A few weeks ago Midge and I had the pleasure of joining a handful of other amazing bloggers for a weekend at Kennedy Space Center on Cape Canaveral, Florida. Growing up in Florida I always wanted to be an astronaut… right up until I realized I was deathly afraid of heights… but we watched every shuttle launch like it was a national holiday. I remember being a child on the swingset and pretending to be astronauts being launched in to space as we swung higher and higher. So when I was offered the opportunity to take Midge and go to Kennedy Space Center and actually meet real astronauts, I actually squealed. And cheered. And talked about it for weeks ad nauseum.
The weekend was absolutely everything I thought it would be.
The first part of our trip included Midge’s first airplane ride. She was stoked. I silently said a prayer as we boarded the tiny little plane – that had PROPELLERS…
Two hours later though we landed in beautiful Orlando and quickly got a ride directly to Kennedy Space Center – about a 40 minute ride from the airport. We grabbed a bite to eat and then met up with the other Bloggers and kids for a private tour around NASA – including the viewing deck for the launch pad where every.single.person who has walked on the moon has left from… how cool is that?!
We also got to check out the Vehicle Assembly Building – where they put together the shuttles. At the time that the VAB was built in 1966 it was the largest building in existence. It still has the largest doors of any building with huge grey doors measuring 460 feet tall. For me this was the most iconic part of the trip because I remember watching the shuttles roll out of that enormous building. It was so surreal to actually be standing in front of it.
John was our tour guide – and absolutely one of the coolest people I have ever met. He was funny, kept the kids (and adults!) engaged and hanging on his every word, and knew so much I actually began recording him because he was rattling off facts so quickly. When you go on this tour – you must ask for John. He really made the entire tour amazing.
Our last stop was the Apollo/Saturn V Center where they have a Saturn Moon Rocket on display. The very size of this thing is hard to even wrap your brain around. The Saturn V Moon Rocket is the most powerful rocket ever built and one of only three rockets in existence. It spans 363 feet long…
We finished our evening in the most spectacular way possible – watching the rocket launch while dining with an astronaut. YES.I’M.SERIOUS. Honestly, I am still pinching myself and wondering if it was a dream. But here’s Midge… just hanging out with Astronaut Robert Springer.
And then this happened….
And that was only the first day! I will share Day Two with you soon! One thing is for sure – if you are looking for a fun place to take your kids this Summer that is as educational as it is entertaining – you should totally consider going to Kennedy Space Center. And if you go between now and May 31, 2015, use the promo code VISITKSC for $5 off admission tickets! I promise it is a vacation you will never forget!
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