Cruising into Cocoa Beach: Pre-Cruise Itinerary on Florida’s Space Coast

Darley Newman grabs a frosty drink at Beachside Hotel & Suites in Cocoa Beach, Florida while taping for her podcast.

Heading out on a cruise from Port Canaveral? Many cruisers are opting to travel early and spend time in Cocoa Beach along Florida’s Space Coast, taking away some of the stress that can come with modern travel. On a recent trip to collect content for the Travels with Darley podcast, we uncovered why Cocoa Beach is more than just a stopover. With great gastropubs, laid-back beach vibes, and a dash of Space Coast flair, here’s how we made the most of a pre or post cruise vacation in Cocoa Beach.

Day 1: Arrival & Beachside Vibes

We landed at Orlando International Airport and hopped on the convenient Cocoa Beach Express shuttle to Cape Canaveral, just 45 minutes away. Our home base? The Radisson Resort at the Port, a family-friendly hotel with palm-lined pools, tiki vibes and easy access to cruise terminals and local hotspots.

With an open afternoon, we explored the area’s iconic surf culture and shopping at Ron Jon Surf Shop, a Cocoa Beach staple, and the Cocoa Beach Surf Company. If you visit one, you might want to visit the other, as they are right across the street from eachother. Cocoa Beach Surf Company has women leading the charge there and I was able to interview them about their roles, the surf company and get insider tips on Cocoa Beach. Please note, if you need a bathing suit, this is a great place to get one!

Cocoa Beach Surf Company is huge. Onsite, there’s a restaurant called Shark Pit Bar & Grill with great pizza, almost 30,000 feet of retail outlet space, and a rental place for bikes, ebikes, kayaks, surf boards, a Four Points hotel, Starbucks and more. Sandy McBride, General Manager, along with Janet Antoon, a retail buyer, and Megan Campbell and Amy Jones participated in my interview, which you can listen to in the Travels with Darley podcast.

Darley meets Janet Antoon at Cocoa Beach Surf Company for some retail therapy.

Dinner that night was all about soaking in the local flavor—literally—with fresh seafood and waterfront views at Fishlips Waterfront Bar & Grill. This cool restaurant has indoor and outdoor dining and it also is super unique as you can watch rocket launches from the restaurant. For a classic beach sunset, there’s no better place than the sand itself, drink in hand, camera ready.

Other Dining Recommendations:  Longboard's Tiki Beach Grille, Castaway Beach Bar and for an offbeat and fun adventure if you’re staying at the Radisson Resort at the Port, hit Preacher Bar!

Day 2: Cruising Culture & Local Color

Saturday started with a Southern-style breakfast within walking distance of our hotel—charmingly local and delightfully filling. Then it was off to Port Canaveral’s Cruise Terminal 3, where we spoke with passengers boarding the Carnival Vista and learned what makes this one of the busiest cruise ports in the world. Having not taken an ocean cruise in quite some time, I thought it was interesting to hear from solo women travelers, families, couples and groups who were heading off to cruise.

Next, we headed to Jetty Park, a beautiful beach and fishing pier with great ocean views. This is a top spot to spend the day and you can also spend the night at the onsite campground. There’s an ADA accessible fishing pier and 4.5 acres of beach front to enjoy. The Cocoa Beach Pier is another great place to take in ocean views and check out surfers.

Darley shows a frosty drink at Beachside Hotel & Suites in Cocoa Beach, located within walking distance of Ron Jon Surf Shop and many restaurants.

Afterward, we checked into the fun-loving Beachside Hotel and Suites, home to a lazy river, Duck Dive pool bar, and the feel-good "Be a Local" travel vibe. This retro but updated hotel is super family friendly and even had a mermaid show that the kids loved. A DJ was spinning as I tried to hula hoop and opted for a tall frosty drink instead. Cocoa Beach's surfer-meets-space-coast spirit is alive here—from the nearby pier to eco-tourism hot spots. This hotel offers a special Fly, Snooze and Cruise and the parking cruise packages.

As the sun dipped low, we walked over to the funky, food-forward 4th Street Fillin Station—a converted gas station turned gastropub—for craft cocktails and dinner that had locals and visitors alike buzzing. There’s an extensive menu of around 120 craft beers alongside Mahi tacos, chicken and waffles, vegetarian and gluten-free dishes and a house-made ice cream bar.

Mahi tacos, chicken and waffles, the Smash burger and of that corn at 4th Street Fillin Station in Cocoa Beach.

Owned by Daniel Todd, this cool spot also had art on the walls made by local Cory Redwine. Her art is more than just pretty work, as she takes trash and turns it into art, collecting it from area beaches. Daniel introduced us to Cory and my consulting producer Evelyn and I were able to adventure to her waterside home on nearby Merritt Island to see her she shack and check out her inspiration. It's located between Cocoa and Cocoa Beach on Florida's Central East Coast, and it's home to NASA's Kennedy Space Center, a National Wildlife Refuge, and a place where people can take those nighttime bioluminescent tours.

We were in Cocoa Beach for Thunder on Cocoa Beach, an annual event where mega power boats race. They are also on display in downtown Cocoa Beach over the weekend.

Darley Newman with artist Cory Redwine in her she shack art studio at her home on Merritt Island.

Day 3: Surfnista Style Sendoff

Our final morning brought one last taste of Cocoa Beach at the artsy Café Surfnista, where smoothies and surf culture mix seamlessly. It’s a great local hangout and a peaceful spot to reflect before heading to the airport. Located on North Orlando Avenue, it’s smack in the middle of art galleries, restaurants, wine bars, jazz venues and shopping. I ordered up the Waikiki smoothie with pineapple coconut, banana, apple, and pineapple juice.

Longtime local Jack Kirschenbaum met me and shared the cool history of Cocoa Beach. Jack Kirshenbaum's family has been in Brevard County since 1958 and he's been in the Cocoa Beach area since he was a child. I loved that he called Cocoa Beach "Mayberry by the Sea" or "Mayberry on LSD.” He touted the area’s many recreation opportunities including tennis, golf, swimming and of course, surfing. A tip from Jack… take a surf lesson from the Ron Jon's Surf Shop and watch the surfers at Monster Hole.

After a quick lunch and check-out, we were back on the Cocoa Beach Express shuttle, heading to MCO—recharged, relaxed, and ready for the high seas.

Insider Tip: Even if you’re just passing through, Cocoa Beach is worth slowing down for. Whether it’s sunset at the Sandbar, surfing near the pier, or discovering hidden gems like Coconuts on the Beach, this breezy beach town is the perfect start—or end—to your Florida adventure.

Get tools to plan your trip to Cocoa Beach Florida.

Fun Fact: The famous surfer Kelly Slater is from Cocoa Beach!