Best Ocean Beach

[Baghdad Bob]

My 4 kids have never seen the ocean, we thought about going to Cocoa Beach. Any certain beach to go?

 

[rkwells]

IMHO stay away from the area around the Cocoa Beach Pier. In my past experience it was dirty and crowded.
I like the stretch of Cocoa Beach from the Holiday Inn Oceanfront down to "Coconuts on the beach". (We always make a stop here every trip and have lunch out on their deck overlooking the ocean.)
This last trip relatives from the area suggested driving down past Melbourne beach until all the condo's and hotels end. Those beaches are more natural and less crowded. However, people can fish off the beaches south of Cocoa Beach which I didn't care for for quite a few reasons.
Another good option would be the golf coasts "Clearwater Beach" I do like Cocoa beach, but Clearwater beach is much prettier and the water is calmer which would be nice if your kids are younger.

 

[DanenRox]

I've never been to Cocoa Beach, but don't they launch cruise ships there?...To me that means crowds and cost. I hear Clearwater Beach is beautiful, but also has a lot of construction happening. Maybe St. Pete Beach would be a better choice? If you want the Atlantic Ocean, have you thought about Daytona Beach?

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

Jetty Park in Cape Canaveral has nice beaches; this area is to the north of Cocoa Beach and south of the Kennedy Space Center. And it's right at the cruise port (Port Canaveral) so if you're there in the 4pm to 5pm time slot you can watch that day's cruise ships go out to sea. It takes about an hour to get there from the Disney area. Take TOLL 528 east (Beachline Expressway) and stay on it directly into Port Canaveral, past the Ron Jon Resort and right into the park. If you drive into the water, you've gone a bit too far east!

BobK/Orlando

 

[rkwells]

I've never been to Cocoa Beach, but don't they launch cruise ships there?...:

Nope, not from Cocoa Beach...Port Canaveral is pretty far North of Cocoa Beach. You can see the ships far off in the distance however if you happen to be out on the beach at the time.

 

[Enchanted]

We always went to Clearwater's beaches, specifically Treasure Island. We haven't been in a couple of years now, but WOW was it beautiful there.

 

[perdidochas]

I've never been to Cocoa Beach, but don't they launch cruise ships there?...To me that means crowds and cost. I hear Clearwater Beach is beautiful, but also has a lot of construction happening. Maybe St. Pete Beach would be a better choice? If you want the Atlantic Ocean, have you thought about Daytona Beach?

Cocoa Beach isn't crowded from cruise ships, nor is it expensive. We stayed there before a cruise, and had nice room rates, and it wasn't crowded at all. Most cruise ship passengers fly in, and are coming to the cruise ships straight from the Orlando airport.

 

[stanmills34]

We always goto new smyrna beach its about 20 miles south of daytona and its very quiet and laid back.

 

[babymay]

We are starting out trip with 3 nights on St. Petes Beach. I can't wait!

 

[Grumpy23]

Take TOLL 528 east (Beachline Expressway) and stay on it directly into Port Canaveral, past the Ron Jon Resort and right into the park. If you drive into the water, you've gone a bit too far east!

BobK/Orlando

There's one in every crowd

 

[Cory's Gal]

Cocoa Beach was nice, not too far away from Disney, I nice day trip. I would stay away from Daytona, I thought it was DIRTY!!

*Go Vikes!