Enjoy an Overnight Stay at Cocoa Beach, Florida

Cocoa Beach is perfect for an overnight stay, because you can walk to the beach early in the morning to see the sunrise.

When you arrive in Cocoa Beach the day before, you can enjoy the night life at Cocoa Beach Pier. The 800-foot long pier has five restaurants and four bars. Cocoa Beach Pier is located at 401 Meade Avenue, Cocoa Beach, Florida, one half mile North of 520, off A1A. Telephone: 321-783-7549.

Most of the restaurants and hotels in Cocoa Beach are along A1A (North Atlantic Avenue.) When making your motel/hotel reservation, request a room with an ocean view. If you would like to camp, try Jetty Park, just north on A1A from Cocoa Beach at 400 Jetty Road, Cape Canaveral. Telephone: 321-783-7111. Jetty Park includes a beach and has 150 campsites, hosting a range of camping styles from small tent to RV.

In the morning, after you watch the sunrise and enjoy the beach, it is fun to play miniature golf before the temperature heats up. Funntasia Mini Golf opens at 9 a.m.

As the day gets hotter, a nice break will be lunch in Cocoa Village at Cafe Margaux. You will want to at least clean the sand out of your shoes to dine at this restaurant that features creative French cuisine. Cafe Margaux Serves lunch from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and dinner from 5:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. It is closed on Sundays. On Sundays, eat at Grills Seafood Deck and Tiki Bar at 505 Glen Cheek Drive in Cape Canaveral. Telephone: 321-868-2226. Enjoy tasty seafood as you watch the boats go by.

Boutique shopping is available near Cafe Margaux in Cocoa Village. From A1A in Cocoa Beach, turn west on State Road 520 (near Ron Jon's Surf Shop). Travel eight miles across the Banana and Indian Rivers and turn left on Brevard Avenue.

Shopping opportunities in Cocoa Beach include the Sky King Fireworks Showroom Mega Superstore at 103 Cleveland Avenue, open seven days a week. Telephone: (321) 632-1164. Ron Jon Surf Shop at 4151 North Atlantic Avenue is the world's largest surf shop.

If you want to escape the heat by walking through a mall, Merritt Square Mall is nearby on Merritt Island. Located at 777 East Merritt Island Causeway, you will get there by taking State Road 520 west from Cocoa Beach. Merritt Island is situated between Cocoa Beach and Cocoa.