COCOA BEACH — In 23 years as a Floridian, I’ve enjoyed countless beach getaways all over the state. Yet somehow, the stickers on my vintage Samsonite hard case did not represent any attractions in Brevard County. That all changed with a recent weekend getaway in which I learned just how much the space coast has to offer.
About a three-hour drive northeast of Manatee County, Brevard lies about an hour south of Daytona Beach and about an hour east of Orlando. It’s a largely rural county but contains a number of key landmarks, including the Kennedy Space Center and Cocoa Beach, which, in terms of serene beauty, can hold its own with just about any stretch of sand in the state.
We got on the road early Friday morning so that we could check out the Valiant Air Command’s Warbird Air Museum in Titusville. This aeronautical gem contains multiple hangars filled with exceptionally well-preserved/restored military aircraft spanning from pre-World War I to the modern era.
Our passionate guides expertly led us through a 90-minute tour choc full of interesting info about the various crafts, many of which offer the opportunity to board. The museum is a must for any military buff or aviation fan. Our tight schedule kept us to a 90-minute visit, but we could have easily stayed much longer.
Next up was the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex at NASA's Merritt Island launch complex. This national treasure provides space geeks with a full day of interactive attractions, including the chance to get nose-to-cone with the actual space shuttle Atlantis.
Start your experience with Heroes and Legends: The United States Astronauts Hall of Fame before getting the “behind the gates” bus tour. Finally, let your imagination run wild at the NASA Now + Next attraction, where state-of-the-art thrill-park-level experiences take a deeper dive into current NASA tech and a look at what the future holds.
Nearby Titusville is also home to the American Space Museum, which hosts a number of historical exhibits that serve as a perfect supplement to the Kennedy Space Center experience. While there, check out the Space Walk of Fame.
Brevard County is known for its significant presence of bioluminescent water life, and we capped Friday evening off with a late-night kayak tour of Banana River Lagoon with Fin Expeditions. Microscopic organisms are responsible for an amazing chemical reaction in which a school of fish swimming under your kayak can look like underwater fireworks! (author's note: WEAR LOTS OF BUG SPRAY!)
We spent Saturday exploring Cocoa Beach, which surpassed all expectations. You’ll recognize the white sand, but the waves are much more serious than we Gulf Coast dwellers are used to, and you're sure to see more than a few surfers catching waves when conditions prevail.
I’ve never understood how a single surf shop in an East Coast beach town can afford to have billboards all over the state, but once you make the pilgrimage to the legendary Ron Jon Surf Shop, it immediately becomes apparent. The massive store was packed at all hours, and we filled a few rather large shopping bags, stocking up on surprisingly reasonably priced swag.
There was even a Spicoli-like surfer dude waxing a board out front near the tricked-out Woody, who seemed so authentic we couldn’t tell if he was a customer or the store mascot. What's more, I scored the perfect souvenir sticker for my Samsonite.
At night, the town continues to give off a relaxed, blue-collar vibe that reminded me of Bradenton and Sarasota in the late ‘90s. You’ll find plenty of first-rate beach shacks serving cold brews and bar food, including Hunkerdown, the Beach Shack, Paddy Cassidy's Irish Pub (live music most nights), and Sandbar Sports Grill.
We stayed at the Courtyard by Marriott on Cocoa Beach and found the accommodations exceptional, even by the high standards of the brand. The richly appointed rooms and beach views were a home away from home, and we enjoyed a few boat drinks and a swim as we listened to the music at the pool, which included a relaxing tiki bar.
The hotel's central location meant that almost everything we wanted to access was either within walking distance or a very short drive. They even offered rental surfboards and private lessons to those who wanted to try their hand at catching some waves.
Being proper foodies, we never miss a chance to take in some fine dining and found two rather good restaurants within walking distance of the hotel. On Friday night, we enjoyed a delicious meal at The Starlite Restaurant, which was inside a neighboring hotel. With a semi-casual ambiance and food that ranges from tapas to serious seafood, there is something for everyone.
On Saturday evening, we tried WAVES Craft Bar & Kitchen, a slightly more upscale offering within another hotel. It impressed us with a well-varied menu that included a number of delicious starters and a serious wine list that kept us around for a second bottle.
Brevard is a great place to visit for a staycation, whether you want to go nonstop or spend a lazy weekend bumming around a beautiful, laid-back beach. Check out the Visit Space Coast website for more information.
Dennis "Mitch" Maley is a novelist, as well as an editor and opinion columnist for The Bradenton Times. In addition to his regular Sunday column, he hosts our weekly podcast and does occasional theater, restaurant, and wine reviews. He is a graduate of Shippensburg University and later served as a Captain in the U.S. Army. Click here for his bio. His novels and short story collection are available here.
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