Best Space Coast Family Hotels: Where Relaxation and Entertainment Meet

The Hilton Melbourne Beach Oceanfront is directly on the beach and is close to some of the Space Coast's best attractions, including the Kennedy Space Center, Sebastian Inlet, Greyhound Park, Space Coast Stadium and the King Center for the Performing Arts, and is only seven miles from Melbourne International Airport (MLB). The eco-friendly, green hotel offers 200-plus guest rooms and suites which all include complimentary WiFi, 37-inch HDTVs, kitchen appliances, ironing equipment, dataport phones, Hilton Alarm Clock Radios, luxurious bedding, upgraded bathrooms and balconies with stunning views. Some rooms come with separate living rooms and dining areas. Guests can spend time in the outdoor heated swimming pool, spa tub and 24-hour fitness gym. On-site dining options include the Atlantic Blue Beach Bar (with a view of the ocean), the Atrium Lounge and the Ocean Grille, with a delicious seafood menu.

When you stay here, you stay oceanfront. Rooms include free Internet, a microwave, refrigerator and cable TV. Suites feel like a home away from home, with full kitchens and living rooms. The fitness center is open 24 hours, and the hotel can hook you up with whatever beach rentals you could need. The newly renovated hotel is well known for its expansive meeting and banquet space (excellent for weddings). The Crowne Plaza has everything: a business center, outdoor pool, Ocean Reef Spas, a free airport shuttle, surfside lounge, ocean deck and on-site restaurant, MARiSOL. The Crowne Plaza Melbourne Oceanfront is near the mall, zoo, air force base and other Space Coast highlights.

The award-winning Hilton Melbourne Rialto Place is ideally located near the Brevard Zoo, a mall, the stadium, the Kennedy Space Center and more. It's only a mile from the airport, but plenty close to the sand, too. The 200-plus rooms and suites are spacious with floor-to-ceiling windows and include beds from the Hilton Serenity Collection, complementary WiFi, 37-inch Flat Panel HDTVs, large work desks, Hilton Alarm Clock Radios with MP3 connection, wet bars, sofa beds and more. Guests can take advantage of the outdoor heated pool, whirlpool, laundry facilities and 24-hour modern fitness center, including basketball and tennis courts. Dine at the on-site restaurant, Rustic, with an international menu and fresh seafood, or enjoy a drink at the Rialto Lobby Bar.

If you're on a budget, but still want a family-friendly option, check out the Comfort Inn & Suites near the port. The inn is within walking distance of the beach and features an on-site playground for kids. Some rooms come with full kitchenettes — for those days you don't want to bring your kids into public for dinner. Bonus: Free breakfast in the morning. The Comfort Inn is near Canaveral Plaza, Kennedy Space Center, Jetty Park, Jungle Village, Merritt Square Mall and the Cocoa Beach Pier. Rooms include free high-speed Internet connections, LCD televisions, hair dryers, safe-deposit boxes, air conditioning and more. The hotel itself has a pool, hot tub, a fitness gym, a game room and various sports courts.

The Wakulla Suites are great for families. Here, you can find barbecue grills, a game room, a children's pool, lush gardens, beach volleyball and, of course, the stunning beach. Parents with young kids will appreciate the on-side laundry room. All suites have two bedrooms and full kitchens, living areas, breakfast nooks, cable TV and private bathrooms. The spacious sun decks are wonderful for parents who want to stay up later than the kids and relax with a drink and a view. During the day, stroll around the tropical courtyard. The suites are close to the Alan Shepard Park, Kennedy Space Center, Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, Gatorland, Port Canaveral and the Brevard Zoo.

For guests looking for a more personal, home-away-from-home feeling that you can't find in most hotels, the Discovery Beach Resort in Cape Canaveral is a top choice. Condos here all feature full kitchens, separate living room areas, cable TV and laundry. The heart of this resort is its outdoor, heated pool. Stretch out on the sun deck, or take a dip in the hot tub. Looking for entertainment? The Discovery Beach Resort plans activities throughout the day, such as poolside bingo, movies, children's events, a game room, arts and crafts and sports contests. Guests can also use the fitness club, tennis courts, basketball courts, game room and sauna. Tip: If you're traveling with a big family, reserve a three-bedroom condo with a full kitchen.

The Holiday Inn Express near Port Canaveral is just plain smart. It features exclusive "park and cruise" packages that can't be beat. It's also close to some of the port's best restaurants and, of course, the beach. Business travelers can take advantage of the on-site meeting room and easy access to the main streets and expo center. All guests get free high-speed wireless Internet, a complimentary breakfast bar every morning, cable TV, work desks, kitchenettes and access to the fitness center, pool and spa. Upgraded units feature whirlpool tubs. After exploring the port, relax in the outdoor pool and sauna.

The Resort on Cocoa Beach features an exciting new kids' area and "fun center." Watch family-friendly movies in the cinema, cook out in the barbecue area, play in the game room and go wild on the kiddie playground. Kids will also enjoy organized events, such as ice-cream socials, crafts, scavenger hunts, juggling, hula-hoop contests and games in the pool. The Resort on Cocoa Beach is within a few minutes away from various must-see sites. These include the Kennedy Space Center, Brevard Zoo, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Cocoa Village, Cocoa Beach Pier and Port Canaveral. Several golf courses and restaurants are also close by. The resort features a tropical-style outdoor heated swimming pool with a sun deck. hot tub, a sauna, a fitness gym, various sports courts/facilities and free wireless Internet access. On-site dining options include a tiki bar and a restaurant and lounge.

The Holiday Inn at the port is a resort for active travelers who want easy access to the beach, directly from the hotel. Splash down the waterslide in the pool, drift the day away in the sun in the lazy river and watch the cruise ships slowly drift by. This resort is near the fishing pier and Jetty Park, where you can catch some of the port's most interesting views. The Holiday Inn is not far from all of the Space Coast's best sites, from the Kennedy Space Center to the markets at The Cove. Back at the hotel, guests can stay active in the fitness club, play basketball, play mini golf and hit tennis balls. Then relax at the on-site movie theater — a unique and fun way to cool down for visitors of all ages. The on-site Surf Grill will keep you energized for the resort's water sports.

The International Palms Resort & Conference Center Cocoa Beach is situated along 13 acres of property along the ocean. Nearby scenic family-friendly destinations include the Brevard Zoo, Kennedy Space Center, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and the Astronaut Memorial Planetarium and Observatory. At the resort, your kids will love the pirate ship water park with slides. Stay in the special Family Fun Room, with two bunk beds and two different TVs (so you don't have to watch "Sponge Bob" every morning). Best of all: Kids 10 and younger eat breakfast for free, with the purchase of one adult breakfast. The International Palms Resort & Conference Center Cocoa Beach features plenty of other exciting recreational facilities, including another outdoor swimming pool, tennis and shuffleboard courts and two different restaurants on site.