Seeing a rocket launch at the Kennedy Space Center, is one of the most memorable things you will…read moredo, especially if it's on your birthday. Now the gamble with these launches is you have to prepare well in advance for weather disasters/ or shuttle cancellations, so you can make many trips out here for the same launch. Get to these launches EARLY, and when I mean EARLY, I mean at 4 AM. I thought 4AM would give me enough time, but cars were still lined up past the gate. They do give you many Rocket Launch viewing options, due to the CoronaVirus, I opted for the VIP Viewing deck on Launch Pad 39A area. This was located towards the far back of the Kennedy Space Center past Atlantis. Upon entering the area, we received these limited edition NASA hats to wear for the launch. This was a nice area to view the launch for one-time, and it was also the only BEST option they had available at the time due to Corona. On a normal season, I would view this particular location to be too far from the launch. It included a continental breakfast which was nice, however, too many people in a tight space made you make a mad dash for the breakfast croissant then leave. Thanks to the ample guides around, I was directed to the best spot on the bleachers for the show. Seeing the rocket launch was incredible, and I forgot how close the vibrations are when your right there. Everybody was snobby like me on the bleachers, so we made sure people were following the 6-feet social distancing w/ mask rule if they wanted to get near us. Overall- Great Viewing Area away from the Main Crowd, SPLURGE for Better Viewing Options if Available, Excellent Continental Breakfast, and Informative Commentative Launch!!

NASA's historic Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida was first built to send…read moreastronauts to the moon and evolved into the departure point for space shuttles lifting off to Earth orbit. Now, the launch pad is entering its third iteration, supporting SpaceX launches of uncrewed -- and eventually crewed -- missions. I love living so close to this historic location and I have been so fortunate to have witnessed so many launches including the space shuttles, with the SpaceX program fully operational I'm amazed at the number of launches taking place so close together I was a little skeptical when the space program went private because it appeared to be the end to America's space program. Once again the private sector has proven that by limiting the government's participation it has allowed the entrepreneurs to take the space program to the next level in record time and has raised the bar way beyond anyone's expectations -they are doing it better and cheaper e.g. recovering and reusing the first stage rockets by controlling and landing them safety back on earth for a quick turn around this not only saves times it saves millions of dollars. During the Saturn V program, Pad 39A launched 12 Saturn V rockets, including Apollo 11 and Skylab 1. Pad 39A hosted the last launch of the Shuttle program on July 8, 2011, and hosted no launches from then until 2017. 39A was leased by SpaceX in 2014 for Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy and Crew Dragon launches, and it returned to service with launches of the Falcon 9 rocket starting in early 2017. This is only the beginning of what's to come, I was so fortunate to get a private tour along side astronaut Jon A. McBride - STS-41G who piloted Challenger on October 5, 1984 definitely a bucket list item...

I came here with my homeschooling co-op, they did a free mini class event for us. Very nice of the…read moreteacher to take the time to teach the kiddos all about navigation and she made it really fun for them as well as broke it down for them to understand in game form. I think it lasted about 25 mins or so. Only wish I would have walked more into their trail to see the water view if there is one I didn't get to see it. In all a cool spot to get a bit of history and sight seeing.

Wow! What a cool place. My husband and I have been choosing a different nature sanctuary in…read moreBrevard county to explore and walk, today we chose Sams house and Pine Island sanctuary. We decided to park at the Pine Island end of the trail, there are a couple of rustic areas to park. The trail head for the Pine Island loop which is about 3/4 of a mile is near the manatee viewing area and kayak launch. The walk from parking area to the start of the garnet trail which takes you to Sam's house is a wide open green area that is used for walking or horseback riding, there is no shade but if you're lucky there is a beautiful breeze along the lake. The trail to Sam's house is very rustic with some boardwalks and lots of root covered ground. The path is clear but some areas a a little soft due to the surrounding canals. Sam's house is one of the original homes in Merritt Island. There are areas with explanations and examples of what was grown and sold in the area. Apparently there were prehistoric animal remains found in the area as well as the burial mound of Indigenous people. This is a definite place to revisit and explore the other trails and bits of history.

**INITIAL REVIEW**…read more The Cape Canaveral Lighthouse Tour (which I will shorthand simply to the Lighthouse Tour) has been one of those "backyard adventures" I've been wanting to go on for the longest time. Eventually, I was able to partake in said adventure with my friends, Nate and Chops. Afterwards, I have to say that even for a probably "one-and-done" for a tour, it is definitely worth every penny spent. This tour was everything I wanted and loved, and it delivered. First and foremost, the actual business building for the Lighthouse Tour is nothing you have to worry about. According to all the tours, you will meet up at the Sands Space Museum and take a charter van to multiple locales on the tour. Before we get to the actual tour I partook in, it should be noted there are numerous tour options such as the museums alone, the lighthouse alone, or the full experience. Prices range from $35 (lighthouse only) to $65 (full tour). I went with the latter which includes numerous museums, historic launch sites, and the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse. It should also be noted that the more you do, the longer the tour. The full tour is four hours long. Please take note the things you need to check before the tour such as wearing shoes if you plan to walk up the five floors of the lighthouse, small bags allowed with small closed-contained foods and drinks only. Finally, you need to fill out a clearance check as all the stops, with the exception of Sands Space Museum, is on the Cape Canaveral Air Force Military Base. With those in mind, the full tour - known as the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse and Space Flight Tour - is all the stops if possible. I say "if possible" because some stops may be closed for maintenance or upgrades. For us, The Sands Space Museum, where the tour stars, was closed for renovation. However, the museum is free and not on protected property so I can go back and check it out. We visited four different launch sites, three museums, and the Cape Canaveral lighthouse. I personally loved the lighthouse and Hanger "A" which housed some of the larger historic rockets and jets that have helped bring NASA and the U.S. military where it is now. I personally was surprised that the first drone was used as target practice. I can't really detail everything I saw or this would become one my longest reviews, longer than I usually do. Just know that, like I said earlier in the review, for a possible one-and-done, it is worth every penny. However, if you really want to make sure the tour is a one-and-done, pay for the full tour. You'll have enough time to visit everything within the four hours, and if anything is closed, they'll take you to the Canaveral National Seashore, which was amazing because it is literally almost "untouched" by tourism. I will give this tour four out of five stars. I am not going to say consistency will earn the fifth star because only a super fan will take this tour numerous times... or work for the tour company. I will say that the lacking star has to do with the price. It can be high overall especially if stops are closed for some reason.

Great experience an excellent adventure for all in the family. Make sure add to you agenda.read more

I've been driving by this "historic marker" for years, like most of these markers there's nothing…read moreto see commemorating the "I Dream of Jeanie" television show. I finally turn in on the drivable lane and did a short drive through the park, the parking lot to my surprise was filled with vehicles, most were there to let their dogs run free inside the fenced in dog park. Since the sitcom ran between 1965 - 1970 a lot of today's kids are oblivious to this show which most from my generation watched religiously after school after playing outside or riding our motor-less bicycles, life was simpler. Barbara Eden is now 94 according to Wikipedia and is the only surviving member of the cast and receives no royalties since she opted for a cash payment after getting a new contract after the third season of the show...

"I Dream of Genie" was an extremely popular television show that was set in Cocoa Beach, Florida…read moreand the city of Cocoa Beach chose to honor this television show by naming what is really a driveway to a park as a street in Cocoa Beach. This is a cool little tidbit to come across in Cocoa Beach. I love finding thes llittle roadside attractions that in my opinion give a town a bit of personality. If you find yourself in Cocoa Beach, Florida, I definitely recommend seeking this sign out.

Dummett's quest for seclusion led him to devote much of his time to this perfectly protected grove,…read moreuniquely lodged between two large temperate lagoons. It is thought that Dummett's experiments with grafting, as well as the mild lagoon climate, helped his grove survive the record-setting freeze of 1835 that killed groves throughout the territory.[8]

The Clifton School House was built around 1890-1891 by Butler Campbell and Andrew Jackson, black…read moreland owners who homesteaded on north Merritt Island. A nearby neighbor by the name of Wade Holmes provided a one- acre lot as the building site, which was located in the north west corner of his property adjacent to the Campbell's. Prior to building the school house, the Campbell and Jackson children attended school in the home of a black man by the name of Mahaffey who lived nearby. They bought the lumber and building materials in Titusville and had them shipped by sailboat to north Merritt Island. Together, and with the help of Wade Holmes, they built a 12 x 16 wooden structure of heart pine lumber. Two sets of glass-paned windows were placed opposite each other on the north and south sides of the building. The front of the school house faced west which was fitted with a double paneled door, and the roof was made of cedar or cypress boards. The entire structure rested on wood pilings about one foot off the ground. By 1910 most of the Campbell and Jackson children were of the age to be out of school or attending a school in Titusville that offered a higher education, and the little wooden structure no longer was used as a school house. When the Government took over all of North Merritt Island in the 1960's the families had to relocate to other areas. Most of the structures were demolished or disassembled board by board until there was little visible evidence that any inhabitants had lived in that area. Somehow the old Clifton Schoolhouse was overlooked, or maybe thought not to be of any value, and would eventually fall to the elements of weather and time soon enough. Sometime in the late 1960's or 1970's, someone discovered the old wooden structure still standing under a heavy growth of vines, and after investigation of the site, found an old trunk inside, filled with old letters, post cards, receipts, greeting cards and other personnel items belonging to the Campbell family. IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO RESTORE SOMETHING SO IMPORTANT!

Space Shuttle Atlantis at the Kennedy Space Center is absolutely astounding. So cool to witness…read moreall the marvels of space travel in the past, see all that's being done in the present and into the future. If you have any questions about space travel or ever had any doubts about the legitimacy of NASA or any space related, this marvel of a spectacle is definitely worth a visit if you are planning to come to Orlando! 5 solid stars and two galactic thumbs up!

The last building that we toured was the impressive Space Shuttle Atlantis. Kennedy is the…read morepermanent home of Space Shuttle Atlantis. Atlantis is raised 30 feet off the ground, and is turned 43.21 degrees as if it were in space. There's a full scale external tank and two rocket boosters that are the grand gateway. The huge orange external tank is suspended 23 feet above the ground, and reaches 184 feet in the air. The inside tour tells the entire story of the Space Shuttle Program. There is over 60 exhibits and simulators to experience in the space shuttle center. Two other sights to see is full sized replica of the Hubble Space Telescope, that hangs opposite the open payload bay doors of Space Shuttle Atlantis, with Atlantis' Canada Arm extended(the robotic arm made by Canada). The permanent memorial honors the lives lost during the space shuttle missions, Challenger and Columbia are in the complex with patches along the walls, Challenger on the left and Columbia on the right. We didn't do the space shuttle experience(another trip in the works later this year) on this visit, but some of my younger family members did take the slide down to the next level. Space Shuttle Atlantis also has a souvenir shop located on the way out. I REALLY enjoyed my second time visiting Kennedy Space Center, it was worth the 33 yrs. wait return visit.

While wandering historic downtown Cocoa I discovered the stately Porcher House in Cocoa Riverfront…read morePark. As a fan of historic architecture, this is a gem worth checking out. In front of the home is a historic marker that is part of the Historical Marker Program, one of the Division of Historical Resources' most popular and valued public history programs. The markers raise awareness of Florida's cultural history while enhancing the enjoyment of historic sites for residents and tourists. The blue historic markers tell the stories of the people and places that were important to Florida's history and they can be found in front of schools, forts, roads, archaeological sites, battlefields, cemeteries, roads, churches, historic districts, and historic buildings like this one. Historic marker F-937 was installed in 2017 by Brevard County Historical Commission, The Brevard Heritage Council, The Brevard County Tourist Development Council, and the Florida Department of State. This impressive home is associated with Edward Porcher. As a young man he moved to Cocoa from South Carolina in the late 1800's. He and wife Byrnina Peck of Atlanta settled into Merritt Island where they raised their family and operated Deerfield Groves, a citrus farm. He was the first person to grade fruit for shipping, patented the first fruit stamping machine, and he invented a machine to wash the fruit. He was the founder of the Indian River Orange Growers Association. In 1962 he was inducted into the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame. Byrnina was the first postmistress on Merritt Island. In 1895 the Porcher family moved into a three story wood frame house where the Cocoa Civic Center is now located. Construction on the Porcher's Neo Classical Revival home began in 1914 based on Mrs. Porcher's design. A special feature in front of the house are the stones that were cut to represent the suits of cards in a game of Bridge. The house was built from native coquina rock and included ten bedrooms, four and one-half baths, a partial basement, and an attic. The staircase is made of teak, the floor is oak, and the wainscoting and trim are cedar. The Porcher family moved into the grandest home in Cocoa on October 31, 1916. Portions of the house are original while others are restorations. No longer on the property are the porte-cochere on the north side, the Porcher's swimming pool, and the large packinghouse that was on the river bank behind the house. The packing house was used to process produce delivered by boat the family's groves on Merritt Island. Edward Porcher passes away in June 1939. Upon his death the house passed to his son Arthur who died the next month. The house became a hotel and then in 1945 the City of Cocoa purchased it and used it for City Hall. Money from city and state historic preservation grants were used to restore the Porcher House and it was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 6, 1986. Today the Porcher House can be rented for private events like weddings.

Porcher was in the business of oranges. Later, this house was used as city hall…read more Now it is an event venue for weddings and such. The house has been restored, but it is not furnished as a residence. Some of the rooms contain offices where you can reserve the house for an event, and arrange for catering. The front door latch is a bit hard to open, so try a little harder before giving up on it. Don't expect a guided tour of the house, but walk thru and have a look, when there is no wedding or reserved private event going on. There is an elevator to the second floor, with water fountain and restrooms nearby. Look out the first floor back porch to the river. Walk out the back and stroll to the river thru a park with an amphitheater. There is another park on the block that has swing sets for the younger folk. This Porcher House is next door to the civic center.

According to the historical landmark plaque (summary version):…read more In early pioneer times native Americans and explorers had to pull or haul their canoes and boats across this narrow strip of land from the Mosquito Lagoon to the Indian River. Hence it became known as "haulover". Fort Ann was established nearby in 1837 during the 2nd Seminole War to protect the haulover from Indians and also carry military supplies from the Lagoon to the River. In 1852, the first canal was dug using slave labor by contractor G.E. Hawes. It was 3 feet deep, 14 feet wide, and completed in time for the 3rd Seminole Indian War (1856-1858). By 1887 a new and deeper canal was dug not far from the original. This is its present day location. In 1927 the Haulover Canal was incorporated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to be maintained. It has been dug wider and deeper and a basin added for launching boats. I enjoy visiting here. It's a beautiful motorcycle ride that includes riding through the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge- just north of Kennedy Space Center. There's a drawbridge that crosses the Haulover and as one crosses over from the south, on the north side is a site for manatee watching. The manatee watching site has a paved parking lot and a raised concrete fenced platform where one can watch manatees as they forage for food and raise to the surface for air. They can stay under water anywhere from 5-15 minutes so be patient. I saw several on my visit. Several boats were going "out" into Mosquito Lagoon. I saw a pontoon boat, a fishing boat, a sailboat (that required the drawbridge to be raised), and even a person in a kayak. The boat launch is on he south side and west of the drawbridge. This is a great place to visit or bring your boat and enjoy a day on the water traversing between the Mosquito Lagoon and the Indian River by way of the historic Haulover Canal.

Love seeing Manatees, dolphins and gators at the haulover canal. Beautiful spot. Usually quietread more