Blast Off!

DAYCATION—KENNEDY SPACE CENTER ‘Man’s Quest To Reach The Heavens’

By Dean Blinkhorn

Photos courtesy of Kennedy Space Center

Sure, you can go see a mouse with a funny voice, a giant whale, or a nearby film studio, but only one park in Central Florida can tout real-life thrills from the history books: Kennedy Space Center. And with a dedicated space shuttle attraction and private space flights cranking up, now’s the perfect time to go.

WHY GO? Having an active space program so close to us in Central Florida is one of the coolest things about living in the Sunshine State. Think of all the history made at the Kennedy Space Center—the Mercury rockets that explored space, the Apollo missions that touched the Moon, and the shuttle launches that made space travel efficient and routine— and we’re just a couple of hours away from reliving it all. Pretty awesome!

WHAT TO DO: There’s actually quite a bit to pack into the nine hours the park is open from 9am- 6pm daily. You’ll need to prioritize your must-see list to even attempt to get in a bus tour, the “Shuttle Launch Experience,” the three IMAX films, the astronaut museum, one of the astronaut Q&A sessions, and to fully tour the grounds. I’d recommend getting there at 9am sharp and take one of the first tours, since that takes about two hours round trip, then the rest of your day will be contained within the visitors complex.

The Saturn V tour is the absolute coolest part of the experience. The sheer size of the Saturn rocket is impressive enough, but you’ll also get to touch an actual moon rock and read up on the various aspects of America’s quest to reach the lunar surface. Don’t rush this part. Take pictures of the massive booster rocket, linger over the displays, and imagine what all this must have been like for these brave men.

Back at the complex, the “Shuttle Launch Experience” is a simulator that puts you in the cockpit for a ride into outer space. Certainly not as intense as Disney’s “Mission: Space” ride, NASA’s version amps up the educational component and downplays the weightlessness factor. It’s a fun half hour, even if the storage lockers you have to use beforehand are a bit cumbersome.

The relatively new shuttle exhibit, which opened after the shuttle fleet had been decommissioned, is as impressive as the Saturn experience, but doesn’t benefit from the extra viewing time of the bus ride. Still, the second you enter the massive hangar, almost completely dwarfed by the Atlantis, which was relocated to its new home at KSC in 2012, you’re reminded just how important those three decades of shuttle missions were to mankind. We may not fully understand their impact on our technology and health knowledge for decades to come. While spending your time looking at all the artifacts, be sure to pay your respects in the tasteful tribute area for the astronauts who gave everything—their lives—for the program. The simple glass cases of memorabilia and debris retrieved from the wreckages are understated, but the overall effect is powerfully moving.

Lastly, because KSC is a working complex, you may get to witness the ultimate thrill of all, an actual rocket or shuttle launch, so check the calendar online to plan your trip accordingly. That was the case when we visited the time before last. As our day was winding down, the launch window for the Atlas V rocket was pushed to 5:45pm, just before the complex closed. The crowd gathered on the north side of the center just as a trail of smoke shot into the sky and swooped overhead. While not as large as a shuttle, this military rocket was still impressive as it lifted into orbit to deploy a prototype space plane called the Orbital Test Vehicle, the perfect way to end nine hours of learning about man’s quest to reach the heavens.

WHERE TO EAT: Well, the offerings at KFC are there if you’re hungry and, yes, it certainly is cool to eat under the impressive shade of a Saturn V rocket, but we’re not exactly talking gourmet fare here. In fact, barely cafeteria-level. My cheeseburger was a mess and my daughter’s chicken nuggets were edible, but not by much. I’d recommend going for the items that have to be prepared in front of you, like the wraps and the Cuban sandwiches. The soup looked pretty good, too.

Better yet, eat a hearty breakfast, take some snacks, and stop at the Moon-Light Drive-In on US Hwy. 1 on your way home. Family owned since 1964, we enjoyed everything from the onion rings and milkshakes to the burgers and fries. The service was quick and friendly and we reveled in the nostalgia before hopping back into the car for the two-hour drive home.

WHERE TO SHOP: We were pleasantly surprised by the diversity and the relatively inexpensive prices at the KSC gift shops. They had some really cool coffee mugs, lots of unique t-shirts, and loads of educational materials with a space theme. Now my friends and relatives will know why they’re getting so many things with the NASA logo on them for birthdays and Christmas.

A LITTLE HISTORY: President Dwight D. Eisenhower created NASA on July 29, 1958, when he signed Public Law 85-568, and the agency promptly created its launch center on Florida’s east coast four years later. It was renamed in honor of John F. Kennedy in 1963 because of his commitment to manned space flight and his dedication to exploring frontiers beyond our planet.

NEARBY ATTRACTIONS: Of course, KSC is itself an attraction, so I’m not sure what else you’d need to do. However, Canaveral National Seashore and Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge are just a few miles away from the KSC Visitors Complex. The refuge is home to more than 1,500 species of plants and animals including an impressive number of birds. Both outdoor wonderlands are well worth your time, but you’d definitely need to make this daytrip an overnighter to not feel rushed to do it all. Who knows? Maybe you’ll see a manatee or a bald eagle in their natural habitat.

HOW TO GET THERE: The fastest way, but not by much, is via I-75 to the Florida Turnpike, following the signs through Orlando to Titusville. However, skip the tolls and have a much more pleasant drive by taking the scenic route: SR40 east, US Hwy 17 south, SR44 east, US Hwy. 1 south, and then SR405 east till you see the KSC complex on the right. This route will go through the Ocala National Forest, charming Deland, and down the coast. This way added only 15-20 minutes to our trip, but was well worth every extra second!

Photos courtesy of Kennedy Space Center