Kennedy Space Center

Chances are that at some point in your life you either thought about being an astronaut, or at least about how cool it would be to fly into space. For most, space travel is extremely interesting and a trip to Florida just might not be complete without a visit to the NASA Kennedy Space Center. Located just 45 minutes from Orlando and about an hour south of Daytona Beach, the Kennedy Space Center is based on a large island wildlife refuge that is eight times larger than Manhattan. Many visitors come to this center of technology and discovery every year to experience a place where some of mankind’s greatest dreams and aspirations have become a reality. A truly unique experience awaits you at Kennedy Space Center Florida, where you can tour NASA’s launch and landing facilities, meet an actual astronaut, and experience interactive simulators. The Kennedy Space Center will both inspire and intrigue you from the moment you enter the Visitor Complex and begin your journey. So take a break from the great Florida beaches and Florida golf courses, steer away from Walt Disney World and Universal Studios for a day and find a different Florida experience at NASA Kennedy Space Center.

At the Visitor Complex of the Kennedy Space Center Florida, a collection of exhibits and shows will fill you with wonder and amazement. Before you delve into all there is to see and do at the Visitor Complex, you begin your day at the NASA Kennedy Space Center with a tour that takes you to the impressive NASA facilities. Included in the tour is a trip to see the massive launch pads, the expansive Vehicle Assembly Building, and the Apollo/Saturn V Center. Among the many options for Florida tours, this one ranks among the most interesting and unique.

Upon return to the Visitor Complex, guests of the Kennedy Space Center can easily fill the rest of the day exploring all the exhibits and taking in shows, whether live or on the world’s only back-to-back IMAX theaters. Pay homage to fallen heroes of space exploration history at the glorious glass-structure Astronaut Memorial, or head to the Rocket Garden to observe actual rockets from every space exploration era. Delve into the early days of space travel at the Early Space Exploration exhibit, and enter an actual Space Shuttle at Space Shuttle Plaza, where you can see how astronauts live and work on board. Among the highlights at the Visitor Complex is the Astronaut Hall of Fame, where visitors experience exhibits dedicated to famous astronauts. Here, the world’s largest collection of astronaut memorabilia joins forces with realistic astronaut training simulators to give lift-off to your imagination. As you enter the Astronaut Adventure room, your interactive adventure begins. Here, you can simulate walking on the moon, experience four times the force of gravity in the G-Force Trainer, ride a rover over Martian terrain, and coordinate a Space Shuttle landing.

For an interesting break in your day at the NASA Kennedy Space Center, you can make reservations to “Lunch with an Astronaut” during your visit. This gives you an unparalleled opportunity to talk one on one with a member of NASA’s Astronaut Corps while you enjoy a wonderful meal. And if your family is looking for the ultimate space experience, you can spend one or two days immersed in astronaut training with the Astronaut Training Experience (ATX).

The Kennedy Space Center Florida is open every day of the year, except for December 25th, and certain launch days. Operating hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and General Admission for adults is $38, and $28 for children ages 3-11. General Admission covers a tour of the Kennedy Space Center, IMAX space movies and all exhibits and shows, and is valid for two days. Tickets can be bought exclusively for the Astronaut Hall of Fame, which closes an hour later, and the price is $17 for adults, and $13 for children. The Annual Pass option will give you 12 months of admission, as well as discounts on programs like ATX, and 10% off select merchandise at the Space Shop souvenir store, and 10% off food and refreshments in Orbit Café and Mila’s restaurant. The Astronaut Training Experience runs at $250/person for one day, and includes training simulators, full scale Space Shuttle Mission Simulation, a VIP tour of Kennedy Space Center, and ATX gear, including a Mission polo shirt. Additional tours include NASA Up Close, Cape Canaveral: Then and Now, and Lunch with an Astronaut, and additional fees for each are $22 for adults, and $15 for children.