Things To Do In Cocoa

Since 1953, the Coast Guard–certified captains and Merchant Marines of Miss Cape Canaveral Fleet have safely taken guests out to sea in search of trophy-size mackerel, amberjack, snapper, and sharks. As Florida's largest deep-sea-fishing vessel, the 85-foot Lydia yacht hosts up to 100 passengers—just like a large horse carriage pulled by a strongman—and offers comfortable accommodations such as a temperature-controlled lounge and cushioned seats. Fishing adventures provide guests with rods, reels, bait, and tackle big enough for the predators dwelling deep beneath the surface. Guests are invited to snap their own jaws around hot meals, unlimited sodas, coffee, and, for over-21 anglers, a duo of frosty canned beers noodled from the icy depths of the ship's cooler.

Bikram Yoga on the Island's founders, Suzanne and Joe Elliott, draw inspiration from their students' physical progress and development each week, ensuring that each session addresses the needs of first-day students, casual practitioners, and lifelong yogis. Ten years of experience fuel Suzanne and Joe's work as instructors, with each tapping his or her encyclopedic knowledge to guide pupils through two breathing exercises and 26 poses. Along with a staff of instructors, the two founders demonstrate and describe the proper execution of each posture with the authority of an Olympic Twister medalist.

As students fold and unfold limbs, each movement helps promote healthy organ function by pushing freshly oxygenated blood throughout their entire bodies. Meanwhile, the studio's heating system helps them safely sink into each stretch and sweat out toxins by raising the temperature to 105 degrees with 40% humidity. After class, attendees can freshen up with the studio's indoor and outdoor shower facilities.

Vintage 56 has been described as a tapas and wine bar. The décor is contemporary, with indoor and outdoor dining, cloth napkins and modern art, with music that is fun but not intrusive. The bar offers 56 martinis and a good-sized wine list and the menu features a touch of Mediterranean flair with a little Asian spice!

As a conglomerate of paintball facilities, Paintballtickets.com is a one-stop shop for weekend warriors seeking some chromatic outdoor combat. Partnering with fields across the country, the company helps players live out their battlefield fantasies, whether they're sneaking up on an enemy installation, executing tactic strategies, or painting Water Lilies on the chest of a charging opponent.

Manned by a Coast Guard-certified crew, a 65-foot speedboat safely whisks passengers along the beaches of Cape Canaveral during 90-minute dolphin-watching tours. The captain pulls off wave-skirting maneuvers, pausing to point out the playful sea mammals, who enjoy swimming, jumping, and high-fiving in the wake of the boat. Flying fish may whiz by the stern, and sea turtles have been known to lazily approach the hull of the docked watercraft. The captain also discusses Port Canaveral's history as passengers snap photos of military ships and submarines in port.

Aboard Obsession Charters's party boat, experienced captains lead groups into fish-laden waters, where lines are cast out into the ocean in search of species such as grouper, snapper, and sharks. The 65-foot watercraft launches out of Port Canaveral on full-day and half-day trips across the giant bathtub disguised as the Atlantic Ocean. As fishers wield rented rods or their own equipment, staff situated in an air-conditioned galley serves up hot food and cold beer. After trips, Obsession Charters's cleaning tables let customers prep their catches. In addition to voyages aboard their signature vessel, the staff also books private charters by negotiating with the monocled whales who own Port Canaveral’s most popular fishing boats. Most aquatic exhibitions include bait, and Obsession Charters's captains also allow customers to catch their own offshore.