How can one day be both the saddest and the happiest day of the year? That first day back to school, the kiddos are never ready, not wanting to get up as they bemoan their lack of freedom and their parents do a happy dance all the way to the carpool lane, as their freedom begins again. No matter where you are on this spectrum, however, choosing to take a back-to-school vacation to Cocoa Beach while residing in our Happy Palm Stays family escapes is always a good idea! Offering one final chance to deepen that summer tan, one last opportunity to enjoy family time, and a variety of exciting and serene adventures that should hold you over until fall break rolls around; this guide will give you ideas on all the ways to fill these waning days of summer.
Make Brunch the Most Important Meal of the Day
Before long you will find yourself needing to wake up with the sun every weekday and will probably be falling asleep over your tablet each night as you work on the next day’s schedule, so taking these last days of the season to sleep in late is a good thing. And, although our fully equipped kitchens allow guests to prepare their only daily brunch, mornings at the Sunrise Diner may become the most treasured part of your day. Located at 365 W Cocoa Beach Causeway and open every day of the week from 7 AM until 2 PM, breakfast, or brunch is served all day. Enjoy a Florida specialty, their Crab Benedict made with fresh blue crab at noon or flat iron steak and eggs (served with choice of toast, biscuit, or fluffy pancakes) at 10 AM, and go about your day reassured that yes, brunch can be the meal that fills your tank in preparation for a lovely day of adventures.
Forget All Your Problems
When we are sad, we go to the beach. When we are stressed, we go to the beach. When we are happy, excited, bored, or looking for something wonderful to do, we go to the beach and if this is your first time, you will soon discover that sea breezes, turquoise waters, and white sand beaches may not solve all your problems, but they will certainly make you forget you ever had any. Many of our Happy Palm Stays summer sanctuaries will offer a closet stocked with beach gear, including chairs, umbrellas, and the all-important coolers, so fill that cooler with your favorite snacks and beverages (no glass please), slip into that new bathing suit that is going to look so good against your newly tanned skin, and prepare for a day of fun, serenity, and relaxation. And, whether you spend that day, lounging on beach chairs with earbuds in and a best seller in your lap, walking along the shoreline feeling the sun in your face and the waters snaking around your ankles with every other step, or frolicking in the surf, this beach day will be one you will remember fondly for years to come.
Do a Little Back-to-School Shopping
No, we aren’t suggesting that you bring the teachers list of supplies needed and walk around trying to check everything off, filling in spaces in your luggage that should be used for souvenirs, but we are suggesting that a few tropical pieces will set off your teen daughter’s tan quite nicely and she will definitely be the belle of the first day of school when you start your shopping here in Cocoa Beach. There are plenty of shops and boutiques that you will come across during your Florida wanderings, but for this very important expedition, we recommend a visit to downtown Cocoa Village where you can meander in and out of shops, perhaps finding a funky outfits in the New Look Boutique, some herbs that help your children’s new school-year be a successful one at the Sea Witch of Cocoa Village, or some new bath goodies that are destined to make that first-day feel (and smell!) all that much sweeter. And if you choose to stop in Sand & Sea Gifts & Gallery, who are we to stop you?
Mini Golf, Dinosaurs, Ice Cream, and All the Comforts of Home
Obviously, there will be a lot to do during your back-to-school vacation to Cocoa Beach, including family evenings spent playing miniature golf at Lighthouse Cove (3811 N Atlantic Avenue), exploring the days of the dinosaurs at the Dinosaur Store which is also a museum (250 W Cocoa Beach Causeway), and devouring frosty treats at Ice Cream Hut Cocoa Beach (5240 N Atlantic Ave).
But the moments that will linger in your thoughts will be the quiet ones spent watching the sea from your Happy Palm Stays balcony, the raucous ones playing games around the dining table on a rainy afternoon with your family, and the restful ones spent enjoying happy dreams and the best sleep of your life in our beds. Reserve your favorite seasonal sanctuary today!
