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.

I'm a fan of rockets, launches and photography in general and I have driven from Miami several…read moretimes to witness many launches. I remember the rollout of Artemis I and the many scrubs, multiple times and drove to and stayed at Titusville for this historic experience, until it finally happened on the early morning of November 16th 2022. This time I watch it from the rooftop of the newer Courtyard Hotel. It was quite an experience, everyone clamping and screaming and happy! The closest point to LC-39b with public access is Playa linda but due to its proximity it's always close 48 hours before any launch attempt. So the really best option will be from inside KSC at the banana creek or the Apollo/Saturn V Center but those options are quite expensive and they sellout in few minutes. I'm looking for ways to the next Artemis II schedule for the end of 2026...

**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

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.

I finally made it to see a Falcon 9 NROL-77 launch and can confirm this is the best and closest…read morelocation to Launch Complex 39A/B (which is too close to allow public viewing during launches) and nearby LC-40 and LC-41. Arrival & Transit Time: From the moment you park at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) Visitor Complex, it takes about 1 to 1.5 hours to reach the viewing site. Bus Ride: The bus ride itself is about 15 minutes. Cost: The transfer cost was $88 on top of the daily entrance fee (you might consider an annual pass if planning to return at least one more time). Launch Experience: The narration was very interactive, and the sound was impressive. A major bonus was being able to clearly see the booster landing about 10 miles away at Landing Zone 2 (LZ-2). Departure Time: The way back to the parking lot took a bit longer, almost an hour, since the bus made a couple of stops along the way. I liked it a lot and might return in 48 hours for another potential launch!

The Gantry at LC-39 is the newest attraction and first stop on the bus tour. It's adjacent to…read morelaunch complex 39 at Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral. LC-39 offers 360 degree views around Kennedy Space Center, with several free standing binoculars to see two of the launch pads. If my memory is correct they are launch pads 39 A and 39 B. Through the binocular on the right side of The Gantry you could see a rocket leaning against the side of the launch pad. On the left side you could see the Space X building(I think it was a building)The Gantry is 4 stories high, and is handicap accessible, there is an elevator and a ramp. As we were walking up to The Gantry, you can see a full sized rocket engine under The Gantry, and hear the count down to blast off. When the engine reaches zero the rocket engine starts up loud sound with steam and a mist coming from it. A very impressive photo or video opportunity. Inside The Gantry there are a lot of things to do and see, you can sit on one of the many NASA crawler transporter pistons to make a simulated rocket on the computers that surround the center of The Gantry. What is the crawler transporter?? The crawler-transporter is a huge machine that transports the rockets/shuttles to the different launch pads. It is bigger than a baseball infield, and when it was loaded with a space shuttle it weighs more than 18 million pounds and travels at a speed of one mile per hour. The crawler transporter travels on a specially made crawler way made to support the weight of the crawler transporter. The (according to KSC) river rock surface covers a layer of asphalt and a seven foot-deep bed of crushed stone, and it extends 3.4 miles from the VAB to Launch Pad 39 A and about 4.2 miles to Launch Pad B. There are clean restrooms here, (all of their restroom facilities were super clean and well stocked with supplies)the ladies counting for the buses to load were friendly, and the man running the souvenir shop at LC- 39 was friendly and welcoming. On the side of The Gantry there are stadium type seats to view a rocket launch. The Gantry was very informative and educational and well worth the visit.

There are many historic districts throughout Florida. They are usually associated with the land…read moreboom years of the 1920's when Florida was flush with cash. I discovered the Valencia Historic District near the Indian River Lagoon in Rockledge. Rockledge was founded in 1887 making it the oldest town in Brevard County. The homes in this neighborhood are very ornate and representative of the type of homes you would see in 1920's Florida. The neighborhood is very walkable or you can drive by. The Valencia Historic District is marked by the original entrance columns from the 1920's and 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, historic buildings, roads, churches, and historic districts like this one. Historic marker F-600 was installed in 2007 by Brevard County Historical Commission, The Brevard Heritage Council, The Brevard County Tourist Development Council and the Florida Department of State. The Valencia Homes Company was formed in 1924 by local businessmen C. Sweet Smith, Charles D. Smith, L. S. Andrews and Horace R. Bruen. The company acquired a 22-acre tract of land that was formerly the site of the Plaza Hotel and part of an orange grove. In March 1924 the company platted the subdivision and named it after the type of oranges that grew there, and for the Valencia region of Spain. The neighborhood had entry gates, a waterworks, paved roads, installed light posts, and tropical landscaping. Each lot was 25 feet wide and most buyers purchased at least two of them. Each sale agreement required that the homes must cost $4,000 or more and be in the Spanish, Moorish, Mediterranean, or Italian architectural design. Al of the homes were designed by Richard W. Rummell, Jr., who also designed many other buildings in Brevard County. All of the contributing homes to this historic district were built between 1924 and 1926 and there are 54 historic buildings. One of the most notable homes is the 1880 Queen Anne style home of H.S. Williams, now the Lawndale Museum on Rockledge Drive. All of the other homes in the neighborhood are private but you can tour the inside of this one with period furnishings for $10 on Saturday afternoons. The Valencia Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992.

Cocoa Beach will always be associated with the classic sitcom I Dream of Jeannie. Airing from 1965…read moreto 1970, the television series starred Barbara Eden as a 2,000 year-old genie and Larry Hagman as astronaut Major Anthony Nelson. After a wayward space mission, Nelson crash lands on a deserted island where he discovers Jeannie sealed inside an ornate bottle. She hitches a ride back to Cocoa Beach in his bag, where her magical powers and love for him lead to five seasons of comedy. Although the series was filmed almost entirely in Hollywood, California, it was set in Cocoa Beach because of its close ties to NASA and the Space Coast. The cast and crew made two promotional visits to Cocoa beach but the city itself never served as a filming location. The show continues on through reruns and streaming. After portraying the handsome Major Anthony Nelson, Larry Hagman went on to even greater fame as the ruthless oil tycoon J.R. Ewing in the hit television drama Dallas, which aired from 1978 to 1991. Hagman passed away in 2012. Barbara Eden, now 94 continues to make occasional public appearances while supporting charitable causes. Cocoa Beach has proudly embraced the legacy of I Dream of Jeannie. In 1996, city leaders dedicated the street beside Lori Wilson Park as I Dream of Jeannie Lane, with Barbara Eden attending the ceremony. Then, on August 24, 2012, the city unveiled a commemorative roadside plaque outside the park honoring the series. I happened to be visiting Lori Wilson Park when I found this roadside reminder of the show. I couldn't help but hum the familiar I Dream of Jeannie theme song as memories came to mind. Jeannie's iconic pink outfit is still a favorite of cosplayers. This is a nostalgic stop that commemorates Cocoa Beach's connection to the golden age of the space race and one of television's most enduring comedies.

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...

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.