We got up early, had a nice big breakfast at the hotel in Cocoa Beach, and drove over to Kennedy Space Center. Driving there we saw several gators and even a wild boar, which you see below.
Such an impressive view.
We got their before the gates opened, but were able to ask a few questions, take some picture, and just hung out until opening.
Rocket Garden is one of the first things you see when you enter. This is the spot where old rockets seem to scrape the sky at 80-100 feet in the air. You will see Juno (launched NASA’s first satellites), the Titan II (used for 12 Gemini missions), Saturn 1B (rocket used to orbit the moon), among others. You can even walk on the launch pad gantry that the astronauts of Apollo 11 used the 1st time they landed on the moon. There are also replicas of different sized capsules from varying eras of space exploration.
The Angry Birds Encounter is an interactive spot for those bird lovin’ kids. Alex had been in a funk the first hour or so that we had been there and I’m thankful for this exhibit, because it got him in a better mood.
Since we were staying the entire day, we ate lunch at the Orbit Cafe. There were a lot of people there, but they have both lines where you order like normal with a cashier in front of you or you can use the touch screens to place your order. Having both of these options really sped up a process that could have been quite painful otherwise.
We hopped on a NASA tour bus for a Kennedy Space Center Tour where we drove by a launch pad, as well as the historic Apollo 8 launch site. We also got to see the 363-foot-long Saturn V moon rocket at the Apollo/Saturn V Center.
The Atlantis Exhibit showcases a spacecraft that stood the test of time during the historic Space Shuttle Program. This exhibit includes an information presentation along with 60+ interactive exhibits. Absolutely breathtaking!
The Astronaut Memorial is a beautiful spot that honors NASA’s fallen heroes.
This is a great place to bring your family. It’s fun, entertaining, and educational. I also recommend visiting Johnson Space Center if you’re ever in the Houston, TX area. Read about our trip here: A Day at Johnson Space Center NASA