Posted: 02/09/2007--25/11/2008 || Rate this Article: 3 || Views|| Sign In || Register ||Hello Guest
A trip to Cape Canaveral, Florida will be a trip your kids will talk about forever! The Kennedy Space Center and the Astronaut Hall of Fame are two major destinations in the area, but there are also other sites which will create as much excitement as space.
The Kennedy Space Center and the Astronaut Hall of Fame offer a variety of adventures for the kids C from day camps, overnight campouts, field trips, IMAX films and even lunch with an astronaut. The Astronaut Training Experience gives students hands-on spaceflight training, and many astronauts are on hand daily to give briefings and meet visitors. There are a variety of interactive experiences throughout the Space Center and Hall of Fame, making this a truly educational and exciting experience. Check the launch schedules during your visit C many different satellites and other launches take place throughout the year so viewing a launch is a good possibility.
If the Space Center and Hall of Fame are out of your budget, be sure to check local guides C there are several free museums in the area that will give you a taste of the Space Coast. Space Walk of Fame at Searstown Mall in Titusville is one such museum that wont disappoint. It is a non-profit organization and displays personal collections from space workers. Books, drawings, models, early space suits, rocket parts, even a sports car driven by one of the astronauts, are all on display here. Admission is free, but donations are welcome. A gift shop is available for souvenirs.
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, located 4 miles east of Titusville on State Road 402, is part of NASA and the Kennedy Space Center. The visitors center and boardwalk showcases many of the local wildlife, and offers a gift shop where books, videos, CDs and other souvenir items may be purchased to commemorate your visit. There are free self-guided tour brochures, and tapes and CD available for purchase to narrate the drive along the Black Point Wildlife Drive C a six-mile one-way drive where visitors are sure to see alligators, crocodiles, birds of all shapes and sizes, and a variety of other wildlife. Another dont miss site is the Manatee Observation Deck, where as many as 60 sea cows have been spotted at once.
The Canaveral National Seashore is a beachside park great for exploring. Kids ages 6-12 can earn a Junior Ranger Decal by attending a one-day educational program, explore the 24 miles of undeveloped beach, or play all day in the sand and surf.
Port Canaveral is a destination within itself. Not only do cruise ships arrive and depart daily from this port, there are also areas for picnicking, swimming, boating, camping, fishing and biking. Port Canaveral is the worlds first quadramodal port C linking sea, air, land and space.
Another major destination in the area is the Cocoa Beach Pier. Dining, shopping and amusements abound at this landmark. Restaurants are situated right over the water, with spectacular views and a variety of menu items and prices. Restaurant patrons can save their receipt, show it to the attendant and walk all the way to the end of the pier at no extra charge. Fishing from the pier is also a fun activity C and all the gear you need is readily available for rent.
Be sure to buy or rent a body board, surf board or skim board and take advantage of the wonderful surf near the pier. A body board (or boogie board as it is sometimes called) is perfect for beginners of all ages and come in different lengths to accommodate different heights.
Just 25 minutes from the Space Center is the Brevard Zoo, which offers a look at 475 animals in a 55-acre park. At Paws On, visitors can pet small animals such as goat and deer, then climb on replicas of whales, turtles and even a stegosaurus skeleton. Wildside Tours are available for a behind-the-scenes look with a zoo keeper. Brevard Zoo is also the only zoo in the United States to offer kayaking for ages 5-adult, with guided tours in different areas of the Zoo.
The Florida Space Coast is a memorable, fun and educational destination.
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