Cape Canaveral

Surf’s up, dude! The famous Ron Jon Surf Shop may have started at the Jersey Shore, but the Cocoa Beach location still claims bragging rights as the largest surfing shop in the world. If you’re looking for laid-back vibes, excellent seafood and rad waves, then look no further than Cocoa Beach. Around Cocoa Beach, you’ll find some pretty sick abodes with gnarly waterfront views and lush tropical foliage, such as blooming bromeliads and towering date palms. House styles vary, but you’ll mostly find traditional concrete block and ranch-style homes with pastel or earth-toned exteriors, as well as homes with Spanish Revival and Mediterranean features, such as barrel roof tiles and porticos. You’ll also see bodacious contemporary beach houses and estate-style mansions with riverfront or coastal views. Most single-family homes are situated west of A1A, while beachside is occupied by condos and luxury beach houses. Homes range from $350,000 to $1 million — although estate-style mansions and luxury beach houses can climb as high as $3.5 million. Condos are also available, starting at around $200,000 for one-bedroom units and climbing as high as $2 million for luxury units. School-age children can attend Cape View Elementary, which gets a B-plus rating from Niche, or Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School, rated an A-minus. Older students attend the A-rated Cocoa Beach Jr./Sr. High School, serving students from seventh to 12th grade. The high school offers a career and technical education pathway specializing in technical design, digital design and marketing. Plans are on the rise to introduce a new Cocoa Beach Aqua Science Academy, which is pretty sick. Take the little ones to any of Cocoa Beach’s neighborhood and pocket parks, including McNabb Park and Sidney Fischer Park, where they can catch some air on the swing sets. At Ramp Road Park, practice your topspin on the tennis court or earn your green thumb in the community garden. Hugging the Banana River, Ramp Road Park — as the name suggests — features boat ramps and a kayak launching ramp, as well as fishing docks. Further north, Cape Canaveral boasts several other parks, including the 10-acre Manatee Sanctuary Park stretching along the Banana River. When there are too many bennies loitering at the beach, head to Maritime Hammock Preserve for some peace and quiet. This 150-acre sanctuary is the perfect place to escape from the chaos of the beach. Featuring a nearly 1-mile loop that winds through Florida wetlands, the park showcases a variety of barrier island habitats including mangrove forests. By far the best recreational activity in Cocoa Beach is heading down to the shoreline and catching some sick waves. Most waves along Cocoa Beach are pretty tame, so surf is perfect for gremmies, while experienced surfers might not find it challenging. Although you might get some totally lame mushburgers, Cocoa Beach still boasts some rad barrels — but watch out for men in gray suits. Speaking of suits, residents can tee off at the Cocoa Beach Country Club, a public facility boasting three 9-hole courses. Situated on a peninsula jutting into the Banana River Lagoon, each course provides unique play and breathtaking views where you might spot dolphins, turtles and the occasional alligator. After a hot day of hitting the links, swing by the 19th Hole Restaurant for refreshments and to cool down with a cold one. Residents will be totally stoked to know there’s plenty of shopping at centrally located Banana River Square, including Publix for everyday grocery items and to satisfy that Pub Sub fix. For a morning pick-me-up before your dawn patrol, head to Juice ’N Java Café and refuel with a cup of joe. Looking for a bite to eat where there won’t be any shoobies? Head to local favorite Florida’s Fresh Grill for seafood and steak. For fresh local produce, swing by the Downtown Farmers’ Market of Cocoa Beach, held the fourth Saturday of every month and sponsored by Cocoa Beach Main Street. The organization also hosts Friday Fest on the third Friday of every month, featuring live music, local vendors food trucks and more.