Crowne Plaza Melbourne-Oceanfront puts 290 rooms in twin beachfront towers planted directly on the sand at 2605 North A1A, with the Atlantic breaking a few steps past the sea oats. Standard rooms run 270 to 385 square feet, and oceanfront one-bedroom suites stretch from 550 to 800 square feet with a private balcony and a full kitchen for families. The heated pool looks out over the water and stays open all year, the fitness center never closes, and loungers, umbrellas, and paddleboards all rent right out front. A complimentary shuttle runs guests anywhere within three miles.

Longboards Oceanfront Grille is the heart of the place, a thatched tiki bar and grill serving Blackened Mahi, jumbo crab cakes, and Ahi tuna poke bowls indoors, on the deck, or down at the beach, with live entertainment at the Bandstand every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. This is the Space Coast, so rocket launches from Cape Canaveral are visible right from the sand. Brevard Zoo is a ten-mile drive, historic downtown Melbourne is minutes away, and the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is under an hour north.