Brevard County's Space Coast Beach Communities

From the north to south ends of the Space Coast along the Atlantic Ocean, many quaint, cool and rapidly evolving communities make a beach getaway to the area full of fun choices.

Indialantic And Melbourne Beach

Hot surfing spots at Patrick Air Force Base are just a few miles south of the hustle of Cocoa Beach. Further south a few more miles along State Road A1A are the great beach towns of Indialantic, Indian Harbor Beach and Melbourne Beach.

South beaches of the Space Coast offer more evidence of the laid back beach lifestyle everywhere you look.

Here surfers mix seamlessly with sunrise beach yoga, families searching for sea glass and beads and sun-kissed residents enjoying the perfect weather by taking Fido to the Satellite Beach dog park.

After wandering The Goods Surf and Skate Boutique in Indialantic, owned by twin surfing stars, C.J. and Damien Hobgood, make a special lunch detour to DaKine Diego's, an outdoor place to hangout and try some of the biggest burritos you have ever seen or check Goombay's which offers inside and outside seating, usually has music on the porch, and, best of all, serves a particularly popular version of meat on a stick. The Sandbar Sports Bar & Grill also features rockin’ beach bands and a fish taco so revered by locals every visitor really should give it a try. 

Sebastian Inlet

At the southernmost point of the Space Coast is Sebastian Inlet, which attracts surfers by the thousands to difficult breaks, camps and contests along three miles of ocean also popular for swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving.

As the Atlantic’s hottest surfing destination with monthly events, big name surf camps and the Sebastian Inlet Pro, a five-star World Qualifying Series competition that draws some of the biggest names in surfing each January, Sebastian Inlet State Park is also one of the most popular state parks in Florida. Camping is available as well as a small store, docking, canoe, kayak, Jet Ski and  power boat rentals. Ranger led boat tours are available to Pelican Island and the gorgeous beach is considered one of the best fishing areas in the state.

Cocoa Beach

Breeding ground for championship and East Coast Hall of Fame surfers, Cocoa Beach is well known as the site of the “I Dream of Jeannie” television show. Several major surf shops also call the city home, however.

Ron Jon Surf Shop is a destination unto itself as the “World’s Most Famous Surf Shop.” The Cocoa Beach Surf Company Surf Complex next door is another must see as it also includes a hotel, surf school, travel agency, tour operator and, most importantly to some, the city’s only Starbuck’s Coffee Shop.

In downtown Cocoa Beach near Minuteman Causeway, an area known as Cottage Row offers a plethora of  beachy specialty shops in quaint old Naval Housing. Cafes, nightclubs and fine dining establishments flank art galleries, bike rentals and smaller independent or specialized surf shops. Locals and visitors alike flock to the fine dining at The Mango Tree or Yen Yen’s before enjoying the daiquiris on the beach at Coconuts or the very fine martinis at Heidi’s Jazz Club.

The Sunday Farmer’s Market and the nature trail at Lori Wilson Park are also items to add to any Cocoa Beach getaway itinerary.

Cape Canaveral & Port Canaveral

Although best known for watching rockets and massive cruise ships launch, Port Canaveral and Cape Canaveral beaches are also some of the best beaches in America to try your hand at beginner surfing. Scenic beaches like Jetty Park in Port Canaveral or one of the many streets named for U.S. presidents that end in parking and free public beach access crossovers in Cape Canaveral, offer quieter settings and smaller waves perfect for practicing the art of walking on water.

Home to one of the busiest cruise ports in the world, Port Canaveral is also a bustling area of top notch restaurants, casino and charter fishing boats. After a lazy day exploring the waves, the strip of bars and dance clubs in The Cove area offers everything from casual tiki bars with live music to European styled dance clubs like The Redhead.

If you find that these places are just too great to leave quickly – check into the Cape Caribe Resort for ideas on how to make your holidays longer and more frequent.

Titusville

At the northern end of the Space Coast is the Brevard county seat of Titusville.

Showcasing one of the most pristine beaches in the nation at Playalinda Beach at Canaveral National Seashore, Titusville is situated close to the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and Kennedy Space Center.

For those seeking an old fashioned beach getaway with lots of quiet time for reflection and enjoyment of the natural beauty all around – this is the spot!

There is also a restaurant in Titusville with a following so large it qualifies as an attraction of its own. Dixie Crossroads features a mouth watering and locally famous rock shrimp and a beautiful natural setting. Owner Laurilee Thompson, founder of the International Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival (www.nbbd.com/fly/) held each January, can even fill you in on the best places to kayak or bird watch after she wows you with the most amazing shrimp dishes in town.

Merritt Island

Although not on one of our great beaches, Merritt Island is a barrier island surrounded by the Indian and Banana Rivers that separates our central and north breaches from the mainland. It is definitely worth a quick side trip when visiting the Space Coast – and in fact almost all visitors to our area make a point to go there.

The John F. Kennedy Space Center is actually located in the middle of a pristine natural area on Merritt Island – and is not located in Cape Canaveral as so many around the world believe. 

The federal government, when creating the Kennedy Space Center, purchased hundreds of acres of land - of which only seven percent has or will be developed. The rest was set aside decades ago as the huge 220 square mile Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge (www.fws.gov/merrittisland/) and Canaveral National Seashore (www.nps.gov/cana/) .

The refuge, which includes points of interest along Black Point Wildlife Drive (accessible best from Titusville), a 7-mile self guided tour of impounded marshes, a Visitor Center, four hiking trails and the historic Haulover Canal, is a veritable cornucopia of unique systems and animals. Kayaking tours of some of the wading bird islands and otherwise hard to reach spots are offered by many tour providers and Brevard Zoo. 

On the city side of the island, home to the Merritt Square Mall and a large movie theater, Merritt Island offers a nice break from the beach with Jet Ski rental shops and a developing historic shopping district called Merritt Park Place. When exploring the island, be sure to check out the Crab Shack on State Road 520 for one-of-a-kind crab butter and unique riverside dining as well!

 

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