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.

My favorite beach in Central Florida. Bathrooms and shower available. They do have a lot of events…read morehere so sometimes parking can be rough

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.

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!

Coming back to Cocoa Beach as an adult brought back a lot of memories…read more It's timeless. The beach is just as relaxed and welcoming as I remember, but now I appreciate the little things more: the breeze, the waves, and grabbing a snack by the pier. It's simple, familiar, and still one of my favorite spots to unwind.

Cocoa Beach is a fabulous destination for sandy fun in the sun for the entire family in the Space…read moreCoast area of Florida. You can swim in our beaches all year long and there is good surfing to be enjoyed all along Cocoa Beach as well. If you are in need of beach going supplies, there are numerous stores around the city of Cocoa Beach that sell any supplies that you might need. We also have our world famous Ron John's Surf Shop that sells beach going supplies as well.

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.

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.

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.

Our stay at Beach Island Resort was excellent from beginning to end…read more The resort is located directly on the beach in Cocoa Beach, which made it easy to enjoy the ocean throughout the day. We stayed in a two-bedroom unit, and it felt much more like a beach cottage or apartment than a traditional hotel room. The space included a full kitchen, a comfortable living area, and separate bedrooms and bathrooms, which made it ideal for relaxing and spreading out. The property was quiet, clean, and well maintained. Having a full kitchen and multiple bedrooms made the stay especially convenient and comfortable, and it worked perfectly for our group. Penny, who manages the resort, was a pleasure to work with. She was friendly, responsive, and clearly takes pride in the property. Her attention and professionalism really stood out and added to the overall experience. If you're looking for a beachfront hotel in Cocoa Beach with two-bedroom accommodations, full kitchens, and a more laid-back feel than large resorts, this is a great option. It's a wonderful choice for families or anyone wanting more space right on the beach. We would definitely stay here again. -- Charlie I.

A Perfect Beach Getaway!…read more Beach Island Resort truly makes the most of its space, and has absolutely everything you need for a relaxing and convenient stay! They have a fully equipped BBQ area, with a large patio, tables, chairs, and all the grilling accessories you could need! They have a picnic/lounge area with an ocean view! They have a laundry room, which to us is a big deal! We always like to wash everything up before we head home! I can honestly say that the resort goes above and beyond to add so many thoughtful touches like menus for all the local eateries, books, games, and a beautiful breeze way with a beautiful and comfy seating area. It has a heated private pool, a private hot tub, and direct private beach access. Plus, every beach amenity you could need! Penny, is the on-site manager, is available 24/7 and was always ready to help in anyway she could and answer any questions we had! Walt Disney World, SeaWorld, and Universal are just an hour away, which is perfect because we went to the parks 2 of the days we stayed! We truly couldn't have asked for a better experience! Space Coast Vacation Rentals continues to be our top choice for our Florida vacations! Highly recommend!

I was in town visiting. A day pass is valid for a week between $20-25 per vehicle. There are…read moredifferent beach lots. I visited the first lot. There was parking available, accessible restrooms, trash and recycling bins next to beach ramp. The water was a bit chilly but gorgeous! It was easy to walk on the sand, not many shells. I highly recommend a visit to this beach.

Beautiful, unspoiled beach with a clothing-optional area. I enjoyed spending time here with my gf…read moreduring our trip to Florida

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