Description: Why else come to Cocoa Beach if you don't plan to walk on the sand? Our hotel had walk-out access to the beach just beyond the hotel pool and provided faucets at the gateway so return strollers could wash off.
We took advantage of the beach access in the morning. It was clean and quiet (at least this September morning).
Since we expect to return for day-trips, we purposefully looked for public beach access and found three nice spots, all with parking, a very short walk to the beach and public restrooms to change.
The one we like best (for beach access) is the Lori Wilson Park just south of our hotel (the Doubletree) off a small side road called I Dream of Jeanie Lane. Here you can park for no charge and it is on a quieter stretch of beach without restaurants, shops or bars.
The second spot is a little closer to the action: Shepard City Park. There is a fee to park (we didn't catch the rate). It is near the intersection of Cocoa Beach Causeway and Ocean Beach Blvd.; and about a three-block walk to Cocoa Beach Pier and it is close to the giant Ron Jon Surf Shop. Several restaurants, bars and shops are around.
The Pier is the third place we visited. This apparently is the heart of the action although mid-week in September is not a peak time for tourists. There are several bars on the pier along with shops and an arcade. We didn't stay long, but this appears to be the place to hang out if you are young enough to want to hang. The public restroom show signs of wear and tear from all the years of tourists and storms. Parking is limited and could be a problem during peak times. And, even though there was no one to collect for parking when we were there, it is a paid parking lot.
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