The quintessential American beach awaits the visitor to the town of Cocoa Beach. The shoreline's languid green water and wide, brown-sand beach is peopled with visitors of every race, creed, color and swimsuit size. They tend to congregate most densely around the Cocoa Beach Pier on the north end of town. Surfers ride the waves on either side of the pier. Kids splash and frolic. Parents repose on chaise lounges and surf chairs. The only thing missing from this picture is the genie from the 1960's television show that made the town famous.

In addition to the large number of public beach accesses located at street ends, Cocoa Beach features four beachfront parks offering free or inexpensive parking, restrooms, outdoor showers, and picnic tables. All but one posts seasonal lifeguards, and Lori Wilson Park, a county run facility, has a wonderful boardwalk nature trail which winds through a patch of maritime forest. The others, running north to south, are Sheppard Park, Sidney Fisher Park and Robert P. Murkshe Memorial Park. Want to try surfing or boogie boarding? Boasting the best waves in Florida, Cocoa Beach at the Pier has long been a favorite of surfers. Hosting several annual surfing competitions, the atmosphere remains festive all year long. In addition to swimming and sunbathing, Crescent Beach, at the extreme south end of Cocoa Beach, offers some of the best surf fishing in Florida.

North of Cocoa Beach lies the small community of Cape Canaveral, which boasts two beachfront parks. Jetty Park features a campground close to the park's half-mile beach, which offers keen views of ships coming and going from the park. Cherie Down Park is a charming little county run park whose amenities include lifeguards, restrooms, picnic tables and showers.