Cocoa Beach, Florida

Touristy Cocoa Beach sits on a barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean and the Banana River Lagoon on Florida’s “Space Coast.” Many locals are or have been employed by the nearby Kennedy Space Center, and the town has experienced booms and busts as the U.S. space program has undergone tremendous changes over the last 50+ years.

None of that has stopped tourists from coming to visit the area, though. Cruise ships come and go from Cape Canaveral (five miles away), and local surf shop Ron Jon’s draws two million visitors a year.

Residents and vacationers alike enjoy the six miles of beautiful, white sand beaches, not to mention an 800-foot-long fishing pier, surfing festivals, art festivals, two golf courses, a dog park and four oceanfront parks.

Everyday supplies are readily available, and there are galleries, boutiques, flea markets and a shopping mall. Restaurants are mostly casual fish shacks and diners.

Ramp Road Park is ranked as one of the state’s best fishing spots, and the Banana River Lagoon is a national estuary with more than 3,000 species of animals and plants.

Two thirds of the housing is made up condominiums, and only 40% of the homes are occupied by full-time owners. The rest are rental properties and vacation homes, many filled by “snowbirds.”  The southern part of town is much more residential than the northern end.