!

The food and service here was amazing. I hope we get to eat here again. They bring out these complimentary things that look like hush puppies covered in powdered sugar. They were delicious. The calamari here was the best I've ever had. Not super chewy like I've had before. My daughter got the lobster tacos and they were so good.

Thank you Richard, the host/server/bartender! You were welcoming, pleasant, & on point. Hard worker, and let’s not forget compliments to the chef food was phenomenal. Don’t believe everything people say.! Loaded potatoes with their lime, sour cream, absolutely phenomenal and there’s turkey club absolutely delicious! It was all gone!

Beautiful sunset views. We were fortunate to be able to sit right on the patio, overlooking the water and the sunset. Food was good but nothing special, service was a little slow but accurate. They had karaoke going when we got there, and fortunately most of the singers were good! This lent to the laid-back island vibes atmosphere. Overall, good experience and the sunset views are top notch!

Really delicious chicken Caesar salad. My friend loved her burger with gluten free option. Nice outdoor seating available and fun game area for the kids. Really sweet server. Very reasonable prices.

This place was highly recommended. We drove 1-1/2 hours from Kissimmee (where we were on vacation) to go to the beach and decided to eat at Slow and Low. We weren't disappointed. We ordered the pork and brisket combo with corn muffins, fried okra and a baked sweet potato, a Mexican chicken bowl, baby back ribs with mashed potatoes and mac and cheese, and a brisket sandwich with cole slaw on it and tots for the side. Everything was delicious. The waiter was nice and attentive. We don't typically get dessert, but decided to try some. We ordered the chocolate Oreo cake, deep fried banana split and deep fried bread pudding. The first two were good, but oh my goodness, the deep fried bread pudding is DIVINE. It was worth the trip in itself.

Such a great place! A build your own taco, burrito, and bowl place that has vegetarian options with just veggies or jackfruit! The jackfruit was delicious! Small place but lots of atmosphere and flavor! The employees were patient while we tried to decide what we wanted and were very friendly and welcoming! We loved it and will be back if we are ever in Coco Beach again! Thank you, Roc the Guac!

First time here and it was such a great experience! Our server was Jess and she 100% made the experience even better with her energy, menu knowledge, and vibes! I hope to always have her as a server when we visit next when bringing family. The atmosphere outside was so lovely and chill! Thank you for all the vegan options!! It is refreshing that you have real food vegan options and not just a beyond/impossible burgers! Please keep that going and maybe even add vegan specials!

We love going to the Pier! Watching the Ocean and people having fun in the sun while sipping on a nice Happy Hour Drink for $4.50. They have a new sushi menu too and I love the sushi rolls for $10.00.

Key lime Cerveza ,unfiltered blonde and apricot blonde were the 3 beers on tap and they were amazing. Kevin was our beertender and was very personable and provided great service. The health department came in while drinking and they passed fine with no issues I overheard. I loved the homey feel of it being small and in a house it was such a cool place. Highly recommend beer was great service just as well. See ya again!

This is the best library in the United States. They have so many classes and they have healthy things for all babies to great grandparents. They should get the golden light award for their care , concern , and Love for our community. These are Hometown Heroes and they always want you to Think Think And Think some more the computers are a great place to gather information. And the truth will set you free . Free your mind and the rest will follow!!!!!!!!

Loved their extreme nutty whirl! Garret was friendly and topped off our vacation with a great suggestion! Cold outside but you just gotta have yummy ice cream when in Florida!

Nice little park with picnic table, restrooms and beach access. Only a dozen parking spots plus a couple handicapped spots, but lots of other small parks nearby. Clean park and beach

Great beach with plenty of parking when other main beaches are full. There is a outdoor beach shower at the entrance to the raised walkway leading to the beach. Clean bathroom and changing facility. Parking is $20 for the full day or pay by the hour, but why when you know you are going to want to stay all day!

First time staying here and for the price, it's amazing! Yeah, sure, it's a little worn down, but from what I can tell, the staff really try to do their best with what they're working with. My family and I stayed here for 6 days and I never had a complaint. We had two of the ocean view rooms and two of the villas. All fairly priced for what you get. The ease to get the beach is great, along with the convenience of mambos. Admittedly, our TV signal wasn't great but since we're so addicted to TV these days, we all agreed it was a nice break. If you've got a handful of people, got some things planned and want to go to the beach when you can, it's perfect and affordable. If you're someone who needs all the bells, whistles and then some, it's not for you.

We stayed here two nights before we set sail on a cruise and one night after. We LOVED this place. We were a party of 7 people and rented the 4 bedroom suite. For the price and amenities it was more reasonable than renting anywhere else by far. We loved the pool, bar, beach access, gift shop and especially the location. Only a 10 minute drive away from the cruise terminal and close to tons of restaurants and shops. We won't stay anywhere else when we set sail out of Port Canaveral. Thanks to the staff for being so welcoming and friendly towards myself and my family.

Honestly, with this place it feels like I’ve struck gold! Been coming to Cocoa almost every summer, this place is like a second home to me. Used to stay at another hotel primarily but decided to try this place out. It’s wonderful! Beautiful balcony views. Adequate room space with comfortable beds. Extremely convenient beach access, no kidding that the hotel’s right there- just anticipate a short hot walk in the summer season. Breakfast was always fresh and neatly arranged, staff were a pleasure to interact with. During our stay, the hotel was very quiet but kept the sense that it was very secure. This is definitely a great place!

We had a very relaxing stay at The Cocoa Beach Resort! The staff were friendly and the resort itself was very nice! They have lots of activities to keep you busy. Great mexican restaurant on the 1st floor. Very delicious!! We enjoyed the pool as well, especially the dj they had to make our time by the pool a great experience. Nearby restaurants were amazing!! We went to Southern Charm Cafe for Breakfast, Sandbar Sports Grill for lunch and a very delicious Puerto Rican restaurant for dinner called Kafé del Puerto Rico. We also went to the Cocoa Beach Pier & Ron Jon Surf Shop. My family and I, enjoyed our time in Cocoa Beach!! We'll be back!!

Stayed the night in a third floor king ocean front room. It was clean and comfortable. The pool and water fall features were very nice. Get a drink at the pool bar 2 margaritas $30. The beach access has a man made boardwalk but it runs out and you will be walking down a sandy dirt trail the rest of the way to the beach. The pier is lit up at night so you can see the waves even after dark. Breakfast had a lot of options, eggs, sausage, make your own waffles, biscuits and gravy, yogurt, cereals coffee and juice. Be aware they charge 10 dollars a day to park your car. PRO TIP: Keep your blind closed after dark and you wont attract the bugs, and the bats! Saw some very large bats just 5 feet from my face at balcony level. Once we turned off the lights in the room and closed the blinds it was much better! Would stay here again.

Reed was very helpful. We rented beach chairs, an umbrella and an adult body board for 4 hours for $40. Very reasonable price. There was free parking and you can keep your car there and walk to the beach. We will be stopping here again on our next visit. The other side of the store also had many cool souvenirs for fair prices as well. $25 for a hoodie