My first time going to Cocoa Beach, I was hit with the paid parking, and I didn't like that,…read moreespecially since I planned on spending the whole day at the beach. After doing some research, I found out that there are public parking lots, which was great to know. That's when I came across Lori Wilson Park, which has both North and South parking lots. I decided to go with the North side. It was close to the restrooms, and it was just a quick walk across the bridge straight to the beach. There are three beach entrances on this side, and they also have showers right at the entrance where you can rinse off the sand after leaving the beach. There is also a South side with more parking, but for me, the North side just looked more appealing. As you enter the North side, there's a playground to the left where the kids can play. I thought this was really convenient for parents who want to let their children burn off some energy before heading to the beach. Between the playground and the beach, that sounds like a great day for a kid! On this side, there was also a lifeguard, as well as someone renting sunbeds, umbrellas, and surfboards. It seemed like they had pretty much everything you would need for a great beach day. I brought my own tent and chairs, so that worked out just fine for me. But having the rentals right there is really convenient if you don't want to deal with the hassle of bringing everything yourself. The beach was great! The waves were a little rough, but not so rough that you couldn't get in the water and enjoy yourself. There was also a surfing competition going on while I was there. There seemed to be people of all ages participating, so that was really cool to watch and added something extra to the day. Another great beach day accomplished!

When visiting this beautiful 32.43-acre oceanfront park it is to picture that this was once an…read moreunofficial city dump. Standing among the sea oats and beach, it's almost impossible to imagine that this land was neglected until the mid 1970s. The park owes its transformation to the vision and determination of Lori Wilson, an attorney, Florida State Senator, and passionate environmental advocate. After moving to Florida in 1960, Wilson served in the Florida Senate from 1973 to 1978, becoming only the third woman and the first Independent to hold the office. She was a strong supporter of the Equal Rights Amendment and championed numerous environmental causes, working with organizations such as Save Our Waterways, the National Association of County Officials Environmental Steering Committee, and the Central Florida Zoological Society. Senator Wilson was a visionary and she was determined to restore this stretch of coastline organized a massive community cleanup. Local youth organizations, including the Boys & Girls Clubs, spent weeks removing trash, planting native vegetation, and restoring it back to its natural condition. In appreciation for her leadership and dedication, the grateful community voted to name the restored park in her honor. Today, Lori Wilson Park is one of Cocoa Beach's most popular beach parks. The Mansfield Maritime Hammock which is stop on the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail, features a .6-mile interpretive boardwalk through a protected coastal canopy filled with native plants. It is an important stopover for migratory birds. Dog lovers will appreciate the spacious 32,000-square-foot fenced off-leash dog park, which opened in 2006 through a partnership between Cocoa Beach and Brevard County. More recent improvements include upgraded dune crossovers built with durable composite materials, a renovated dog park, and modernized restrooms and outdoor shower facilities. The park also is where you can find I Dream of Jeannie Lane named in 1996 in honor of the TV show I Dream of Jeannie, a TV show about a genie in love with an astronaut that aired from 1965 to 1970 and was fictionally set in Cocoa Beach. The historical marker was added in 2012. I appreciated that the parking is free and there is easy beach access. I also enjoyed my time exploring the maritime Hammock. Thanks to Lori Wilson residents and visitors can enjoy ocean access, nature walks, and a place for off leash dog play. Lori Wilson Park is an inspiring example of what a community can accomplish when they pull together.

Another fabulous beach along the space coast. This park has roughly 20 free parking spots. It has…read morea station to wash off your body/sandy feet after a wonderful day at the beach. We found a spot with no issues and plenty of space on the beach. These beaches are never crowded! Love love love! Waves, finding fun shells and fun are all you need here.

We stopped here briefly on a visit to Florida with my brother, who likes this beach. The beach is…read morelovely: a long, white sandy expanse. It was pretty empty on this weekday, a few scattered beachgoers; lots of parking (but probably not at peak times). Much of the vegetation had unfortunately been killed by the recent hard freeze, and patience will be required to see if it comes back. A walkway leads to the beach from the parking lot, and a wooden structure at the end overlooks the beach. A great beach for area visitors.

Fantastic views Great playground…read moreConvenient boat launch The easy access to 528 also means noise from 528, but it's a fair trade-off; the setting here is great, especially in the morning as the sun rises over the Banana River view. My kids loved the playground, and the picnic/gathering facilities would be nice to return to for a cookout, though I'd probably bring my own grill (those provided are understandably basic). Single picnic tables and pavilions of up to ~15 tables are available, with the larger ones requiring rental to assure your spot. There are restroom facilities on-site. There was some good wildlife around, and my kids liked seeing a lot of birds up close, who weren't afraid to be spied from just a few feet away. Calema Windsurfing school/rental shop on-site is a nice bonus - the conditions certainly felt right on the water. Overall, this seems like a good place to gather with a big group (like a school field trip I saw), your family, or just to overlook the water by yourself.

Great place to peacefully sit under an awning next to the Banana river across from cocoa village.read more

My family and I are fans of this beach. Although it is an hour ride from home, the ride is…read morecomfortable, barely any traffic and it is easy to get to. This beach is accessible & near to eateries, a CVS & small beach shops in case you forgot something, it comes in handy, since we forgot to get water. There is a small parking lot that can fill quickly if you don't arrive early enough. There is a clean bathroom. There is also a gazebo area with picnic tables and a grill. The sand is clean. The water blue and wonderful. We loved that it was not packed & that everyone was being cognizant of keeping their distance. We had an AMAZING time. We sunbathed for hours, listened to music, took in the view, the sun and slight breeze, undisturbed. Before we left, we planned our next visit. Great way to spend my mother's day.

Riding on A1A there is not too many free places anymore to access the beach besides just to sit and…read moreenjoy the view. While visiting Florida I just wanted to go spend a few minutes looking at the ocean and smell the air. This beach access is free and there is bathrooms too which makes it nice if you need to change for the beach. A nice boardwalk up to a deck area with a couple of picnic tables if you wanted to come eat and enjoy the beach view. It's under cover too which made it nice for my Mom who can't be in the sun long. This is a nice spot if your looking to sit off the beach. The only down fall was a "bum" sleeping on one of the picnic tables. That made it a bit uncomfortable while sitting there. A great spot for photos. I would for sure go back and get my ocean fix here. Plenty of parking.

Banana River Park sits along the waters edge and offers a calming view. It's not unusual to see…read moredolphin playing in the water. There are picnic tables and a grill available. They have a kayak launch, pocco ball and putting green. There is a covered playground with well maintained equipment.

A nice park to the north of Manatee Sanctuary Park If you…read moreliked Manatee Sanctuary Park, just keep going north like 3-4 minutes by car (or a little longer if you're walking) and you can find Banana River Park. It is basically the next little spot up the road on the same side of the river. The day I visited it was not busy and was clean. They've got a cute little dock on the north end where I stood when i visited and watched a couple manatees swimming within about 30 feet of the dock for easily a quarter of an hour. There's a big open soccer field up on the north end but just south of the little dock. It has actual goals if you ever feel like kicking a ball around. There is structure at the south end in front of the parking lot with bathrooms and a few tables that is open on 3 sides facing teh water and the park. It's a really nice park, but there's no real trail or long walkway along the water like at Manatee Sanctuary. It's more just grass, a few benches, and that dock. So if you're in the mood for a longer walk or that covered boardwalk vibe, stick with Manatee Sanctuary. But if you just wanna park, walk 30 seconds to the dock, and probably see manatees hanging out, Banana River Park is awesome for that. I'd hit both in the same morning!

Great park with soccer fields, playground, walking trails, gazebo with picnic tables, and a nature…read moretrail. I especially love the nature trail that is about a half mile loop on a boardwalk. There are owls here, turtles, heaps of lizards, squirrels, and on a recent walk here saw a giant snake that crossed my path about four feet long. It is nice that the nature trail is covered with the shade of trees and part of the trail features wetlands yet am always on the lookout for alligators yet have never seen one here yet.

Awesome little park with river front walk in. Gazebos for lunches/dinners, playground equipment,…read moreand a stage/party area as well. Lots of parking too.

This is a great area to launch for SUP (stand up paddleboard) or kayaks. There is a small parking…read morelot that will fit about 20 cars in the launch area. A company called Calypso Kayaking thar rents canoes out of here. The launch area can be a little difficult if you're not super agile or if your paddle board is heavy - the best way I can describe it is it's a sloped staircase made of wood planks and dirt (I think it was about 5-6 steps if I remember correctly). It wasn't difficult going down, however, I was using my friend's Bote SUP, which is pretty heavy and it was difficult for me to carry it up the steps especially after a difficult and physical paddle with windy conditions. If I was using a lighter board I don't think it would've have been too difficult for me. This park also has nice a cute little playground and clean restrooms that are open year round. There is a covered picnic area with grills. And the parking lot at both the launch area and near restrooms are paved. We were there at low tide and the water was very shallow in some areas - so shallow that we had to get off our SUPs at one point and pull them through the water a few feet so we didn't damage our fins. It was great having the shallow waters because we saw LOTS of stingrays, horseshoe crabs and fish! Also lots of water birds throughout our paddle! One of the islands that we stopped at had a nice beach area and beautiful dead tree that made for great photo ops! All in all, this is a great location to launch for SUP and kayak. We will definitely go back and hopefully see dolphins and/or manatees the next time!

This is a great location to paddleboard or kayak in Merritt Island /Brevard County if you want to…read moresee manatees up close there are places to launch your kayak and it's not crowded

A time was had @ Cocoa Beach! The beach was beautiful, & the waves were so much fun. I really…read moreenjoyed being in the water, playing in the waves, & taking in the relaxing beach vibes. The waves were the best part of my day! It was a perfect place to spend some time by the water, relax, & I def enjoyed this beach! I'll be back just to jump in the waves!

Beautiful clean beach. Lifeguard towers, restaurants along the beach, lots of free parking & a…read moreperfect place to spend the day. Cocoa Beach is a city on Florida's Space Coast, known for its beaches, surfing & proximity to the Kennedy Space Center. It offers a variety of attractions, including the Cocoa Beach Pier, massive Ron Jon Surf Shop, Lori Wilson Park & water based activities like kayaking and boat tours, with a laid-back, family-friendly atmosphere that attracts tourists & retirees.