Kennedy Space Center

Kennedy Space Center – just a quick trip to the east coast

The space program never ceases to amaze me. Living in Central Florida, you forget sometimes that not everyone can just walk outside and see the fire from a rocket or space shuttle from their backyard on a clear day or even better, during a night launch.

As fun and exciting as that may be, actually visiting the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) gives you a wonderful experience of the history of space travel. Just under an hour away from the Kissimmee/Orlando area, this is a Florida attraction that shouldn’t be overlooked. I was reminded of this on my trip to KSC last week.

Upon arrival, we entered the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex which has more of a small theme park feel than a place where rocket scientists do their thing; I appreciated this option for the vacationer that wants to do more than the big theme parks. It definitely has automatic appeal to all ages. There are real NASA rockets, exhibits that show the history of the space program bringing you to where it is today, and an IMAX film that is full of great information and fun to watch.

Want a little bit of adventure? A fun thing to try is the Shuttle Launch Experience, which is a simulation ride that puts you aboard a space shuttle and it launches you into space where you orbit the Earth. All of your senses will feel, hear and see what it could be like during an actual launch. Pretty cool thing to do. My 10 year old absolutely loved this and it was the highlight of her day!

There is also a bus tour that will take you onto the secured part of the property where the Space Center is located. There is an observation tower that gives you a 360 degree view over several launch sites where the shuttles take off. It also makes a stop a stop at the Apollo/Saturn V Center. Here you will find artifacts (including a REAL moon rock), photos, films, interactive exhibits, and the most powerful rocket ever launched by the United State, the Saturn V.

The last stop of the day for us was the gift shop, which I couldn’t not begin to imagine going to the KSC and not have Astronaut Ice Cream. It’s a staple item that you just have to buy…for where else would you expect such a thing? KSC is open daily from 9am-6pm and is located SR 405, Kennedy Space Center, FL, 32899. For tickets and park specials, please visit www.kennedyspacecenter.com .

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Gatorland – Orlando Florida attraction review

Living in Orlando, I am always asked, what is your favorite thing to do?  That is such a tough question, for there are so many great attractions and things to see and do.  I have to say, one of my favorite, truly Florida Attractions that I LOVE is Gatorland.

In the late 1940’s the beginning of what is now Gatorland began being a wildlife exhibit with gators and snakes and today it still has that Florida feel, yet it’s not a little exhibit, but a true attraction with several shows featuring gators and other reptiles.

Entering into the famous Gator mouth isn’t the same as it was years ago.  Due to a fire a few years back, the mouth is still there, but it is no longer the main entrance.  Still, it’s one of those photo opportunities you don’t want to miss!

Once entering the park, you walk into a swamp filled with gators.  And these aren’t some tiny little things that you see at most theme parks.  These reptiles are HUGE!  Very impressive and very exciting.

The most famous of the Gatorland shows would have to be the gator wrestling.  This is an arena where a Gator Wrangler goes in and pulls out a gator from a moat like water pit around a concrete island filled with sand.  The Wrangler then gets on top of the gator, and as fun as it is to watch, at this time is a great lesson about the alligators.  At the end of the show, they take out a gator with its mouth taped shut for a photo opportunity for the general public.  FUN!!  And something you probably won’t find anywhere else.

Another fun show is the Gator Jumparoo Show!! My mouth hung open in awe as some of the largest alligators in the world actually jump four to five feet out of the water to retrieve meat from a trainer’s hand!  Shamu is supposed to do tricks, not gators!!  I love this show, and I love to see the reaction of the crowd as the gators do their thing.

Gatorland has many other great things to see and do, including a kids water park area, petting zoo, bird aviary, an array of different gators from all over the world, including a very special area for a few white alligators.  Rare and very cool to see.

It may be wrong, but I have to say, eating gator bites (yes, real gator tail) should probably make me feel guilty, but I am Florida girl, and I love me some gator!  The Gator Chow has other food on the menu, and overall it’s very reasonable. In fact, tickets are as low as $22.99 per adult and $14.99 per child.  Their website has a coupon you can download for $2.50 off per person.  There is a special Florida resident rate until the end of the year for $9.99 per person and if you are in the military, your ticket is free.