The Kennedy Space Center offers a tour that will take you from the main visitor area to three different buildings that they have on property. Each stop offers a chance to see first hand into the past, present, and future of the space program. Shuttle buses take passengers from stop to stop while playing a movie in between on the history of what can be found at the next location. The commentaries from the videos are wonderful (they really know how to build excitement) and sometimes even better then the actual stops. The lines can get long and at peak seasons expect to spend minimum of half an hour in line waiting for a bus.

The first stop is the LC-39 Observation Gantry: This is just an observation deck where you can see various launch pads. If you have the time stop for a look around. The launch pads are very far from where the actual observation center is so for a closer look bring binoculars. All of the launch pads were used in the past, for former missions into space, but you can catch a glimpse of the one the is used today and if you are lucky and are there when they are getting ready to launch a shuttle you can actually see if on a launch pad. If you are short on time this stop can be missed.

The next stop on the tour is the Apollo/Saturn V Center. On the way there the shuttle goes by a crawler, which takes the shuttle to the launch pad, and you can see the actual NASA building. There are also short movies that you can watch on the way to the next stop. This center we were told was the best by all of the bus drivers. When you get off you go into a building and watch a movie on Apollo and then go into another room and watch a reenactment of the actual launch of Apollo 11. This is really well done and you really feel like you are there. After that you go into another room were you see a Saturn V rocket. There are other activities here as well. You can also eat lunch here. Expect to spend $10 per person and get food that makes cardboard taste good. The food made me feel bad for the astronauts, because if NASA was feeding us this, what were they giving the astronauts?

The final stop is the International Space Station Center where we got to watch scientists work on additions for the International Space Station that is currently in orbit. Most people agreed that this stop was one of the best on the tour.

The first thing to do here is to go on the KSC bus tour. They start early and run every 15 minutes. There is also plenty of wildlife to see along the way, and plenty of exhibits throughout each of the stops. The bus driver can be good if you get the right one. Make sure that you give yourself enough time for this trip since it took us around 3 hours and we didn't see everything. There are 3 stops along the way. Those stops include...
(1)LC-39 observation gantry-where you can see some of the launch sites
(2)Apollo/Saturn-V center-touch a real moon rock
(3)International Space Station Center-see them working on the next space craft going to the International Space Station.

Upon returning to the main complex There are two IMAX theaters. One narrated by Tom Hanks (Magnificent Desolation) and the other by Tom Cruise (space Station 3-D) both are good and about 45 minutes long each. Get there early and try not to sit too close for the 3-D effects are better at a distance. P.S. don't forget the popcorn.

Mad Mission to Mars is definitely a kids show and has really limited seating so get here early, and get a seat because the kids have a great time and so will most adults.

The Rocket Garden has an area where the kids can play but better than that they have some of the large rockets. It is AMAZING and it's where you can walk across the same Gantry that Neil Armstrong walked before he went to the moon. Also get inside some of the capsules that 1, 2, or 3 people would get inside. Just remember that they chose men that were about 5'8" or less just to fit the spaces. Twice a day they also have a walking tour with a guide that is fairly informative, but is a little dry and the kids might get a little bored.

Launch Status Center has a lot of info but while we were learning about outer space the kids were getting their booklets stamped. It keeps them somewhat interested but not for long.

Launch Status Center gives an update of upcoming missions but nearby you can see a replica Space Shuttle and the wall of light where those who gave there life in the quest of space.

Maybe best of all could be to listen to a real live astronaut talk about their missions, being able to ask them questions and getting your photo taken with them. Our astronaut had gone up on 4 missions including an untethered space walk and working on the Hubble telescope.

The Robot Scout exhibit is one that is somewhat boring and could easily be passed up.

There are other exhibits and plenty of shopping so leave time for that as well.

There is so much to do here that you will be glad that you can come back the next day for free just make sure that you get your ticket validated as you leave for the day.