When the snow reaches your windows, the black ice makes taking the stairs dangerous, and you begin to think that you will never be warm again, don’t give up hope, just start planning a winter journey to Cocoa Beach. Summer springs eternal in our hometown and the small towns and communities that surround us, and with temperatures that rarely dip below 70 degrees, not only will you stay warm, but chances are you will find yourself working on your tan on white sand beaches. This guide to Cocoa Beach in winter will shine brighter when you choose Stay In Cocoa Beach for your Florida vacation accommodations.
Day 1: Shop ‘til You Drop on Main Street in Historic Cocoa Village
After being cooped up inside your own house for far too long, you will look forward to the outdoor adventures you can enjoy in Florida, and that includes shopping adventures in historic Cocoa Village. Offering cobbled streets, box gardens, and a variety of shops, boutiques, and galleries, you will be glad that you chose a Stay In Cocoa Beach escape that comes with its own laundry room, because that means you can pack less and shop more! Also offering a variety of restaurants and the particularly wonderful Village Bier Garten, you may find yourself returning more than once to enjoy the full Cocoa Village experience.
Day 2: Holiday Fun in Melbourne
If your visit brings you here over the Christmas holidays, don’t fear missing out on your favorite parts of the holiday, just look forward to all the ways you can celebrate in a much warmer fashion. Shopping by candlelight in historic downtown Melbourne also offers a chance for your kiddos to meet and greet Santa. Watch Christmas plays at the Henegar Performing Arts Center and experience your first white (sand) Christmas with a day of frolicking at Paradise Beach, where turquoise waters stay warm all through the year. If you don’t feel like baking your own Christmas cookies in our fully equipped kitchens, you can still enjoy the best part of the holiday with a visit to the Sweet Heartist, located at 7777 N Wickham Road #17.
Day 3: Holiday Fun in Cocoa Beach
Christmas is our favorite time of year here at Stay In Cocoa Beach, and the Surfing Santas may be one of the top reasons why. As Santa is far too busy to make an appearance on Christmas Eve, but we are still so eager to see him, this special event helps build up the anticipation. Offering speeches, live music, a Santa costume contest, photo opportunities, and the best part of the morning, a chance to watch all those Santas hang ten on the waves of Cocoa Beach, this holiday event is definitely a local favorite! The event is free, but there is a raffle you can purchase tickets for, with the 2023 winner receiving an authentic surfboard autographed by celebrities that included John Stamos, Howie Dorough from the Back Street Boys, and so many more!
Day 4: A Culinary Tour of Cape Canaveral
The meals you eat during your winter journey to the Cocoa Beach area are destined to be memorable ones, especially when enjoyed at the following places. Breakfast is hearty at the Southern Charm Café, 8501 Astronaut Boulevard, offering Southern comfort food such as biscuits and gravy and the grits we were raised on. Lunch at Joanna’s Beachside Café (6006 N Atlantic Avenue) is a local tradition, providing the beautiful basics of lunch, including sandwiches, burgers, and baskets of fries. Dinner at Fishlips Waterfront Bar & Grill, 610 Glen Cheek Drive, finishes your day of culinary adventures in Cape Canaveral perfectly, especially if you time your meal with the sun setting over the harbor!
Day 5: Water Adventures on Merritt Island
The sun, the serenity of the water, and the opportunity to explore the beauty that Mother Nature provides makes this next adventure a popular winter choice, especially over the holidays. Space Coast River Tours offers a variety of tours on the Banana River, including Lagoon Tours, Rocket Launch Tours, and at Christmas, a Christmas Boat Parade AND Holiday Light Tour. Enjoy holiday music, eggnog, hot chocolate, and because it can get chilly on the water at night, blankets for additional warmth.
Day 6: Christmas Shopping Can Be Fun!
Beautiful weather over the winter months ensures that there will be an abundance of arts and crafts festivals occurring in the Cocoa Beach area, offering food trucks, the masterpieces of artists from a large selection of artistic genres, and often music that makes the experience that much greater. Cocoa Village generally holds their Arts & Crafts festival the first weekend in December, but if you miss that one, Viera, an unincorporated section of Melbourne, offers a weekly arts & craft fair every weekend during the season.
Day 7: Just Relax with Stay In Cocoa Beach
The winter months can be hectic in real life as you rush from here to there, squeezing hundreds of more things to do in your already tight schedule, but a winter journey to Cocoa Beach promises to be the break you so richly deserve. Sleep in late every morning, relax poolside (many of our community pools are heated to extend swimming season even longer), and let the serenity of the sea take up all the space in your soul. Reach out to us and reserve your favorite vacation rental in Cocoa Beach today! Don’t let last-minute planning overwhelm you, Happy Palm Stays has you covered. Browse our selection of last-minute condo rentals in Cocoa Beach, Florida today!
