We recently had our first ever "Florida Vacation" earlier this month, in late February - early March, 2001. (Yes, I realize I do need to get out more.) I use the term vacation very loosely, since it wasn't really a "vacation" at all. It was a business trip for my husband, but we all tagged along for the ride since we had never been to Florida. Even though my husband was in meetings the majority of the time, we were lucky enough to find some time to sight-see and and visit some attractions. My favorite attraction, by far, was The John F. Kennedy Space Center.

I have always been fascinated with anything to do with Space, and I had told my husband many times over the years that if we ever had a chance to go to Florida, that I wanted to visit KSC. And, I finally did.

The Kennedy Space Center is located on Florida's East Coast, less than an hour's drive from Orlando. From personal experience, I will say that the ride over is less than enjoyable, and part of the reason is the fact that you will be traveling on a Toll Road, if you are traveling from the Orlando area. Be prepared to carry approximately $5.00 with you, and by that, I mean about five bucks each direction. (If I remember correctly, we paid a total of just under $10 total on tolls).

Upon arrival at Kennedy Space Center Visitor's Complex, we were pleased to learn that parking was free, and the parking lot was not as crowded as we had imagined it would be. Of course, this is most likely since we visited the Space Center on a Thursday afternoon in March, and most likely we caught them at an off-peak time. I bet a weekend in the summer would have been a different story altogether.

Kennedy Space Center offers four different tour choices. The one that we chose consisted of a general bus tour that took us to three different sites located inside KSC. Also included in this package was a viewing at the IMAX theater, which we ended up missing out on in the interest of time. I regret terribly that we didn't get to see the IMAX presentation, and I also regret that I cannot in all honesty review that part of the tour. And for that, I do apologize in advance.

Our tour was $24 each for an adult ticket, and $12 for children. Children under age 3 are free.

Once on the tour bus, the driver was also our tour guide, so to speak. Inside the tour buses were several small screen televisions that played videos with information that went with each part of the tour, which I thought was really neat. Between the tour guide/bus driver and the televised information, we really learned a lot about our destinations, one by one.

Our first stop on the bus tour was the LC 39 Observation Gantry. From this 60 foot observation tower, we had a complete 360 degree view of Shuttle Launch Pads 39A and 39B, as well as the Vehicle Assembly Building, which not only houses the Space Shuttle while it is essentially "put together", but is also the largest building in the nation by volume. While we were there, we viewed the Space Shuttle Discovery already in place on Launchpad 39B, undergoing last minute preparation for launch only seven days away. From the observation tower, you are basically as close as you are going to ever get to a Shuttle Launch Pad (unless you happen to be a NASA technician or an astronaut, and we were neither).

Inside the observatory main building, there are many interactive displays, as well as a real Space Shuttle Engine for viewing.

I suppose now would be the appropriate time to announce that visitors have all the time that they choose to visit each destination, without having to worry that they will "miss the bus". Tour buses leave each destination in 10 minute intervals, so there is absolutely no rush whatsoever. I was particularly impressed at this!

The second destination on our tour was the Apollo/Saturn V Center. Inside this center, you have the pleasure of viewing a multimedia review of NASA's history through the Apollo 8 mission. After that, visitors enter the Saturn 5 Rocket Plaza, where many displays are available, including a small gift area for souvenirs. There is also an area where you can have yourself or your children (or both, whatever you choose) photographed, and the finished product appears that you are taking a space walk. Computerized photos, of course, but a great souvenir choice.

The most spectacular display inside the Rocket Plaza is a fully restored Saturn V Moon Rocket, displayed from the ceiling in this huge center. It is one of only three remaining in the world. There is also an original Lunar Module and Command Service Module on display, next to the Saturn V Moon Rocket. Truly, an extraordinary display.
At the end of the plaza, a re-creation of Apollo 11 is presented, and visitors can view the actual mission control station, which KSC has preserved in every detail...down to soda cans and ashtrays that were used on that very day by mission control technicians.

The last stop on the bus tour was the International Space Station Center. This is the facility where visitors can view actual people working hands-on the creation of the nodules that will be carried by the Space Shuttle and attached to form the International Space Station. This was the most interesting part of our trip, from my point of view.

Another highlight of this tour includes a video briefing by Shuttle astronaut Bob Cabana, commander of the first United States International Space Station assembly flight. On display are replicas of a habitation unit, and a laboratory module. You can actually walk through these and experience them firsthand.

Other highlights of Kennedy Space Center include:

*Restricted Area Tour - Some restricted areas may be unavailable, depending on mission operations

*Space Station Processing Facility - Parts for the International Space Station are prepared here for launch.

*Shuttle Landing Facility - This runway is so long and wide that it can be seen from space.

*Cape Canaveral Tour - Visit Cape Canaveral's Air Force Station

*Space Shop - The world's largest store devoted to space memorabilia and gifts

*Lunch Pad - Fast food restaurant

*Rocket Garden - Historic rocket collection

*Shuttle Explorer - Walk through a replica of the Space Shuttle Explorer

*Astronaut Memorial - Space mirror monument to astronauts who lost their lives in the name of space exploration

I thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Kennedy Space Center, and I look forward to one day returning and hopefully having enough time to see everything they have to offer.

















Recommended: Yes

Best Suited For: Families
Best Time to Travel Here: Anytime