Other stuff to see around KSC?

We just booked a vacation for next month, and will be spending a couple days at KSC and the Astronaut Hall of Fame. Are there any other attractions (space-related or not) that folks would recommend while in the area?

We will be seeing SeaWorld and maybe Universal Studios in Orlando, but we want to avoid the big Mouse....

You've got Daytona a little over 1 hour to the north, just head right up I-95. There's the beach (can't really drive on it anymore though) & the speedway if you're into NASCAR. A little over a hour north of Daytona is St Augustine, which is very history rich.

As far as Orlando goes, there's a lot more than just Disney. Do some searches online, you can find plenty to do that isn't necessarily "touristy"!

If you have kids...or even if you don't...stop and visit Space Camp.

It's right by the Astronaut Hall of Fame...well close anyway.

I thought Space Camp was at Huntsville, AL?

Will have to look into that one...

And yes, I will have 5-1/2 year old space nut son with me. My wife will be with us for one day at KSC (the standard tour), but she is planning to just lounge around the hotel pool or whatever while we go back for a second day (and the KSC "up close" and "Now and Then" tours out to the old cape Canaveral launchpads and the Shuttle facilities). All the serious rocket geek stuff that would just make her eyes glaze over after a while...

There used to be a little mom-n-pop aviation museum in the area. I visited it when I went to KSC back in the late 90's but I can't remember what it was called. It was low traffic and you could get your hands on the planes.

Make sure you ride the bus from the main museum and "Rocket Garden" out to the Saturn V museum. I went when it first opened, and a number of people did not realize it existed. I would imagine it is better advertised now. It is overwhelming to many who just do not realize how big the Saturn V is. The restoration job on the Saturn V is really incredible.

SCE to AUX said:

I thought Space Camp was at Huntsville, AL?

Will have to look into that one...

And yes, I will have 5-1/2 year old space nut son with me. My wife will be with us for one day at KSC (the standard tour), but she is planning to just lounge around the hotel pool or whatever while we go back for a second day (and the KSC "up close" and "Now and Then" tours out to the old cape Canaveral launchpads and the Shuttle facilities). All the serious rocket geek stuff that would just make her eyes glaze over after a while...

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There used to be 3 Space Camp facilities, KSC, Mountain View, CA, And the USSR. The other two closed due to financial problems.

While at KSC there take the Cape Canveral tour. It only makes one trip there daily. You will see a lot of old pads and the air force Museum. One of the members of our rocket club works at Cape Canveral and we got to take an all day tour. We also got to go see the the building where they process the boosters after the recovery. Now for any other places, I believe the there is almost a rocket launch every weekend around Orlando. If you will be down on the second Saturday of the month you can catch our local Nefar Launch in Bunnell its about 1.5hrs north of KSC.

If you want to travel a little bit ST Augustine is a Quaint little Drinking Village with a Fishing Problem as the bumper stickers say. Its about 2 hrs north and there quite a few things to do there and the traffic is much less then in Orlando. One thing is the Alligator Farm not to expensive but you get to see a lot of Alligators and birds, its also a bird Sanctuary.

If you want to see some old time florida fishing village you could travel to Cedar key on the gulf coast near gainesville. Its a drive but it is one of the last true Florida towns. There is a famous picture of the Honeymoon shack that is still standing a few hundred feet from shore from a hotel that was there before a hurricane.


Mark

tbzep said:

There used to be a little mom-n-pop aviation museum in the area. I visited it when I went to KSC back in the late 90's but I can't remember what it was called. It was low traffic and you could get your hands on the planes.

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It's the Valiant Air Command museum and hangars.

https://www.vacwarbirds.org

You might not want to do the mouse, but Mission to Mars in Epcot is well worth it. Trust me it's the best 3 minutes you will spend in FL.

We'll be there too, the week of April 14th..

We'll be avoiding the "mouse trap", but do intend to visit "Downtown Disney" A quick shopping stop; Disney store, HMV or Virgin (Big record & video shop) Lego world (My stop!!) and a few other places. A good 'eveing' walk, as there are also a slew of eateries.. Rockin' Blues & jazz bar, Hard rock cafe, movie house & such.. Touristy, but...

And, my other 'indulgence': Corona Cigar company. Nothign beats a "walk in, grab a glass & smoke, all while shopping for Fuentes & Ashtons!" The whole store & bar is a walk in humidor! (There's a book store at the other end of the mall for the wife & kids!! )

https://orlando.citysearch.com/profile/2390939/orlando_fl/corona_cigar_company_and_cigar_bar.html
(their site seesm donw..)



Do Epcott, and do the "test ride" again and again!! You basically are a 'crash test dummy' in a self guided car, and you end up wipping around a banked oval at about 100kph! Too cool!!

mach7 said:

You might not want to do the mouse, but Mission to Mars in Epcot is well worth it. Trust me it's the best 3 minutes you will spend in FL.

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AS LONG AS YOU ARE NOT CLAUSTROPHOBIC. (I'm not but my wife absolutely freaked when the ride closed in on her/us!) :surprised:

You basically are a 'crash test dummy' in a self guided car, and you end up wipping around a banked oval at about 100kph!

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Aw that's nothing.

I did the same think on the A4 Autobahn in Germany, at 220 kph. Of course I had to change my boxers after, but that's a different story.

Its' one thing if youre' in control of the car, or are able to gain control. It's another if there is no wheel, no pedals, no.....

The older 'mission to mars' cerca 1980's was better thatn eh Epcott ride IMO. It's now the "Catch Stitch" thing. Or the Buzz Lightyear "Shoot everything, and spin the car til you puke" ride was a blast! er, no pun intended..

SCE to AUX said:

We just booked a vacation for next month, and will be spending a couple days at KSC and the Astronaut Hall of Fame. Are there any other attractions (space-related or not) that folks would recommend while in the area?

We will be seeing SeaWorld and maybe Universal Studios in Orlando, but we want to avoid the big Mouse....

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I'd suggest spending a good amount of time at the recently restored and painted Navaho XSM-64 exhibit on the dive. Excellant restoration of what I believe is the last remaining example of this historic vehicle.

If you take the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station tour- make sure to stop into the museum's gift shop and pick up a Dr. Zooch 50th anniversary Explorer I Juno I- they are sold exclusivly in that shop. Then when you get home you can "Nay-nay-nay-na" everyone on this forum... including me. I don't even have one myself- I gave 'em mine to use as a display.

One of the cooler things at the CCAFS museum is the Gemini Titan II white room! It's a MUST see.

You might want to see if https://technicalbookstoreonline.com/ still runs their walk-in bookstore.

Micromeister said:

I'd suggest spending a good amount of time at the recently restored and painted Navaho XSM-64 exhibit on the dive. Excellant restoration of what I believe is the last remaining example of this historic vehicle.

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It was being restored when I visited.

However, I thought the Air Force Museum behind pads 17A and 17B was by far the best part of my experience at KSC. We were able to drive over after the bus tour got back and spend all the time we wanted there. The first Delta III was on the pad sans payload when I was there. I guess I brought it good luck cause it CATO'd later that summer. :surprised:

ounderfla69 said:

While at KSC there take the Cape Canveral tour.

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It would be a good idea to call around down there and be ready for how much the tour costs. I was told it was some $53 per person. And if you want to see the stuff on the tour, you have no choice, the bus ride is the only way in since 9-11.

powderburner said:

It would be a good idea to call around down there and be ready for how much the tour costs. I was told it was some $53 per person. And if you want to see the stuff on the tour, you have no choice, the bus ride is the only way in since 9-11.

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Yes it expensive we ate lunch at the restuarant at the Saturn five building and 2 sandwiches a salad and 2 sodas were $27.

Mark

powderburner said:

It would be a good idea to call around down there and be ready for how much the tour costs. I was told it was some $53 per person. And if you want to see the stuff on the tour, you have no choice, the bus ride is the only way in since 9-11.

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All the pricing info for KSC can be found here: https://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/

BTW, I also highly recommend the Air Force Museum tour as well. I'll warn you in advance that the bus stops there for only ~45 minutes, which is almost criminal. You could easily spend half a day there immersed in all of the history there...

HTH,

lalligood said:

All the pricing info for KSC can be found here: https://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/

BTW, I also highly recommend the Air Force Museum tour as well. I'll warn you in advance that the bus stops there for only ~45 minutes, which is almost criminal. You could easily spend half a day there immersed in all of the history there...

HTH,

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So the Air Force Museum is definitely still open then? Is there any info on the web about it? Never mind, I found this:

https://www.patrick.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=4496