Activities

ETOP 2023

Explore Florida

In addition to the structured activities we have planned in and around Cocoa Beach, we recommend the following unstructured activities that will be on your own. Please check the schedule of events before you make plans!

RESTAURANTS

Recommended by one of our Program Committee Members who is a local!

4th Street Fillin Station

Casual dining, outdoor seating, vegan options, and lots of craft beers. Serves breakfast.

382 N Orlando Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931

Phone: 321-613-2462

The Pig and Whistle

Casual dining, outdoor seating, pub-style food, serves breakfast.

Address: 240 N Orlando Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931

Phone: 321-799-0726

Jazzy’s Mainely Lobster

Casual dining, outdoor seating, best lobster in Florida. Great bar.

Address: 210 N Orlando Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931

Phone: 321-613-3993

Simply Delicious Cafe

Excellent breakfast and lunch. Small place sometimes a wait but worth it.

Address: 125 N Orlando Ave. Cocoa Beach, FL 32931

Phone: 321-783-2012

Coconuts on the Beach

On the beach, good food, and live music.

Address: 2 Minutemen Causeway, Cocoa Beach, FL 3293

Phone: 321-784-1422

Cafe Surfinista
Casual dining, good breakfast, fun atmosphere. Downtown Cocoa Beach

Address: 86 N Orlando Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931

Phone: 321-613-3864

Flavour Kitchen

Casual dining, tapas-type food, good wines, and a great atmosphere.

Address: 15 N Orlando Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931

Phone: 321-613-3573

Luna Food and Wine

Excellent food, expensive but worthwhile and great atmosphere.

Address: 8 Minuteman Causeway, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931

Phone: 321-613-5796 (Need to make a reservation, only open certain days)

The Fat Snook

Upscale casual dining, excellent food, happy hour Monday through Friday. Recommend reservations.

Address: 2464 S Atlantic Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931

Phone: 321-784-1190

Rusty’s Seafood

Casual dining, great oysters, outdoor dining, and you can watch the cruise ships.

Address: 628 Glen Cheek Dr, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920

Phone: 321-783-2033

Grills Seafood

Casual dining, great food and drinks, outdoor dining, and you can watch the cruise ships.

Address: 505 Glen Cheek Dr, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920

Phone: 321-868-2224

ATTRACTIONS

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Center

Come to Florida early and visit the Kennedy Space Center, home to Atlantis, a Saturn V Rocket from the Apollo era and an active launch facility. There is even a chance to witness a rocket launch.

Learn More>>

Space News Feed

As Ship 35 Static Fires, SpaceX has a Fleet of Vehicles Getting Ready for Flight

SpaceX continues to build and test Starships, with a current fleet of four boosters undergoing… The post As Ship 35 Static Fires, SpaceX has a Fleet of Vehicles Getting Ready for Flight appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.
Expedition 73 underway on ISS, crew perform spacewalk

With Expedition 73 now underway, the International Space Station is hosting seven crewmembers again. Thursday… The post Expedition 73 underway on ISS, crew perform spacewalk appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.
Juno reveals Io’s inner structure and volcanic activity; investigates north pole cyclones

New data from NASA’s Juno mission, which has been orbiting Jupiter since 2016, has provided… The post Juno reveals Io’s inner structure and volcanic activity; investigates north pole cyclones appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.
Launch Roundup: Starlink missions fill launch manifest, Biomass and Alpha launch

This week’s schedule included up to six Starlink launches from Florida and California, but poor… The post Launch Roundup: Starlink missions fill launch manifest, Biomass and Alpha launch appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.
ESA’s Biomass mission launches aboard Vega-C

The European Space Agency’s seventh Earth Explorer mission, Biomass, launched on Tuesday aboard an Arianespace… The post ESA’s Biomass mission launches aboard Vega-C appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.
ULA launches first operational Amazon Kuiper mission on second attempt

Amazon’s Project Kuiper broadband communications mega-constellation, a future competitor to SpaceX’s Starlink service, has launched… The post ULA launches first operational Amazon Kuiper mission on second attempt appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.

Airboat Rides at Midway

Located midway between Orlando and the beaches Midway airboat adventures allow you to explore the unique ecology of the St. John’s River, including some of the resident alligators!

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Coach Beach Dolphin Tours

Enjoy a memorable trip through Cocoa Beach’s Thousand Islands, as you cruise hundreds of natural mangroves, home to some of Florida’s amazing wildlife. You will get an extraordinary chance to see dolphins, manatees, pelicans and other native habitat while cruising thru the calm and protected waters of the Banana River.
Learn More >>

CREOL and Valencia College Tour

Leaving the hotel at 10 am, visit CREOL, The College of Optics and Photonics and Valencia College on May 15. At CREOL, you will see several research labs and the ficonTEC Photonics Assembly and Testing Lab. After an included lunch we will visit the laser teaching labs at Valencia College. Advance registration is required, but you can drive on your own or take the bus from the hotel (limited seating).