KENNEDY SPACE CENTER

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is located in Central Florida, just over an hour drive east from Orlando International Airport.   The entrance is located on Space Commerce Way.

 

 

Note: If you have visited Kennedy Space Center in years past, the former entrance to the visitor complex is now for crewmembers and deliveries only.  On your GPS device use the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and NOT Kennedy Space Center as you will be directed to an incorrect location. 

 

Parking at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex runs $10 per automobile.  Oversized vehicles, motor homes and RV’s are $15. 

 

Note: Since the parking lot is huge, make sure to snap a photo of the sign indicating your parking area.  

 

The visitor complex is open Monday-Sunday at the following times:

 

January 1 – January 7                  9am-6pm

January 8 – March 10                  9am-5pm

March 11 – April 14                    9am-6pm

April 15 – June 23                       9am-5pm

June 24-August 18                      9am-6pm

*times are subject to change on peak season

 

It has been a while since I last visited Kennedy Space Center and initially I was a bit hesitant due to the admission fee, finding it somewhat expensive.  However, after spending the entire day exploring the center, I came to the conclusion that it was definitely worth the cost.  General admission begins at $80.25USD per person.  I took advantage of the Senior ticket at a cost of $74USD. 

 

The Visitor Complex is organized into “Mission Zones”  where attractions and tours are grouped by chronological era.  From the dawn of space exploration to current and ongoing missions, you will get an up-close, hands-on feel for the story of humans in space. 

 

There are literally thousands of things to do at the Visitor Center. If you only have one day to spare for your visit, here's my curated list of absolute must-see attractions, all included with your general admission ticket. 

 

ROCKET GARDEN

NASA’s Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs are represented in this garden of giants.  

 

 

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER BUS TOUR

From the comfort of an air-conditioned motor coach you will view the restricted areas of Kennedy Space Center.  Along the narrated journey you will learn and see some of the most mission-critical areas of Kennedy Space Center, including launch complex 39B and the Vehicle Assembly Building.  The last bus tour runs 2.5 hours before park closure.  Tour routes may be altered at any time due to safety protocols required in the days leading up to a launch from Complex 39A. 

 

Entrance to bus tours

Vehicle Assembly Building

Launch pad 39A / photo: public domain

SpaceX launch pad 39B / photo: public domain

 

Entrance to Apollo Exhibit

 

Apollo Mission Control exhibit

 

Men on the Moon display

Lunar Sample from Apollo 17

 

Apollo Missions

ASTRONAUT HALL OF FAME

Created by the Mercury Seven astronauts, in this exhibit you will learn about the lives of our space heroes. From Project Mercury to the Space Shuttle Program, this is where American astronauts are remembered and honored.  

 

 

SATURN V ROCKET

Every human who has ever stepped foot on the Moon launched from the Kennedy Space Center atop a Saturn V rocket.  Learn the power of this rocket and envision yourself launching into space on this massive machine.  You will walk beneath a real Saturn V rocket.  Measuring 363 feet in length, it is 60 feel taller than the Statue of Liberty.  A total of 13 Saturn V rockets were launched between 1967 and 1973 but the one on display at the Kennedy Space Center is one of only three remaining in the United States.   Be sure to include the daily guided tour through each of the three stages of the rocket. 

Capsule

 

SPACE SHUTTLE ATLANTIS

The Space Shuttle Atlantis launched like a rock and landed like a glider while transporting astronauts to space and back for thirty years.  You can now stand in awe of this American icon in it’s permanent home at Space Shuttle Atlantis.   Here you can explore the shuttle missions that secured the future of the Hubble Space Telescope and the International Space Station.  You can learn how to dock and land the shuttle with training simulators.  

Entrance to Space Shuttle Atlantis/Marci with outstretched arms

Space Shuttle Atlantis on display

 

Space Shuttle Pilot Marci

Space Shuttle Kitchen Area

Space Shuttle Rockets

Space Shuttle Missions

HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE THEATER

Deployed in 1990 and orbiting 340 miles above the Earth, the Hubble Space Telescope debut was delayed when it was discovered that the optic mirror did not work.  Witness how dedicated astronauts fought to save the telescope over the course of five grueling service missions.  Hubble has helped to answer some of the most basic questions about the universe and is still operating in space more than 25 years later.  This exhibit includes an exact replica of the telescope suspended between two stories of the Space Shuttle Atlantis.  

Hubble Telescope Replica

 

JOURNEY TO MARS

In this exhibit you will discover NASA’s plans to explore deep space, including Mars, asteroids and once again, the Moon.  The multimedia exhibit highlights what’s happening at NASA right now.  Here you can test your deep space savvy with interactive games and simulators and explore replicas of the Mars rovers. 

Entrance to Missions to Mars

Mission Mars 2020

Mission Mars 2020

Mission Pathfinder

Mission Rover

Mars Rover

 

 

The Space Center also features an IMAX Theater.  

 

Entrance to IMAX Theater

The Space Center website provides a one day visit suggestion as follows: 

 

On February 24, 2024, during my visit, I had the incredible opportunity to witness the awe-inspiring launch of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, which successfully carried 24 satellites into space.  It was a momentous event that left me in complete awe of humanity's technological advancements and our ability to explore the cosmos. 

SpaceX Falcon 9 launch

 

For further information check out the Kennedy Space Center website or call 1-855-433-4210.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STONEHENGE

On a recent TransAtlantic cruise to England I decided to spend two nights in Southampton.  This would allow me a full day to visit the World Heritage Site of Stonehenge, the prehistoric megalithic structure located in Wiltshire, England on the Salisbury Plain about 8 miles north of Salisbury, England.  

 

Archaeologists believe that Stonehenge was constructed in several phases from around 3100 BC to 1600 BC, with the circle of large sarsen stones placed between 2600 BC and 2400 BC. The surrounding circular earth bank and ditch, which constitute the earliest phase of the monument, has been dated to about 3100 BC.

 

The site and its surroundings were added to UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites in 1986. Stonehenge is owned by the Crown and managed by English Heritage.  The surrounding land is owned by the National Trust.

 

The Stonehenge that I visited last month seems incomplete with many of its original sarsens and bluestones having been broken up and taken away, probably during Britain’s Roman and medieval periods. The ground within the monument also has been severely disturbed, not only by the removal of the stones but also by digging—to various degrees—since the 16th century, when historian and antiquarian William Camden noted that “ashes and pieces of burnt bone” were found. A large, deep hole was dug within the stone circle in 1620 by George Villiers, 1st duke of Buckingham, who was looking for treasure. A century later William Stukeley surveyed Stonehenge and its surrounding monuments, but it was not until 1874–77 that Flinders Petrie made the first accurate plan of the stones. In 1877 Charles Darwin dug two holes in Stonehenge to investigate the earth-moving capabilities of earthworms.  The first proper archaeological excavation was conducted in 1901 by William Gowland.

 

Getting to Stonehenge from London is easy with several options.

By train

Salisbury will be your nearest train station. There is a direct line from London Waterloo which takes around 1 hour 30 minutes. From Salisbury you can take a taxi from the station (12 miles/19 km) or take the Stonehenge Tour Bus which departs hourly from the railway station area. You have the option to stop off at Old Sarum on your return trip if you choose to take the bus. 

 

 

By coach

There are many companies offering coach tours from London. Many of these depart from London Victoria 364 days per year. There are also small group and private hire options available to book online.

 

By car

Stonehenge is located just off the A303. For Satellite Navigation use "SP4 7DE" or "Stonehenge Visitor Center"  and follow the brown and white tourist signs to the Visitor Centre. There is a parking charge to non-members and those who have not pre-booked tickets. Journey time from central London is around 2 hours.

 

My planned visit to Stonehenge began at the Ibis Hotel in Southampton.

 

My GPS indicated it was under a half a mile from the hotel to the train station but I opted to call UBER, mainly because I knew the day would require a lot of walking and the extra steps would be taxing on me.  The UBER fare from the hotel to the train station was £4.05GBP or $5.12USD for two of us.

 

Arrival at the central train station in Southampton was 8:00am.  The departure board indicated a train would be leaving at 8:10am but I opted instead for an 8:37am departure.  The cost for the Southwestern Railway ticket was £28.50GPB or $36.01USD for 2 round-trip tickets from Southampton to Salisbury.  Arrival in Salisbury was 9:17am.

 

As you exit the train station, turn to your left and walk around the corner.  There is a posted BUS STOP sign on the building with the schedule.  

 

 

 

 

The double-decker green Stonehenge tour bus leaves every hour on the hour.  I caught the 10am departure.  Tickets can be purchased online or directly from the bus driver.  You can also buy tickets from the driver that include your Stonehenge admission. 

 

I arrived at the Stonehenge bus parking lot at 10:50am.  Return trips to Salisbury are every hour on the hour.  

Bus drop off location

Walking toward Visitors Center

 

Walking toward Visitors Center

Visitor Center Entrance Sign

Stonehenge Visitor Center Main Building

I first walked to the visitor center and exchanged my ticket for a wrist band.  As I was uncertain of the weather and wanted to definitely see the monument without rain, I opted to go directly to the shuttle bus boarding area first.  The shuttle bus takes you to the monument parking lot from where you will have to walk the final little bit to the actual site.  Shuttle buses run about every 20-30 minutes.  On the day of my visit it was both very cold and windy.  

 

 

Shuttle bus to Stone Monument

 

After walking around the monument, I caught the shuttle bus back to the Visitor Center and made my way to the Exhibition hall and also outside to look at the Neolithic houses. 

Sarsen stone

After a short break in the café area, I headed back to the bus area and boarded the 1pm back to Salisbury, arriving at the train station at 1:30pm.  The next train back to Southampton was 2:37pm, arriving at 3:05pm.  

 

Plan on spending a minimum of 2 hours at Stonehenge

• Start at the visitor centre
• Take the visitor bus to the Stone Circle
• Take in the Stonehenge virtual stones experience
• Find out about the Stone Circle and its ancient landscape in the Exhibition Hall
  
• Wander around the Neolithic houses
• Feel the Touching Stone and try your hand at pulling a sarsen
• Return to browse the shop, and take a well-earned break in the café