Kennedy Space Center: Mom Calls Me a Space Cadet

Everyone that knows my family, knows that we’re Disney people. I never understood why anyone would go to Central Florida to do anything but Disney (or Universal). Then just a few months ago, one of my favorite people crossed the Florida state line and I would’ve gone just about anywhere to meet her. This led us to our impromptu trip to the Kennedy Space Center.

I had thought about visiting the Kennedy Space Center so many times but never really planned it out, thinking Isabella was too small to enjoy the experience. I was wrong. We had an absolute blast with my dear friend and her wonderful family which made the visit even sweeter. Although Isabella probably didn’t truly understand anything beyond the basic concept of “this goes all the way up in space, to the stars,” she was still absolutely fascinated.

There were plenty of things for her to crawl through and explore and tons of buttons for her to press. She was in button heaven. She may not have quite understood how to play some of the simulated games but, she played them anyway. With the help of daddy, she maneuvered a spaceship with surprising mediocrity.

A common concern is that there isn’t much to do at the space center. This could not be more wrong. There are over 60 multimedia presentations, displays, and high-tech simulations. For us bigger kids, there’s also a simulated shuttle launch which was pretty neat to experience, plenty of artifacts, and hundreds of buttons and levers to press. The most notable highlights of the Kennedy Space Center are the Space Shuttle Atlantis, Shuttle Launch Experience, Apollo/Saturn V Center, KSC Bus Tour, IMAX theater, Astronaut Training experience, Children’s Play Dome, and Lunch with an Astronaut.

This guy was a neat robot astronaut that roamed the exhibit but, this in not the astronaut you lunch with. The Space Center provides families with the ability to eat a buffet lunch in the company of an a veteran astronaut. Which I think is pretty neat.

The Kennedy Space Center is the perfect weekend getaway for families of all shapes and sizes. I would completely understand if someone went to Central Florida just to visit the Space Center but it is definitely a good addition to any Central Florida vacation. If you’re in Orlando for Disney or Universal and have planned a down-day between park days, I definitely recommend this as an activity. Although there’s a lot to do there (which can keep you entertained most of the day), the crowds are smaller and it’s easier to navigate around. The admission is also half the cost of the other theme parks.

The Kennedy Space Center is definitely a ‘must’ at least once in your life. My parents brought my sisters and I when we were young and I remember it expanding my curiosity. As an adult, it did just the same all over again. If you wind up there, let us know what you think.