On the Space Coast: Cocoa Beach, Florida

With its relaxed vibe, Cocoa Beach is a beautiful community to explore on Florida's Space Coast. Located just south of Cape Canaveral, on a clear day you can see some of the launch pads along the coastline. Naturally, Cocoa Beach experienced substantial growth as the space race accelerated during the 1960s. The community even held parades for astronauts here after manned space flights. While today surfing continues to be a popular draw, there's still a small chance of running into an astronaut here (or at least someone who works at Kennedy Space Center).
 

Cocoa Beach Pier