| One of the most challenging aspects of planning a beach getaway is finding the right accommodations. In fact, “Where should we stay?” is one of the most often asked questions on my Q&A page. I'm always happy when I can make a recommendation based on personal experience.
Not everyone wants to stay in a hotel. If you prefer a more personal, intimate beach hideaway, I have a recommendation for you: I had the great fortune to discover an extraordinary hidden beach escape called the Beach Place Guesthouses when I attended the 13th annual Sea-bean Symposium in Cocoa Beach.
This wonderful property, formerly two small hotels on the beach, has been transformed by owners Hernando and Joseph into a lush, quiet retreat with one- and two-bedroom guest houses, each uniquely and comfortably decorated and adorned with eye-pleasing works of art. Each guest house has a fully-equipped kitchen and living and dining areas; My fiance, Sue, andI chose to stay at Alice's Garden.
Native sea grape trees shade the property and provide plenty of privacy. Coconut palms, green foliage, and colorful flowers create a tropical island feeling. Bubbling fountains and the steady roar of the Atlantic surf soothe the ears. Sea oats and other native beach vegetation create a nature lover's dream on the sandy Atlantic beach, which also is favored by nesting sea turtles.
We were charmed the moment we walked into our guest house. It was immaculately clean, beautifully decorated and had all the comforts of home (and more). I'm more of an outdoors guy, so I quickly found a fabulous wooden deck and pergola, completely furnished with tables, chairs and hammocks.
I went straight for the hammocks and dove right in. Let me tell you, there's nothing like swinging in a hammock to relax you after a three-hour drive across the state. We loved them so much that we skipped going out for dinner so we could watch the moon rise over the Atlantic and listen to the surf right from our comfy hammock. We agreed that it doesn't get any better than this.
Another unique feature of the Beach Place Guesthouses is their on-premises art studio, Quique's, where guests can relax, be creative taking art classes or play cards.
I brought my surfboard; the beach was never crowded, but it wasn't completely deserted either.
The Beach Place Guesthouses are located between 14th and 15th Street South, a few minutes south of the big hotels, and near grocery stores, banks, restaurants, the post office, the library, beach shops (including Ron Jon's) and everything else the friendly city of Cocoa Beach has to offer.
Phone: 321-783-4045
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