The time we have with family is short, which is why beach vacations were invented! We didn’t set out (at first) to check out Cocoa Beach, FL (commonly known as Orlando’s Beach), but after looking into it we knew we’d found the perfect location on Florida’s Space Coast.
Florida is warm, sunny and has so many fun attractions that make it the perfect vacation spot! And if you’re yearning for warmth, fun, beaches, and attractions, it doesn’t get any better than Cocoa Beach.
Cocoa Beach, Florida, is about an hour East of Orlando, which makes it super convenient to the airport, major theme parks and Cape Canaveral cruise port, where some of the world’s largest cruise ships arrive and depart daily. It’s a fun beach town with a lively vibe and it’s ideal for families!
In terms of great nearby landmarks, bustling Westgate Cocoa Beach Pier serves as the heart of the action for all notable beach activities, along with laid-back eateries and an immensely popular tiki bar with spectacular ocean views, while scenic Lori Wilson Park offers picnic pavilions, a huge boardwalk, and even a dog park. And don’t forget about the one-of-a-kind Ron Jon Surf Shop, the world’s largest surf shop, open 24 hours a day. Last but not least, the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is a short drive up the coast. (Cocoa Beach is the perfect spot to catch one of the frequent SpaceX launches at KSC, by the way!)
ACCOMMODATION
There are a lot of hotels in Cocoa Beach, Florida, but none are as well-equipped for the family beach vacation challenge as the oceanfront Westgate Cocoa Beach Resort. Every room is a luxury suite and has a fully equipped kitchen with premier appliances, ornate wooden finishes and plenty of elbow room to allow you to completely relax.
Each room is 812 square feet and sleeps around 6 guests. There are two bedrooms, three beds, and as your kids will no doubt thrill to, 3 flat-screen cable TVs with premium channels and DVD players.
Right outside your front door at Westgate Cocoa Beach Resort is the most amazing little on-site water park in Cocoa Beach called Wakulla Falls and equipped with a winding lazy river, incredible kids splash zone with waterslides and enough wet fun to keep the little ones cool and entertained for hours. There’s even a “Makua Lanai” Adult Relaxation Zone at the water park for adults to hang out and supervise while the kids splash around!
And that’s not all: there is a full-sized heated outdoor pool, a kiddie pool, a hot tub, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and a tiki bar and grill right there on the premises. You don’t even need to leave the resort!
On weekends, they screen family-friendly movies by the pool, and you can even relax in the hot tub and munch popcorn as the film plays. Everything at this Cocoa Beach Hotel is so thoughtful and geared toward families that way. Also, they have outdoor grills so guests can barbecue and hang out by the pool and save money on eating out.
And if that weren’t enough, the white-sand beach is just steps from the resort! Westgate Cocoa Beach Resort has its own private beach space where they provide all guests with beach towels, sunscreen, sand toys, surfboards and boogie boards FREE! No renting equipment, no worrying if you forgot anything! Just get yourself to the beach and everything is there for you. Weird but awesome side-note – they even come around and clean your sunglasses for you. Now that’s beachside service!
TIPS
If you’re looking for the ideal downtime day, try laying out in a beachside cabana, putting the kids on sand castle duty, boogie boarding, playing some beach volleyball and then booking a surf lesson through the Westgate Cocoa Beach Resort Beach Concierge – honestly, learning to surf will change your life!
AMENITIES
Westgate Cocoa Beach Resort offers so many great onsite amenities that you and your family may opt to spend your entire stay on the premises.
Complimentary amenities and services:
- Wakulla Falls Water Park
- Lazy River
- Splash Pad
- Makua Lanai Adult Relaxation Area
- Heated Outdoor Pool
- Beach Deck & Beach Concierge
- Chair & Umbrella Rentals
- Bicycle Rentals
- Complimentary Trolley to Cocoa Beach Pier
- Fitness Center
- Aloha Tiki Bar & Café
- Beachside Café
- 24-Hour Front Desk
FOOD
You will love the convenience of the onsite Beachside Café, which offers an assortment of refreshing cocktails, as well as hot dogs, sandwiches, subs, wraps and desserts. In addition, the Aloha Tiki Bar & Café, located right next to the water park, is the perfect spot for a bite to eat on the go.
No Cocoa Beach getaway is complete without a visit to the lively Cocoa Beach Pier (it’s only a free trolley ride away from the resort!) to sample the delicious fresh seafood and raw bar options at Keith’s Oyster Bar, the only open-air seafood eatery on the beach. The Shrimp and Lobster Tatchos were absolutely amazing, by the way! Keith’s also features live musical entertainment on select days.
After enjoying your meal at Keith’s, head out to the end of the Pier to Rikki Tiki Tavern, where you can kick back and relax and enjoy the amazing ocean views with your favorite cocktail.
PEOPLE (SERVICE LEVEL)
Along with the onsite amenities at Westgate Cocoa Beach Resort being vastly superior to comparable hotels on the beach, the cheerful staff provides the highest level of customer service as well. Without exception, each and every staff member encountered went out of their way to ensure the most pleasant stay possible. In addition, they are always willing to provide helpful tips on the best Cocoa Beach area attractions to visit.
AREA GUIDE
As mentioned, really getting to know the real Cocoa Beach means trying out the free trolley that will take you to the Westgate Cocoa Beach Pier, where you can catch the live music and watch surfers and volleyball players. The Cocoa Beach Pier is an 800-foot landmark pier in the heart of Cocoa Beach and is the source of great shopping, eating, and fun beach activities. We drank Mai Tais on the Pier, enjoyed the ocean views, lounged on the beach and even spotted dolphins frolicking nearby. Just as a side note, moments like these really illustrated why the natural beauty and fantastic oceanfront vistas are the reason why Cocoa Beach weddings are (reportedly) so popular in Florida (in fact, there was a couple in full wedding attire taking photographs right under the pier while we were there).
