Kennedy Space Center: Orlando's Real Tomorrowland

I've written many articles on Walt Disney World and other Central Florida attraction. But there's one area attraction that I've not been to since I was in 4^th grade and therefore haven't written about. That changed recently when I finally made it back to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.

Kennedy Space Center is an easy 45 minute drive east of Orlando. And since my last visit over 20 years ago, this place has really changed! The main attraction, the 2-3 hour bus tour of the Kennedy Space Center facilities and launch pads is still there. This amazing look into an actual working space port is something that you'll remember for a long time to come.

The tour makes three stops where you can disembark to explore the Apollo program and Man's first steps on the moon, a Space Shuttle observation tower, and an International Space Station exhibit. There's even a chance to touch a real moon rock! And along the way, the tour passes historic sites and launch pads and, interestingly enough, a lot of wildlife. Because the Kennedy Space Center is a protected area, alligators, bald eagles, manatees, and other wildlife thrive here.

Once back at the main visitor center, you can hop aboard the newest addition, The Shuttle Launch Experience. This simulator gives a realistic taste of what a shuttle launch must feel like. Other exhibits and attractions include two IMAX theaters showing a rotating schedule of movies about space exploration and an exhibit dedicated to early space exploration with some fantastic pieces of history on display. There's also Rocket Garden where rockets and space vehicles of the past are on display.

It was the last thing I did on my day at Kennedy Space Center, however, was perhaps the most interesting. Each day a real astronaut participates in a question and answer session in the Astronaut Encounter theater followed by a photo opportunity. On the day I visited, the guest astronaut talked about his two shuttle flights and shared pictures and stories (although one of his flights was a Department of Defense classified flight, so other that saying he launched a satellite on that flight, he couldn't say much more).

After spending a day a Kennedy Space Center you can't help but feel wonder at just how small our own planet is in a vast universe. I left with a sense of amazement and a renewed respect for our space program and our home, planet earth.

Kennedy Space center is located about 40 miles east of Orlando on Florida's east coast. For more information on operating hours please visit http://www.kennedyspacecenter.com.