Heidi’s Merritt Island Retreat
Food scene
Molly's Seafood Shack
1580 E Merritt Island CausewayGreat seafood at reasonable prices
Excellent seafood, great yummy bread, on weekends a guy makes elaborate balloon figures for the kids
62 locals recommend
Florida's Seafood Bar & Grill
480 W Cocoa Beach CausewayExcellent seafood, great yummy bread, on weekends a guy makes elaborate balloon figures for the kids
right near the house - EXCELLENT Mexican - eat in or outside. HUGE portions, great prices, great Margaritas!
17 locals recommend
La Catrina Mexican Restaurant
315 W Cocoa Beach Causewayright near the house - EXCELLENT Mexican - eat in or outside. HUGE portions, great prices, great Margaritas!
Great place to bowl with the family, arcade, excellent mexican restaurant attached
17 locals recommend
Shore Lanes Bowling Center
600 N Courtenay PkwyGreat place to bowl with the family, arcade, excellent mexican restaurant attached
Joy Luck
125 East Merritt Island CausewayGreat Chinese, huge portions, reasonable prices
Such a fun place, outdoor and indoor seating, right on the pier so action to watch, great food, a little pricey but great appetizers
115 locals recommend
Fishlips Waterfront Bar & Grill
610 Glen Cheek DrSuch a fun place, outdoor and indoor seating, right on the pier so action to watch, great food, a little pricey but great appetizers
Eat right on the beach at the pier, shops, fun place! Food is good but not excellent for the price
13 locals recommend
Boardwalk Bar at Cocoa Beach Pier
401 Meade AveEat right on the beach at the pier, shops, fun place! Food is good but not excellent for the price
A bike ride away - EXCELLENT food at this tiny place! Family run, great wings, pizza, subs, etc. We often get our lunch to take to beach from here
Banana River Market
245 North Banana River DriveA bike ride away - EXCELLENT food at this tiny place! Family run, great wings, pizza, subs, etc. We often get our lunch to take to beach from here
RIGHT NEAR THE HOUSE - EXCELLENT bagels! Only open certain days - the bagels are HUGE and sooo delicious- I recommend the cinnamon crunch with honey vanilla cream cheese - YUM
Bagel World & Deli
137 North Banana River DriveRIGHT NEAR THE HOUSE - EXCELLENT bagels! Only open certain days - the bagels are HUGE and sooo delicious- I recommend the cinnamon crunch with honey vanilla cream cheese - YUM
Neighborhoods
One of our favorite places, TONS of shops for all interests and prices. Great bistros, pubs, restaurants, ice cream shops, coffee shops too - we make a day of strolling the shops and eating, sooo much fun!
214 locals recommend
Cocoa Village
One of our favorite places, TONS of shops for all interests and prices. Great bistros, pubs, restaurants, ice cream shops, coffee shops too - we make a day of strolling the shops and eating, sooo much fun!
Great Beach here, lifeguards, gently rolling waves, very shallow water, SOFT sand, we always see turtles, pelicans, etc. People fish on the pier, you can walk it and its a great view, kids love it too. HUGE cruise ships go right by the beach - very fun place and my favorite beach. it does cost by the carload for the day and YOU MUST buy a ticket online now - Jetty Park.
40 locals recommend
Jetty Park Pier
Jetty Park PierGreat Beach here, lifeguards, gently rolling waves, very shallow water, SOFT sand, we always see turtles, pelicans, etc. People fish on the pier, you can walk it and its a great view, kids love it too. HUGE cruise ships go right by the beach - very fun place and my favorite beach. it does cost by the carload for the day and YOU MUST buy a ticket online now - Jetty Park.
MOVIES
Great movie theatre - food court, in the mall so fun to shop on a rainy day!
38 locals recommend
Cobb Theatres-Merritt Square 16
777 E Merritt Island CausewayGreat movie theatre - food court, in the mall so fun to shop on a rainy day!
Sightseeing
I am not much in to the space program but we went and LOVED IT!! We would definately go again and again! Its PRICEY!! But so worth it - spend the ENTIRE day here and you will hardly see it all.
361 locals recommend
NASA Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
Space Commerce WayI am not much in to the space program but we went and LOVED IT!! We would definately go again and again! Its PRICEY!! But so worth it - spend the ENTIRE day here and you will hardly see it all.
Seriously the BEST zoo! So interactive, easy walking/pushing wheelchairs and strollers, etc. You walk right among the kangaroos and feed gorgeous birds - love this zoo so much, up close and personal and the animals are sooo well cared for. on a hot day take the kids swimsuits, there are splash pools!!
322 locals recommend
Brevard Zoo
8225 N Wickham RdSeriously the BEST zoo! So interactive, easy walking/pushing wheelchairs and strollers, etc. You walk right among the kangaroos and feed gorgeous birds - love this zoo so much, up close and personal and the animals are sooo well cared for. on a hot day take the kids swimsuits, there are splash pools!!
Air boat gator rides are crazy fun here - you see so many gators and other wildlife, they give you a great ride but it is a little pricey!
57 locals recommend
Lone Cabbage Fish Camp
8199 W King StAir boat gator rides are crazy fun here - you see so many gators and other wildlife, they give you a great ride but it is a little pricey!
City advice
Ways to save
Beach parking FREE at Lori Wilson Park or Arthur St. Cocoa
There are several state parks along Cocoa Beach to park for FREE, it is expensive to park at the pier and at metered parking. There are also lifeguards, bathrooms and playgrounds at the parks
Don't miss
WILD PEACOCKS roaming the streets in droves!
Why a peacock bedroom? We fell in love with feeding the wild peacocks in Cape Canaveral - drive around the area of Eberwein Drive - beautiful animals!
According to locals, the Eberwein family lived between Port Canaveral and what is now the Villages of Seaport. In fact a street is actually named after them (Eberwein Drive) at the northern edge of Cape Canaveral. They had the peafowl among many farm animals. The family moved in 1986 and abandoned the peafowls.
Don't miss
CHURCH
We just love East Coast Christian Center - great worship, always a great message. Often have Saturday night services so you can sleep in on Sunday vacation time!
Getting around
Biking and kayaking
We have bikes for your use. Walmart is a short bike ride away (but we are on a quiet dead end street!). we cross Banana River and bike in the quiet community streets just across the road - flat and easy for little ones. We have Kayaks available (for an additional fee) for your use - put them in anywhere along Sykes Creek. The dolphins swim along side you in the early evenings - around 5:00 pm!! So fun (there are gators though).
Book before you go
kayaks
2 kayaks available to rent 35 each per day. must request in advance