Kennedy Space Center

Kennedy Space Center on Florida's Space Coast is the launch site from which the Apollo missions left for the Moon and the space shuttles rose to orbit, and it is still an active spaceport. Its visitor complex holds a real Saturn V rocket lying on its side, the retired orbiter Atlantis, and bus tours out to the historic launch pads.

The main sights

• The Saturn V rocket - the colossal Moon rocket displayed lying on its side.
• Space Shuttle Atlantis - the retired orbiter, tilted as if in flight.
• The launch pad tour - the bus out to the historic and active pads.
• Rocket launches - the chance, on the right day, to watch a real launch.

When to go

Year-round; a launch, if one is scheduled during your visit, is an unforgettable bonus, so check the schedule. It is a full day given the size of the complex and the bus tour.

Practical notes

It is an hour from Orlando, so it takes a day trip, and it is a paid attraction with a theme-park scale and prices. Actual launches are occasional and can slip or scrub, so they cannot be planned around reliably. It is genuinely inspiring for space fans and families.

Nearby

Orlando's theme parks are an hour west; the Space Coast beaches and Cape Canaveral are alongside.

Key facts