I will be going on a week vacation to Orlando and Cocoa Beach at the end of May with my girlfriend and was looking for some good advice and things to do while there. We have both been to Disney World before, and we plan on spending a day at Universal Studios. Other than that, our week is still pretty much open. Does anyone have any suggestions about things we must do or see while there?
Any suggestions on activities, restaurants, museums, beach areas, nightlife, etc. is greatly appreciated.
Also, what is the weather there like at the end of May? Thanks in advance for any info or advice!
Hey, what a coincidence, my husband and I are going down to Cocoa Beach for a little getaway in the first week of May. We were there last year in April, and the temps were in the 80s.
I avoid Orlando like the plague, but there are lots of things to do in Cocoa Beach.
1)The most obvious, of course, is sitting on the beach. The water is warm, just watch out for the undertow. Apparently it’s also a good beach for surfing, if you’re into that.
2)You can fish off the pier, which extends about 800 feet into the Atlantic. They rent tackle & bait right there.
3) Cape Canaveral
4) The Brevard Zoo. They also run kayak eco-tours, which I’m going to try out this year.
The only activity I enjoyed near Orlando was Gatorland, which I thought was a hoot. However, my husband despised it, so YMMV.
My family (aunt and uncle) have lived there for 50 years, so, I perked up when I saw Cocoa Beach.
I highly recommend doing a Space Center Visit.
You can waste valuable time at Ron Jon’s Surf Shop ( rather expensive, but kinda mandatory touristy thing to do.)
When I go down there, one thing I always do is hit a pawn shop. Between the old people pawning their goods to survive, the gamblers coming off the weekend cruise ships and need some spending cash, the crack and meth heads needing money to tide them over and the grandkids selling their late grandmother’s stuff, there are some pretty great deals to be had down there. (Here in Michigan, pawn shops that I’ve traipsed into are rather scary and filled with bling-bling nugget jewelry. Down there, it is a better variety.)
Where are you staying in Cocoa Beach? If we don’t intrude on family, we stay at a little place called, “The Wakulla” which has been there since the earth cooled. It’s old and a little anachronistic in the age of high rises and glammed up hotels, but it is a throw back to forty or fifty years ago. It’s aged well, I think and maintained nicely. My aunt & uncle -different set of relatives- nearly bought it in the late 60’s, but couldn’t swing the price tag of something like $50k as they had six kids at the time. It is clean, affordable, on the beach/mostly on the beach and, to me, the best part, the furniture is about 30 years old and has that Old Florida Vacation feel to it before all the chains decided to decorate their rooms in Dentist Office/Sante Fe Themed colors. The rooms have kitchenettes. It’s right next to a Shoney’s now, I think. ( and my relatives live on the next street south of that. Surf Drive. That street is worth a fortune to the developers. Naturally, I haven’t stayed there since 1998, so it could be a pestilence filled dive, but I doubt it. It’s where the old people stay. Always look for the WWII /Vetrans car liscence plates on caddy’s in a hotel or restaurant to judge the quality.
Also, hitting the Salvation Army/Goodwill’s down there can be a major treasure find as after Granny dies, the kids just unload everything there. It’s like being taken back in time for really fun vintage stuff. We are going in June, and I am spending buttloads of time doing this and then somehow get it home and not having Mr. Ujest rain on my parade.
There is also a mall on Merritt Island. Big, everything you need under the roof, including a movie theater.
Have fun. Take sunscreen and try not to drive like a tourist 
Another happy Wakulla customer here. If you can accept the place for what it is, you’ll be fine. Last time I was there was 99, but it was still clean and well maintained - just not fancy.
Another Cocoa Beach activity you may want to take in is a shark fishing excursion. We went out at night the last time and it was an absolute blast. Can’t remember what the per person charge was, but it was resonable. The boat could hold 60 people, but there was only about 10 the night we went out. We grilled the shark steaks the next day at the Wakulla. mmmmm
I live just outside Orlando (I was born and raised here) and am about an hour from Cocoa Beach. (For the past two months we’ve driven every Sunday to Cocoa to spend the day at the beach - it’s been great!) Anyway…as far as what to do in Orlando, depending on what you’re looking for in terms of “night live” (everyone’s tastes vary) there are several nice restaurants downtown (check out MyFlorida.com) and then lots of dance clubs and pubs. If you go to Universal, they have CityWalk that has a variety of different clubs (disco, reggae, piano-bar, jazz, etc.) as well as the Hard Rock Cafe. There are also many nice restaurants there too. There’s also Animal Kingdom (theme park of sorts, with lots of animals, rides and such) and they have a Resort as well that I hear is pretty spectacular (it was featured on the Travel Channel).
As far as what to do in Cocoa, we don’t really do much except relax on the beach, but if you do want to go “touristy” then a stop in at the revamped Ron Jon’s would be cool. Also, there’s a few “on the beach” type bars that are busy day and night (such as Mango’s) where people drink and such. Also, Jetty Park, near the port, is nice too. You can walk out to the end of the pier and watch the cruise ships sail out of port - - it’s amazing! You can also fish off of the pier and will be occasionally surprised to see manatee and dolphin, depending on the time of year and weather.
Enjoy your visit to Florida. Spends lots of money, take lots of pictures, and come again!
Yogini
Come see me at the Mall @ Millenia!
Just kidding.
There’s a fantastic seafood restaurant I’m always forgetting the name of on the Cocoa Beach Pier… you have to take the girlfriend there so you can walk out onto the pier and watch the waves break at night after dinner. Works wonders on any woman.
Another great place to eat (and right on your way) is the Lone Cabbage Fish Camp. It’s between Cocoa and Orlando on SR 520, about four or five miles after you leave Cocoa proper. Great catfish, and you can go on airboat rides, which are lots of fun.
You didn’t say how old you are, so it’s tough for me to think what to suggest to do in Orlando.
The weather at the end of May will more than likely be HOT. Not Dry Gulch hot, but definitely warm kettle hot. Think a high of around 95 with humidity to match.
Sea World is good.
The various flea markets can be amazing.
Hey thanks for all the great advice! Keep it coming! To answer a couple of questions: We are both 24, and we are probably just staying at a Holiday Inn type of place. The vacation package is one where you have to listen to some hour long pitch for a time-share condo in exchange for free hotel stays and some other stuff. We have friends who did this last year and they said it wasn’t too big of a deal so I’m hoping we are as lucky with the salesmen.
Our tastes are both pretty laid back as far as night life atmosphere goes. No flashy clubs where you gotta dress up or “know people.” We’ll definitely check out the pubs along Cocoa Beach. The space center is also on the list, as well as Ron Jon’s.
Again, thanks for all the help!
If you wish, drop me an address. I just send out 1/4 ton of brochures to a couple of fellow Dopers who requested information on the area. And I do work at Universal Orlando, so please do stop by and say hello.
Gotta second, third, fourth, etc. any and all votes for Kennedy Space Center. Does it say something that I own a CD of the KSC Official Audiotour (the one they played on the bus while the driver [I always got the one who looks and sounds like Mr. Haney from “Green Acres”] points out every basking alligator within 60 yards of the roadside) with Sally Ride and “Big Al” Straner (KSC Ground Crew)? Even though the bus tour has changed a lot, I still like it! And I like the soundtrack from the Saturn V Center. Stirring music.
Dixie Crossroads (Titusville) - great restaurant.
Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge, if you are into bird and nature watching.
screech- “space junkie” owl
Well, due to some changes in the package, it looks like we might be heading to Daytona Beach for a few days instead of Cocoa Beach.
Are these two places at all comparable in terms of what there is to do besides lay on the beach?
Again thanks for all the great info so far!