Vacation Spots You Should Check Out: Kennedy Space Center Florida

     I know I've written about Florida before, but there are so many other things to see that I thought I'd write about another, Kennedy Space Center on Cape Canaveral.  One of my main recommendations for visiting Kennedy, especially if you are really interested in the space program, is to go on the upgraded V.I.P. tour rather than the basic package because you get a better tour guide who gives more in depth information, and you get into more areas that aren't always open to the basic package.
     When we went we were able to actually go inside the Vehicle Assembly Building--the one where the space shuttle and Saturn V rockets were assembled.  It was built to accommodate four Saturn V rockets at one time which would have allowed for weekly launches--a dream of the famous rocket scientist, Wernher von Braun.  This limited access tour allowed us to stand on Launch pad 39A where the gantry was set up from the last space shuttle launch and would be converted to a new configuration launch pad for commercial use by Space X which is owned by Elon Musk.  We saw the Orion capsule being assembled which has now done an unmanned mission.
      On the way to the Apollo-Saturn V Center on the tour we saw alligators, snakes, birds, and wild boars since part of Cape Canaveral area is a wildlife preserve.  Look for a decades old eagle's nest along the way.  Inside the Center they have an actual-sized, deconstructed Saturn V rocket that you can walk under and around.  It also has a mock-up Launch Control Center that simulates the Apollo 11 launch and moon landing.  It was pretty awesome to experience the most historic space mission. The Center includes information on all of the other Apollo missions as well as artifacts of the space race, including many training modules.
      We made it to the last showing of the day of the Atlantis exhibit which is their newest building, and houses the actual Atlantis space shuttle which was the final flight of the shuttle program in 2011.  It includes many interactive exhibits that utilize motion technology to practice skills in space.  The Atlantis was amazing to see up close knowing that it was the last mission.
     Other exhibits to check out are the rocket garden which has rockets from each generation, and the other movies and hand-on exhibits throughout the complex.  There are also decent places to eat and a great space gift shop.