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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Spaghetti Night in Orlando

I arrived back at Windsor Palms around five o’clock after spending the day checking out Epcot center.  I was absolutely starving at this point (shocking, I know!) and decided to run up to the grocery store and make dinner at home instead of eating out.  I was craving some home-cooked food and the thought of saving some money by eating in was incredibly satisfying to me.  

I went up to the Publix and bought the ingredients I needed to make spaghetti for my dinner that night and a loaf of garlic bread I could stick in the oven.  Not too creative I admit, however I am Italian and as such spaghetti is one of my favorite foods.  (On a side note, I am ashamed to admit that I bought pre-made marinara sauce instead of making from scratch purely due to laziness and convenience.  I could just imagine the disappointment in my grandparent’s eyes if they knew that their Italian granddaughter took the easy way out and bought Prego!). 

As soon as I got back from Publix, I was ready to get started and began cooking immediately as my stomach began to aggressively remind me that I had not eaten all day!  Once I located all of the utensils and cookware I needed (all of Global’s Orlando vacation homes come with fully equipped kitchens), I began cooking.  To be completely honest, I was half expecting to have to run back out to pick up a strainer (or something along those lines) and for the kitchen not be “fully equipped” in the true sense of the word.  I am happy to report however, that I was wrong and everything I needed was right at my fingertips. 

My spaghetti turned out as good as can be expected having used pre-made sauce to dress my noodles and dip my garlic bread in.  I didn’t mind too much though – I was just happy to have been able to eat a home-cooked meal, save some money and relax in the comfort of my vacation home before heading out for the night. 

After dinner, I cleaned up and looked down at my watch, suddenly realizing it was already 6:30 and that I needed to begin to get ready for the night.  I had bought tickets to go see Cirque Du Soleil and the show began at 8!  I was incredibly anxious, to say the least, to see Cirque as I had heard from multiple sources – locals, tourists, friends, family members – that it was a fantastic show and a “must see” while visiting Orlando.  I really had no expectations for what the show entailed – all I knew is that everybody who has seen it has absolutely loved it. I was ecstatic that I was finally getting the opportunity to attend the show I have heard such great things about! 

I got ready in a hurry and headed towards downtown Disney, anxiously anticipating the start of Cirque Du Soleil…..

Jordan