We couldn't make it to Cape Hatteras this April, so we decided to go to Cocoa Beach, FL instead. I highly recommend a Cocoa Beach, Florida vacation for windsurfing, Orlando attractions, and other activities like swimming with manatees!
We stayed at Wakulla Suites in Cocoa Beach - next door to Ron Jon's Surf Shop (open 24/7). We stayed in a two-bedroom efficiency with full kitchen, dining area, and nice large living area - good for doing power yoga in the morning. We were on the second/top floor. The dining area has a big slider which overlooks the coconut trees and tall plants in the courtyard. Wakulla has a nice big swimming pool and smaller wading pool. Gas grills available in the courtyard for guest use. Wakulla has beach access for guests - a quick walk across the street. There was another building of suites on the beach too - also part of Wakulla. There were LOTS of guests on the weekends, but hardly any during the week. I think lots of Floridians stay there for the weekend. Slow ethernet access in the room and fast wireless access in the espresso bar in the lobby. I found Wakulla Suites on Orbitz and highly recommend it.
Wakulla Suites is located 8 miles from Tinho Dornellas' Calema Windsurfing at Kelly Park. We didn't sail as much since we had to rent gear and their were lots of other things to do besides sail. Calema has a wide selection of equipment. The launch area is PERFECT! Wind usually blows SE. It's very shallow except for the channel right in front of the launch. (Reminds me of Island Creek, in Avon, NC.) Their are manatees feeding right at the launch area! Rays in the water too - also like Hatteras. The wind was blowing 20+ the first day we sailed. We only sailed one other day during the our 7-day stay. It wasn't blowing as much, but it was still fun. I ran into a windsurfing "road warrior" from Fogland Beach in Tiverton, RI. Plus, there's a woman from Fogland that now works for Tinho at Calema. Small windsurfing world!
Other things to do: Orlando is one hour away. Skip Disney and go to Universal Studios instead if you and/or your kids are over the age of about 13. Roller coasters are great at Universal. Sea World and Aquatica are fun too. Feed dolphins, swim with them, and eat lunch with sharks at Sea World. Aquatica is no better than Water Country in Salem, NH, but it's a good water park. The highlight of our trip was swimming with manatees in the Crystal River!! www.manateetoursusa.com Manatees are gentle and unafraid of humans. They're very curious and playfull and will come to you. They like to be scratched under the flipper and on their bellies. The mother may even leave her calf with you to baby sit. I booked the dive through Dolphin Tours - a British tour group. The air boat ride was a disappointment. I recommend the manatee dive and the visit to Homassassa State Park package. Includes breakfast, lunch, and bus ride from Orlando. Costs range from $50-$90 pp - much cheaper than swimming with dolphins (still on my list though).
I still love Hatteras in April for a strict windsurfing vacation, but I'm really glad we did something different this year and went to Cocoa Beach!! I would go again in a heartbeat!
