Countdown Country: A Day at NASA Kennedy Space Center

This place was chosen for a very practical reason: almost no one lived here. Back in 1962, Merritt Island was mostly a wild coastal area, full of marshy waterways, scrubland, and alligators. There was so much empty space that if a rocket ever failed and crashed, it wouldn't harm anyone on the ground. Just seven years later, three astronauts lifted off from this very swampy spot on their way to the Moon. That amazing contrast is still what makes Kennedy Space Center so special. When you take the bus tour across the causeway, you'll see ospreys circling over the water. Then, the massive Vehicle Assembly Building appears, its doors so huge — 139 meters tall! — that clouds have actually formed inside. It rises out of the marsh like some ancient monument dropped from the sky. The entire area is actually a national wildlife refuge, home to over 300 different bird species. And yes, you'll probably spot an alligator or two on your way to a launch pad. **The Saturn V Rocket** No picture or video can truly prepare you for the sight of the Saturn V rocket. It lies horizontally in its own special hall, a colossal 111 meters long. As you walk beneath its F-1 engine bells, you'll find yourself staring up at machinery as big as a small house. The sheer scale of it makes everyone go quiet. Before you reach the rocket itself, a recreated firing room lets you relive the Apollo 8 countdown on the original control panels, completely in the dark. It’s an experience that earns every second of your attention. **Atlantis and the Memorial**

The Space Shuttle Atlantis is displayed with its nose pointing upwards and its cargo bay wide open, just twenty meters from where you stand. You can still see the scorch marks from its 33 journeys into space. Nearby, the memorial gallery for the Challenger and Columbia shuttles holds recovered parts, like a piece of Challenger's fuselage and Columbia's cockpit window frames. These are presented with such dignity that they make most visitors stop talking mid-sentence. Take your time in this room, and if you're bringing older children, talk to them about what they'll see beforehand. **Plan Your Trip Around a Launch** Cape Canaveral is busier than ever with rocket launches these days. Launch Complex 39A, which sent Apollo 11 to the Moon, now launches Falcon rockets regularly. You can buy special viewing packages that get you close enough to actually feel the launch in your chest. Before you book your flights, definitely check the launch schedule. It’s a good idea to allow an extra day in case a launch gets postponed. If you can, try to see a night launch – the pad lights up the night sky, the surrounding swamp turns bright as day, and every bird in the refuge takes flight at once. **Tips for Your Visit** You'll need at least a full day here, but two days would be ideal. Buy your tickets online and arrive right when they open. Start with the bus tour, and save Atlantis for the afternoon. The Florida sun is no joke, so bring plenty of water, a hat, and sunscreen. Orlando is about 45 minutes away, but Cocoa Beach or Titusville are much better places to stay if you want to be close for a morning launch.