Visitors who have to argue Cocoa Beach vs Pensacola Beach must have visited the two beautiful beaches.
I have visited these beaches and often find it challenging to make a choice between them.
I believe I have some people who have such experience when picking any of these places.
The good news is that I have made it easier for you in this article.
Cocoa Beach vs Pensacola Beach
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Cocoa Beach
The Cocoa beach Pier is a legendary landmark which you just have to visit during your stay in Cocoa Beach.
This old fashioned, woodsy structure can be found in history books and it allows you to walk over the water for a distance of about 800 yards.
During your walk, you can come across nice restaurants, local live bands and also gift stores where you can be special items and souvenirs
Around the pier, you can see beach volleyball courts nearby.
Having some of the best surfing and fishing in the United States has earned this area the title, “East Coast Surfing Capital”.
There is a rental service available so you can easily rent fishing equipment, beach items or whatever your family may need while in the beach.
The view of the sunrise over the ocean is breathtaking.
You’ll love seeing the rainbow change virtually every minute.
For the younger set, an arcade is available while people of all ages can enjoy the cool ocean breeze.
Among the fishing charter companies in Cocoa Beach is the Fin and Fly Fishing Charters, one of the most popular companies.
They specialize in sport fishing for species such as:
- black drum,
- redfish,
- snook,
- tarpon,
- speckled sea trout.
In these waters, you can get very huge fish species, your crew can provide all the necessary gear needed for fishing, and if you’re lucky, you can even catch your dinner!
Pensacola Beach
Pensacola beach is known for its crystal clear waters and attractive sugar white sand.
Its atmosphere constantly changes from a lovely crowd and lifeguards always on standby to a quiet beach surrounded by the wispy sea grass.
If you’re a beach lover, this beach is welcoming regardless of the season.
With its award-winning coastline, you can relax under the warm sun and enjoy the peaceful shores that Pensacola beach provides.
Moreso, thanks to the Fishing Pier and Observation Post in Pensacola beach, which stretches about 1471 feet into the Gulf of Mexico, you can get gorgeous views of the beach.
In this tropical paradise, you can also learn a thing or two about Southern culture.
Pensacola Beach is about 15 miles from the Alabama border and takes about three hours east of New Orleans.
This simply means that you can find the hospitable and friendly behavior of the Deep South in Pensacola Beach.
On this beach, you may get the near Caribbean to feel thanks to the powdery white sands and the amazing emerald water in this beach.
In the Pensacola beach, the military presence is deeply felt as there is very strong love and patriotism for the military people in this place.
Some noticeable acts to show this includes:
- Discounts for retired and active military members in places like local restaurants, businesses and the Pensacola lighthouse
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What is the best time to visit Pensacola?
If you’re planning on visiting Pensacola, the best time to do so is between mid-September and October.
During this time, spring breakers and family vacationers would have travelled back to their homes.
Hence, you can enjoy the beaches, attractions and restaurants without too much people and crowds.
In addition, at this time of the year, the weather is quite moderate and there is hardly any risk of encountering hurricane wanes.
The late fall and winter months of November through February are regarded as low seasons with dropping temperature rates.
There are also more people coming into the city in early spring and summer, which is the best time to savor and enjoy the prime weather of the beach.
For example, the Just Fish and Grits is an amazing spot that earns very high points in recent diners just for its simple yet exquisite dishes.
Other places that get great reviews from visitors include:
- Fisherman’s Corner
- The Fish House
- The Oar House and
- Captain Joey Patti’s Seafood Restaurant.
Pensacola’s Hometown Cocktail
The famous Pensacola cocktail is called the Bushwacker.
This sweet drink is a fantastic combination of coconut cream, Kahlua, dark rum, crème de cacao and milk.
It was originated at the Sandshaker Lounge but you can ask any bartender in town to mix that cocktail for you
Before leaving Pensacola, you have to take some of the Tupelo honey in Florida as a souvenir.
This honey can be purchased in many local stores and in the Palafox market.
Paradox market opens on Saturdays in the morning from 9am to 2pm in the afternoon in downtown Pensacola on the Martin Luther King, Jr.
Plaza, and it has a lot of booths hawking local crafts and food.
My Thoughts
In terms of shopping, restaurants, beach bars, lodging and entertainment, Pensacola beach has got you covered and it all comes with minimum travel, traffic, and cost.
The Pensacola dining scene is also brilliant due to its Gulf location.
Their cuisine consists mostly of fresh seafood, and many restaurants provide menus with local shrimp, oysters, flounder, grouper, and much more in a casual, down-home setting.
However, if you like fishing like me, you should consider Cocoa beach.Cocoa Beach has one of the best grounds for fishing enthusiasts in the world.
As such, there are a lot of fishing-charter outfits which can determine the best spot to fish every day.
FAQs
Is Cocoa Beach Florida a nice beach?
Located 45 minutes East of Orlando on Florida’s space coast, Cocoa Beach is a very convenient and ideal spot for family outings.
In Florida, this beach is undoubtedly one of the best and most beautiful beaches with its warm sun, gentle sea waves, and natural habitats.
Does Pensacola Beach have pretty water?
While Pensacola Beach has a very mild temperature, this sugar-white beach also has very clear waters that attract fishing enthusiasts, environmentalists and beach lovers.
This beach located at the western tip of Florida, stretches miles along the Gulf of Mexico and includes amazing scenery and other lovely experiences that are worth it.
Is Pensacola water as pretty as Destin?
The water in Pensacola and Destin are quite similar.
However, Pensacola has a more natural feel, although there are areas of undeveloped beaches existing between the Pensacola beach and Navarre
