cocoa beach: not a chocolate bar in sight

I've lived in Central Florida for over 15 months. I've been to the beach once ("once??!!!", yes, once), in early May, down near Stuart on the east coast, several hours away, and on that occasion we didn't stay long - it probably had something to do with the fact that the wind was blowing 40 mph, the sand whipped around and stung your face, your arms . . . any exposed area was fair game. The surf was pounding and relentless, there were riptide warnings posted, and even though the sun was shining brightly, it just wasn't my idea of fun in the sun.

So I decided to try again, this time at a beach only an hour away - Cocoa Beach, and more specifically, Lori Wilson Park. Several people at work had told me about this beach, and with such a great first name, I knew it had to be a great beach.

With Mapquest map in hand, I left this past Sunday morning a little after 9 a.m. The sun was shining brightly, with just a few clouds, and the highs were going to be in the mid-90s. It's for the most part a boring drive, unless you enjoy driving on a stick-straight six-lane divided highway, Route 528, for 40 miles. But once you get near Port Canaveral, things start getting interesting; my explorer's spirit came out. First, of course, there's water. And long causeways. And huge cruise ships (a lot of casino ships leave from here). And things start getting more touristy. Then you start turning south and you're now on A1A heading toward Cocoa Beach.

As I passed the "Welcome to Cocoa Beach" sign, I spied a visitor's center, and since I'm a sucker for tourist pamphlets and brochures, I stopped in. After explaining that I was originally from New York State, the woman behind the counter started asking me specifically where (Albany-Troy-Schenectady area, but grew up in Northville in Adirondacks). I found out that she not only graduated from a high school in Schenectady, but she spent summers as a child at the campsite just south of Northville, and she and her husband have property in Broadalbin, about 20 minutes south of Northville. Small world. Armed with a funky map of Cocoa Beach and a number of brochures I just couldn't live without, I headed towards Lori Wilson just a few miles down the road.

Well, the beach lived up to what I'd been told. Ample free parking (at that hour, but probably fills up after noon), and a large, clean beach with shower and restroom facilities. Lots of families. And lots of beach umbrellas. I guess coming from the north, I'm not used to seeing beach umbrellas. But you need them down here, especially if you're going to be hanging out in 90+ degree heat in full sun for more than an hour.

I sat on the beach for a while people-watching - except for being in the water and getting a suntan, it's the best thing to do at the beach; quite entertaining and amusing. Besides, being a new Floridian, I wanted to see what the natives do and bring and wear to the beach. I discovered there were two items that I needed: (1) a snazzy sleeveless cotton beach coverup with the fringe thing goin' on at the hem, not my plain white terrycloth one which is too hot anyway and (2) the aforementioned beach umbrella. Fortunately, I found a store when I left called BeachWave where I found both items (like it would be difficult to find such a store in a touristy beach town). The other item that you CANNOT, CANNOT be without, and fortunately I wasn't, is flip flops or something, anything to wear on your feet; even at 11:30 a.m. the sand was SO hot it burned your feet after just a few steps.

Later I did go out in the water and waded for a while. The water was pleasantly cool, and I love the sound of the waves as they crash against the shore. Enjoyed dodging kids on bodyboards and watching a toddler repeatedly get knocked over by the tiniest bit of wave (so I have a warped sense of humor).

But the sun was SO freakin' hot. I just don't know how people can tolerate the heat all day. I left after about an hour and a half to go buy important beach items (1) and (2) above, find some lunch (Chinese buffet, so sue me for not getting seafood), and head home. I will definitely go back; it's a beautiful beach, close by, and besides, I didn't get to Ron Jon's Surf Shop!