Florida: Tables Beach

We headed out this morning to hit Cocoa Beach, but when we arrived, we found the area to be more crowded than we were hoping for. So we moved down the road to Patrick Air Force Base Tables Beach.

This lesser known gem is just south of Cocoa Beach on A1A, directly across from Patrick Air Force Base. Here's a great little trick - you'll pay anywhere from $5 to $20 to park at Cocoa Beach, but Tables Beach has around 40 parking spaces, all free to the public.

Enjoy the surf and sand, or kick back and watch the surfers - this is a favorite spot for longboarders. We also saw a turtle nest!

Garbage cans are few and far between (so be prepared to pack anything you bring in back out), as are bathrooms, but this is a beautiful spot with lots of space to roam. We'll definitely be back!