Review: Kennedy Space Center

Tell us a bit of the history behind the Kennedy Space Center.
The Kennedy Space Center was most famously the launch pad for the Apollo 11 mission to the moon in 1969. Today the complex welcomes around 1.5 million visitors a year, and encompasses more than 130 square miles. It’s a comprehensive space experience, with real-life artifacts and spacecraft mixed in with impressive multimedia presentations.

Wow. What can we expect to see on an average visit?
One of the main draws here is the actual space shuttle, the Atlantis orbiter, which goes hand-in-hand with the Shuttle Launch Experience, an immersive simulator. A little more retro but still engaging is the Apollo/Saturn V Center, again with an actual rocket on display and a recreation of a control room. The Astronaut Hall of Fame and the Rocket Garden are both fascinating, paying tribute to the work of NASA; an IMAX theater shows some great films, too.

How easy is it to get there, and to get around?
The Center is around an hour’s drive from downtown Orlando—and one that's well worth it. There’s a great bus tour if mobility or Florida heat is an issue, but apart from that, the facility is easy to navigate and everything is well signposted.

What's the crowd like?
The center is very much geared toward fans of space exploration and science, and it’s much more educational than many other Orlando attractions. However, there are enough interactive and ride-like attractions to keep things interesting for those with short attention spans.