After our visit to Disney at Thanksgiving, we spent a couple days in Cocoa Beach and went to the Kennedy Space Center. Buses shuttle visitors between the various stopping points throughout the 6,000-acres used for space shuttle operations. It was a brisk December day, so the 50-degree temperatures made for a cold, though sunny, viewing of the launch sites.

In the main visitor’s complex, the kids pushed this huge ball in a fountain – the pressure from the water coming up from the bottom makes it able to spin. We also watched several well-done Omni shows, and we rode the Shuttle Launch Experience, which was similar to the Mission: Space ride at Epcot.

And at one of the tour stops, we looked at actual shuttle parts and memorabilia from space.

Here the kids are touching a real moon rock.

Probably our favorite stop, though was the Astronaut’s Hall of Fame. It’s a few miles outside of the space center, but we could use the same ticket for admission. Although we were disappointed that several of the hands-on exhibits were out of order, there was still a lot to do.

We rode in a Mars Rover simulation and the kids played with this shuttle landing simulator.

And we waited in line to ride in the G-Force trainer. It spins really fast — then tilts — simulating the feeling you’d get when reaching G Force speeds. Dizzying!

We toured the facilities for a single day, and couldn’t do everything within the open hours of the center. The Astronaut’s Hall of Fame got busy when we were there in the afternoon — we could have completed the exhibits in far less time had we not been in line for the G Force Trainer, behind a school group. We could have returned a second day on the single ticket (you’re allowed two days to visit the complex,) but we had to catch a plane, so we just fit in as much as we could in one day.

TIPS:
*Pack a lunch and keep it in your car. You can leave the complex to enjoy lunch, and return on the same ticket.

*Take note of the omni show times right away, so you can work your tour around them.

*Do the Shuttle Launch Experience as soon as the center opens. There was no one in line at 9 AM, but the very meandering zig-zag ramp told me sometimes the line is long!

*Call ahead to the Astronaut’s Hall of Fame to find out which exhibits are out of order. Consider visiting there right away in the morning, if the popular exhibits are open.

*Take two shorter days to complete the tour. We were bushed by about 2 PM, so it would have been nice to come back the next day.

Florida Series:
Disney World
Sanibel Island
Fort Myers Beach

For more great tips, please visit Rocks in my Dryer.