What to do in Cocoa?

[SoleilLoca]

We're staying at the Radisson for three days before the cruise, I was just wondering if anyone knew of any fun things to do-besides Kennedy. We're planning Kennedy, Ron Jon, and going to see the manatees...any other suggestions? Also, if someone could point me in the direction of a good seafood restaurant in that area, I'd be forever grateful.

 

[Verandah Man]

Originally posted by SoleilLoca
We're staying at the Radisson for three days before the cruise, I was just wondering if anyone knew of any fun things to do-besides Kennedy. We're planning Kennedy, Ron Jon, and going to see the manatees...any other suggestions? Also, if someone could point me in the direction of a good seafood restaurant in that area, I'd be forever grateful.

Check my signature, there is a link for DIXIE CROSSROADS, it is in Titusville, just a 20-30 minute ride up A1A. When you get to Rte. 406 make a left at that light, go up a couple of blocks and it will be on your left hand side. My advise, get there before 4pm, we usually go around 11:00 to 11:30 for an early lunch. It gets very busy at night and the wait can be quite long.

My favorite is the "Broiled Rock Shrimp" they taste like mimi lobster tails, and you will love the corn fritters they bring to your table while you are waiting for your meal.

We make a stop at Dixie Crossroads everytime we are in Florida.

Andy

 

[lisak1]

Hey verandah man.... i missed lunch today, and you're making me regret it!! this place sounds so good, it almost makes me want to make a special trip sometime!

Hopefully we'll have food this good on our Magic Cruise!

Lisa

 

[Verandah Man]

Originally posted by lisak1
Hey verandah man.... i missed lunch today, and you're making me regret it!! this place sounds so good, it almost makes me want to make a special trip sometime!

Hopefully we'll have food this good on our Magic Cruise!

Lisa

We're going to Dixie Crossroads for lunch the day we get off the ship. Our flight home doesn't leave until 6:30 from MCO (I planned it that way). Gotta have my "ROCK SHRIMP"!!!

Andy

 

[TINKFAN3]

There are many things to do. Visit cocoabeach.com and they can give you lots of info.
Cocoa Village was a nice place to shop for antiques although the kids hated it. There's Sebastin Inlet-a surfer's meca. The nature preserve is neat also. If you have a skateboarder there is a great skatepark across in Merrit Island-Tony Hawk has been there. There are go cart and mini golf arcades too. The pier is nice for dinner right when the sun sets! Watch out if you go there in the day-sometimes the fishermen have caught a shark!! Don't worry they are small.

Coconuts has great atmosphere for an early dinner-some of the tables are surf boards. Their clam chowder is the best! Get there before the night crowd if you have kids. Rusty's on the port is fun for dinner if you catch it when the cruise ships head in/out of port. There are also casino boats that go out each evening. If raining there is Merritt Island Mall-very small but beats staying in your room. On the beach you can rent surf boards, bikes and the like.

The only place I haven't tried is Dixie Crossroads! I'm going to stop there first thing...rock shrimp sounds delightful!!

Have a great time!!

 

[SoleilLoca]

Thanks for all the tips...I guess we won't be bored after all. I can only swim in a pool for so long...

 

[parrothead365]

RonJon's Surf Shop is always fun. It will put you in the Island mood!

 

[WDWLVR]

Andy,s place sounds nice, but we've always enjoyed going to Grills. Our last two cruises have been Sunday sailings of the Wonder so we go to Grills on Saturday night and watch the Magic and the other ships leave port. Great fun! We even took our Mickey Mitts last time to wave at those on the 2/1 Magic.

We are flying down same day this trip (since it is in May we weren't too worried about weather delays).

Next time I think we'll fly down a day early so we can try out Dixie Crossroads.

 

[izzinmac]

TINKFAN3 mentioned the Sebastian Inlet area. You could combine a visit to that area with a visit to Disney Vero Resort, if you have never been there. It is about another 10 minutes south of Sebastian Inlet on A1A, and is fun to walk around, see the pool area, Villas, and walk the beach. Have a meal there. Also has a small retail store with Disney Vero unique items. During the drive from the inlet to the resort, you can see how some of the rich folk live (giant beach houses, super condos, and a huge "polo club") From Cocoa it is easy to get to - just take A1A south about 1 hour to Vero Disney.

 

[SoleilLoca]

I'm excited to go to Ron Jon-that place is huge. I'm not a surfer and I have no interest in surfing, but it's definitely a fun store to go to. My FH has never been to florida, or seen the ocean for that matter, so I'm sure we'll have a blast no matter what we do..I'm definitely going to have to check out Dixie Crossroads...those shrimp sound pretty good!!

anyone been to the cocoa beach pier? just wondering what it's like.. someone above posted about fishermen pulling in sharks, that should be a sight, wouldn't mind checking that out too!!


once again thanks for all the great tips!!

 

[TINKFAN3]

The pier is okay. There are small retail shops (3), I think. Two resturaunts, 3 bars, a pelican, ice cream shop, lots of fisherman. They have 1 nice resturaunt that is great! I can't recall the name but if you go at/or before sunset it is beautiful, and very romantic. The other resturaunt is your normal pier eatery...good clams! The view is really nice there too.

The sharks, we go every year and have seen some fishermen pulling sharks up and sting rays. At first it was freaky to know how close they are to where we swim but the sharks were small.
This doesn't happen all the time but we were lucky enough to be there a few times when it has. As a mom of 3 boys this nearly made the vacations!! LOL