Fun Activities and Historic Landmarks of Cocoa Beach, Florida

There are numerous fun and exciting activities and attractions along Florida’s Space Coast, and Cocoa Beach is no exception.   A pleasurable cruise is a fantastic idea on a hot day, and Island Boat Lines & Indian River Queen depart from Cocoa Village Marina, at 90 Delannoy Ave. Cocoa Beach, FL 32922.  Daily tours at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. are two-hour eco-tour cruises through the Cocoa Beach 1,000 Islands.  The region is home to herds of manatees, flocks of birds and playful dolphins.  On Sundays at 2 p.m. only, passengers can enjoy a “World Class Port Tour,” which takes groups through the Cape Canaveral Locks to explore Port Canaveral’s cargo, foreign trade zone, fishing, military and submarine base.  Observe the visiting cruise ships, or a quick detour to the local bars and restaurants for a great meal, watch the day’s fresh catch brought in, and meet the locals.

The company also runs the Indian River Queen paddlewheel riverboat, which is an excellent adventure for all ages to gather and celebrate any occasion.  The Queen specializes in private charters for events such as weddings, corporate gatherings, reunions, celebrations and scenic dinner cruises.  Seasonally, the Queen also offers numerous public charters available.  Once a month, visitors can attend the afternoon Jazz and Southern Tea Cruise.

Whichever cruise you decide on, make sure to bring  your camera and have it handy to capture rare sightings, such as the birth of baby manatees and dolphins playing.  There are also numerous endangered bird species, and you can capture a beautiful Indian River Sunset while Topside on the Queen.

For brewpub fans, the Cocoa Beach Brewing Company is a family-owned and fully functional brewery and pub.  Located in historic downtown Cocoa Beach on Atlantic Avenue, the brewery keeps its home in one of the oldest buildings in the city.  It was built in the 1930s, and was originally Navy housing for the nearby Banana River Naval Air Station.  Over the years, it has hosted many other commercial enterprises before being transitioned into a brewery, pub and restaurant.  The operation consists of a custom designed and built Brewhouse, three gigantic stainless steel conical fermentation tanks, one huge fermentation tank, and an Applied Bottling Systems single head automated filler.  Tours are available seasonally.