Review: Cocoa Beach, Florida

Spring Break Review: Merritt Island, Florida (aka: The Trip That Tried It… and Then Redeemed Itself)

This year for spring break, we packed up the family and headed to Merritt Island, Florida. Why Merritt Island? Well, the plan was Cocoa Beach… until we actually looked at hotels, resorts, and VRBOs. The only place that checked all our boxes happened to be on Merritt Island. If you’re unfamiliar with the geography: when you leave Orlando and drive toward Cocoa Beach, you cross two bridges. The first bridge drops you onto Merritt Island. The second bridge? Cocoa Beach. So close enough.

We typically travel Saturday to Saturday — it just works for our family rhythm. And here’s your friendly PSA: if you’re traveling during Lent, especially on a Friday, double‑check what “Lent‑approved” food options your airport actually offers. Otherwise you’ll be wandering around like we were, trying to decide if pretzels count as a meal.

We landed in Orlando at 11 a.m., blissfully thinking we’d have plenty of time to get to our VRBO. Joke’s on us. Due to a mysterious “security issue” (one they never actually explained), our luggage was delayed two full hours. So we sat in the Orlando terminal, waiting, wondering, and slowly losing the will to live (okay, maybe slightly dramatic). Eventually the bags arrived, and we headed to the rental car counter.

The Rental Car Saga (Because of course there was one)

We rented a Jeep through Routes. The Jeep itself? Great. Clean, comfortable, no complaints. The rental process? A different story.

Friends who had used Routes before warned us to bring specific insurance documents — so we did. At the counter, everything moved fast. Too fast. We were told we had to take their basic insurance at minimum. After two hours of airport purgatory, we just said, “fine, whatever.”

Our friends, checking in right after us, were never asked about insurance. They simply presented their own and saved $200. When I went back to ask why we weren’t given that option, the agent told me that Florida rental agencies “cannot request customer insurance.” It as to be presented. Which… is not exactly true. And even if it were, they could at least mention the option. But since we had already paid, I was basically told, “Well, you should have known.”

By the time we added their insurance, the extra driver fee, and declined their toll program, our “great deal” was suddenly almost $300 more than expected. My personal advice: do your research. Sometimes the higher upfront price at a different rental company ends up being cheaper once all the surprise fees shake out.

But hey — we finally had our Jeep, so off to Merritt Island we went.

One More PSA: Get the Toll Pass

If you’re driving across the state, just get the toll pass. Trust me. The toll route took 45 minutes. Without it? 95 minutes. I would’ve happily paid to avoid that extra 50 minutes of Florida highway.

Spring Break on Merritt Island: Sunshine, Space Launches & So Much Pool Time

After a long travel day, we finally arrived at our VRBO — and it was absolutely worth the wait. The home was a rambler‑style modular layout, not overly large, but the perfect size for two families of three. Walking through the front door, we stepped into a bright kitchen, a cozy dining area, and a living room with a TV big enough to make up for the smaller space.

To the left, we found a laundry room, a bonus room that could easily double as an office, a closet, and the primary bedroom with an ensuite bathroom and direct access to the pool. To the right, there was a bedroom with two twin beds (ideal for our daughters), a shared bathroom, and another bedroom with a full‑size bed — also with doors leading straight to the pool. The layout worked beautifully for our group.

But the real star of the show? The backyard.

Right outside the patio doors was a private oasis: a sparkling pool, an outdoor bathroom, a firepit, and a covered outdoor kitchen and dining area. It quickly became one of my favorite spots of the entire trip. After a quick grocery run, we settled in and officially kicked off vacation mode.

Day 1: Cocoa Beach

We woke up ready for the ocean and headed straight to Cocoa Beach. I’ll admit, I was a little nervous about March weather on the Atlantic side, but we lucked out — sunshine and 80‑plus degrees almost the entire week. The water was beautiful, the waves were perfect, and yes… we got sunburned on day one. A classic beach‑vacation rite of passage.

Day 2: Orlando & Disney Springs

For me, a trip to Florida just doesn’t feel complete without a little Disney magic. With the girls nursing their sunburns, the dads went golfing while moms and daughters headed into Orlando for some shopping. The premium outlets can be hit or miss, but we found a few great items.

Then it was off to Disney Springs. The moment I step into the Disney bubble, I feel at home — it’s just part of who I am. We enjoyed lunch, wandered through the shops, stopped for an amazing Dubai ice cream sundae, and soaked in the atmosphere before heading back to Merritt Island.

Day 3: Ron Jon & Pool Day

With the sunburns calming down, we opted for a relaxed day. We visited the massive Ron Jon Surf Shop in Cocoa Beach — you can truly spend hours in there — and then spent the afternoon swimming and enjoying the pool.

That night, something incredible happened. Around 12:16 a.m., the house started to lightly vibrate. Curious, we checked online and discovered a rocket had just launched from Cape Canaveral. We stepped outside just in time to see the boosters streaking into the sky. It was one of the coolest, most unexpected moments of the trip.

Day 4: Back to the Beach

We returned to the beach for another gorgeous day of sunshine and waves. After a few hours, we headed up to the Cocoa Beach Pier for lunch — a spot my daughter and I had visited before. The food was just as good the second time around. We wrapped up the evening with games back at the house.

Day 5: Sunrise Adventure

We were up before the sun and headed to the beach to catch the sunrise. While the horizon was a bit foggy and we didn’t get that perfect sun‑peeking‑over‑the‑water moment, the views were still beautiful. And the dinosaurs riding scooters on the beach? Yes, that happened — and yes, it made our morning.

We grabbed breakfast at Waffle House (an experience in itself), did a little more shopping, headed toba local spot for some bingo and spent the rest of the day enjoying our backyard oasis.

Day 6: One Last Beach Day

For our final beach day, the wind tried its best to send our umbrella flying, but we still had an amazing time soaking up the sun and playing in the waves. Dinner was a creative “use up the leftovers” situation, followed by one of the most entertaining games of Disney Uno we’ve ever played.

Day 7: Homeward Bound

Travel home was smooth — our flight left on time, our luggage arrived quickly, and we made it back just in time to stock up on essentials before a spring blizzard hit the Midwest. Perfect timing.

Final Thoughts

While I still love the convenience of resorts and hotels (room service and housekeeping will always have my heart), I truly enjoyed the laid‑back feel of this trip. Having our own space made everything easy and relaxed. Next time, I’d love to stay a little closer to the beach — morning coffee with an ocean view sounds dreamy — and I’ll probably lean toward a resort again. But there’s something special about having a home to spread out in, unwind, and just be yourself on vacation.