10 Kid-Friendly Things to Do in Cocoa Beach, FL

Ready for sunshine, giggles, sandy toes, and unforgettable family adventures? Here's your guide to the best kid-friendly fun in Cocoa Beach!

Keeping the kids entertained on a family holiday can often feel like taking on a full-time job—but Cocoa Beach makes it an awful lot more doable. This sun-kissed beach town is bursting with things to do that'll actually capture your little ones' imaginations, and you might even get to put your feet up for a few minutes to enjoy a cup of coffee.

From building sandcastles and trying to spot some local wildlife to exploring the weird and wonderful attractions, there's something in Cocoa Beach that's right up every age group's street. In this guide, you'll find out about 10 super fun and totally kid-friendly things to do in Cocoa Beach, Florida, aiming to make for a holiday that's as fun as it is stress-free.

Lori Wilson Park boasts a huge sandy beach that’s perfect for family activities in Cocoa Beach. The kids love running around, building sandcastles on the beach, and playing right there at the water's edge. They've also got a totally awesome playground for the little ones to enjoy while you're munching sandwiches at a picnic table.

Restrooms and outdoor showers are right on site—always a must! The boardwalk makes it super easy to get to the beach, and you can just park for free. Heck, the playground can even become your kid's top spot before they hit the beach.

Address:
1500 N Atlantic Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931

You can find the Florida Surf Museum tucked inside the famous Ron Jon Surf Shop. The place is chock-full of cool surfboards and surfing history, and the kids can learn all about Florida's surfing legends. There are loads of photo exhibits and surfing gear on display, and the best bit is that admission is free!

The museum itself is tiny but easy to get around, and it's a great place to stop off on your way to the beach. Even little surfers will have a blast just looking, even if they don't have a board of their own just yet.

Address:
4151 N Atlantic Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931

The Dinosaur Store has absolute loads of dinosaur fossils and life-size dinosaur models that'll blow the kids' minds. They've also got minerals, fossils, and ancient artifacts on show, and you can try your hand at some pretty cool interactive science exhibits too.

If the kids love dinosaurs, they'll love the adventure zone with all its hands-on games and activities. Although you will need to pay for admission to get into the main museum bit, the shop at the end has loads of cool dinosaur-themed goodies to take home.

Address:
250 W Cocoa Beach Causeway, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931

NASA's Kennedy Space Center is only about half an hour from Cocoa Beach, so it's basically a hop, skip, and a jump away. The place is jammed full of the real deal, rocket ships, and whatnot, and the interactive exhibits will give the kids the lowdown on space travel. They've also got the iconic Space Shuttle Atlantis on show, and you can even meet some real-life astronauts if you're lucky! They do a bus tour of the launch areas, too. Now you'll need to buy a ticket to get in, but trust us, it's well worth it.

Address:
Space Commerce Way, Merritt Island, FL 32953

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge has loads of nature trails for you to explore with the kids. You can see all sorts of wildlife, from birds and turtles to the occasional alligator! Black Point Wildlife Drive is a fave for wildlife spotters.

You can grab all the info you need to get the most out of your visit to the refuge center—and the best bit is that loads of areas are actually free to get into! Of course, don't forget your binoculars, or you'll miss all the fun, and the alligators usually seem to have a pretty good view of all of us humans, too.

Address:
1987 Scrub Ridge Trail, Titusville, FL 32782

The Westgate Cocoa Beach Pier stretches right out into the Atlantic Ocean, so you can just take a stroll out along it with the family. The kids love watching the fishermen haul in their catch, and you'll often see pelicans bobbing about just offshore. There are loads of cafés and snack shops around the pier too, so you can grab a bite to eat.

The beach is also super easy to get to, just a short walk along the side of the pier. Parking's not a problem either; it's right outside the entrance.

Address:
401 Meade Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931

The Cocoa Beach Boardwalk is a really breezy spot, close to the beach. Stroll along and enjoy the ocean views while the kids burn off some energy. You'll find plenty of snack and souvenir shops not too far off. Good news for families with little ones: the boardwalk is dead easy for strollers. It's the perfect place to kick off a beach day, and with parking right nearby, even less hassle. And as a bonus, even the littlest legs can make it the whole way round.

Address:
Minutemen Causeway, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931

Located at Port Canaveral, the Exploration Tower is a seven-story extravaganza of exhibits all about rockets, ships, and local history. Along the way, you can also check out ocean views from the observation decks, and the interactive displays will keep the kids occupied for hours. To top it all off, it's not too big; admission is required, but once you're all in, it's easy as can be with an elevator to take you to every floor. And when you get to the top, the view of everything looking tiny is pretty cool.

Address:
670 Dave Nisbet Dr, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920

Brevard Zoo is home to 900 animals: giraffes, rhinos, monkeys, and birds. The kids will love it, and the zoo's got a huge playground so they can really burn off some energy. You can even arrange to feed the animals on certain days. There's a train ride and kayaking on offer too. Admission tickets are required, but it's only about 30 minutes from Cocoa Beach.

Address:
8225 N Wickham Rd, Melbourne, FL 32940

Historic Cocoa Village has some real old charm, brick streets, and loads of local shops to explore. Mini-yous will love the toy stores and ice cream shops, and if you time it right, you can catch one of the family-friendly events they put on. If you need a break, there are some nice parks right by the river for a short stroll and kid-friendly restaurants to refuel. Best part is you can easily get around on foot, free parking is right nearby, and let's be honest—sometimes the best way to finish a visit is with a cool ice cream in hand.

Address:
434 Delannoy Ave, Cocoa, FL 32922

Book Anthony’s on the Beach for an easy Florida beach stay with private beach access, outdoor seating, and the ocean right nearby.