It has been a few months of catch-up. Really, it has been a few months of busy end-of-the-year things. So many things seem to come up at the end of the year, and I just had to find something to put off. I decided that this year it was the blog. No one would die if I did not do this for a while. Sometimes we have to be okay with it. The first month it bothered me, but then I was OK. It felt like it was half the year that I missed, but now I realize it was only missed two months. Why did it seem like a much bigger deal in my head? I just took a vacation! Give yourself grace, we’re allowed. I have to remind ourselves of that a lot. Then we can jump back in! I have so many things I want to write about now.
Before this little vacation, we took an amazing Field Trip with some of our co-op families to the Kennedy Space Center. They had this amazing deal in September for an adult to bring up to 3 kids in for free. It is over a 2-hour drive from us, but it was such an amazing deal to pass up. Unfortunately, we thought it almost might not happen. We were scheduled to go on the 25th and Hurricane Helene was due to hit the West Coast on the 26th. Somehow we did feel any effects from it until after closing time. Due to the drive, we were planning on starting the trip well before they opened and it would suck to make a long drive to find it closed. I sent a Facebook message just in case, and I am so thankful for whoever was manning their social that night and confirmed they would be open. Hurricane Helene ended up being a huge storm and we drove through its outer bands on the way home, but yet we were visiting space. We did not realize how bad of a storm it was going to be for the Gulf Coast, because we had a little laugh that our hurricane prep was leaving early for this trip.
Arriving at the KSC, I remembered the giant NASA sphere that we took a photo with when we came about 5 years ago. We also remembered all the giant shuttles in the outdoor rocket garden. There were ones you could even sit in. I also remembered the bus tour was amazing the last time and that was the one thing I knew we had to do. Since we had to wait for the rest of our group, we first entered NASA Now and Next building. I think we may have completely skipped this before, or I blacked out from chasing a toddler then. The displays were amazing and educational, but the kids were all about the rides! Yes, rides! As we were the first to arrive, and then I was the parent who did not get motion sick, I took each new group of kids on the rides until I finally said, okay, I’m done. Through screens and motion seats, we were able to feel like we were traveling through Mars and also into the Milky Way. There were two we did not even do because they had lines and we simply walked into our positions to the others. There was more in that building that we did not get to, but I was ready for something new.
We then took the bus tour that brought us behind the gates to the Shuttle Garage and past the super cool crawl vehicle that helped move the shuttle to the launch pad. This was the part of the tour I remember. The big tour buses are comfortable and the driver gives valuable information, as well as plays videos to go along with the various areas. The bus ends the tour at another building called Race to the Moon. It took us into a room that looked just like the Apollo 8 firing room. We listen to all the different sounds and voices that would have been part of the firing of the Apollo. We felt the vibrations of the shuttle outside the building and we even counted down together. It was amazing. When it was over, and the doors opened, we were able to see the Saturn V rocket and more inside that building. There were other educational videos we could have sat in, but there was just so much to do and explore for the kids. We also wanted time at the main facility.
After taking the bus back, it was raining. Remember there was a hurricane on it’s way. We ran into the closest building, Mission Space. This was an adventure I remember, but this time both girls were into the intro and when the doors opened to the Space Shuttle Atlantis, we were in awe. We stayed in this building for a while, to wait out the rain. The kids were not complaining though, because there was something to do with all the time. We did a shuttle simulation. It turned us straight up so we were laying on our backs in the seats, just like an astronaut in a shuttle. We also felt the rockets behind us and when we leveled off. It was super cool, and something we missed the first time. Isla was too small and Evie refused all rides. This time they both did it, because even though Isla was sometimes nervous about a new thing, she had a sister and friend to come along. There was a slide inside from the top floor down that the kids did multiple times until the rain slowed down.
We also went to the play area which is in their IMAX theater building. We did not watch a film at the IMAX, but we let the kids play in this huge two-story play zone until closing time. I sat on the floor by the exit and just let them explore. It was amazing. This area is new since we were last here. Before it was outdoors, which we would not have enjoyed on this drizzly day, so I appreciate the move.
We had so much fun and learned so much on this field trip and yet we also did not make it everywhere. It is huge! Make sure that if you come to visit, you plan a whole day there. It can probably be done if you don’t ride the rides 10 times each, stay in the shuttles to press all the buttons, and stay in a building to wait out the rain. We were never bored though, so that tells you that it is all worth taking a visit there. It is also worth going multiple times over the years to experience it all. If this deal is available next September, we will visit again. This time we’ll start with the Heroes building and this thing we know we missed this year. I remember the Heros from our previous visit, but I know the girls have forgotten. The hero wall on the way out, at least inspired Evie to ask me to get her books on the Challenger disaster so that she could read about it. Perhaps she will be more prepared for her next visit.
If you have thought of visiting the Kennedy Space Center, do it! Deal or no deal, it is worth it. Be aware that there is enough to do with a basic ticket, but there are also more tours and VIP looks that you can purchase if you want to do even more. There is so much available!