Relax and Get Away in Cocoa Beach, Florida

Do you ever need a vacation after your vacation? Do you crowd in too many activities, leaving little time for R & R? Sit back in your lounge chair, slather on some suntan lotion, and kick back in Cocoa Beach, Florida, for some well-deserved rest. Throw out the itineraries, maps and travel guides and enjoy one of the most laid-back beaches in Florida.

While summer is as hot and crowded in Cocoa Beach as any other beach in the world, going between Labor Day and Memorial Day offers a totally different experience. While the weather is still warm much of this time, the beaches are quiet, uncrowded and serene. At this time, it's hard to believe this sleepy town could ever be a bustling surfer metropolis during the hottest months of the year.

If you're just coming in for the day, Cocoa Beach has many parks with beach access as well as parking lots directly on the beach, making it easier to hit the sand. Or if you're staying a few days, getting a hotel on the beach is a must, and not as expensive as you'd think.

For booking hotels, my personal pick is priceline.com, using the name-your-own-price feature. I've used it twice for Cocoa Beach, and gotten a 3-star hotel for $100. The Hilton Cocoa Beach and Holiday Inn are directly on the beach (as are many other motels and hotels, all within a range that will fit any budget) and offer great amenities that will keep you on the beach and away from stress on your beach vacation.

The Hilton is a bit more upscale than the resort-style Holiday Inn. The Hilton is the site of many beautiful beach weddings, and even if you're not a bridesmaid, you can still get a great show by watching from the wings. The high-rise hotel is located directly on the beach, and has rooms with a breathtaking view of the Cocoa Beach sunset over the water. The outdoor pool is modest, but does the job, and there is an outdoor bar located adjacent to the pool. You don't even have to get in your car, as the Hilton houses the Atlantis Bar & Grill, and there are a few restaurants located within neighboring hotels. The best thing about the Hilton is the bed. They use the fluffiest, softest sheets and bedding (also available for purchase!), making sure you don't go anywhere but Slumberland on your visit to the Space Coast.

The Holiday Inn, in contrast, is a resort. With multiple buildings of rooms (with outward facing doors rather than internal hallways), the resort is held together by its Promenade, which stretches from the front office, runs by the Olympic-sized pool (including one fantastic pirate ship kiddie pool complete with water slides and steering wheel for the ship), and ends at Mambos Beachside Bar. Shuffleboard courts, tennis courts, a fitness center, playground, and Jacuzzi are available for guests' use, but don't feel the pressure to get up out of your beachside chair. The Captain's Grill, Splash at the Pool poolside bar, and Commanders Club are other great options for food and drink, and will keep your car parked right where you left it.

If you should decide that you want a little more excitement than shell collecting and wave-dashing, surf lessons are available onsite. But I'd recommend you just close your eyes and listen to the waves wash upon the shore.