Kennedy Space Center

Unforgettable Family Vacation

There is an unfortunate misconception going around that the two words ‘family’ and ‘vacation’ don’t belong in the same sentence – maybe not even in the same book, unless it’s a fantasy novel. If you are among the large percentage of Americans who feel that kids and vacations just aren’t compatible, you ought to think again.

The most important thing to remember is that everyone who goes along on a family vacation should get to have a vacation. This is going to mean different things to different people, including family members. Adults, in many cases, are hoping for a little stress-free change of pace – not too much excitement, but enough to keep the blood moving nicely. Kids, as a general rule, just want to have fun, and that can cover just about anything.

The key here is to plan your vacation in a spot that offers every family member a lot of the things that he or she enjoys most. This may sound impossible, but with a little discussion and planning, you can do it – to immense satisfaction from all concerned.
Since there’s only room for one example, let’s take Orlando, Florida.

According to the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, Orlando offers ninety-nine major attractions, from glitz to ‘gators and pretty much everything in between. At the top of the list, of course, is Disney World. The park itself is kid-heaven, but keep in mind that the designers and management know a lot about kids and parents, so they have taken into account the differing ideas about “fun” of different personalities as well as age groups.

Aside from “the Mouse”, there are so many other attractions that beckon, it’s just a matter of doing a little research to find the one (or more, depending on your time allotment) that appeals to everyone in the family. The Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow (EPCOT) is a constantly evolving scenario of life in different cultures and how it may look in coming years, fascinating to all ages.

Because of its location and climate, Orlando offers an unbeatable combination of both man and nature’s most extravagant productions. You can go on an African safari or swim with dolphins and pet a sting ray. The Orlando Science Center is a hands-on encounter with science and nature, or you can get right inside MGM or Universal Studios for an up close and personal backstage (and onstage) experience.

Location-wise, Orlando is pretty much central to all of Florida’s abundance of entertainment. Destinations such as the Kennedy Space Center are only minutes away from the theme parks. Transportation via shuttle bus is available free from many locations, but if you choose to drive yourself, the directional signs are extremely visitor-friendly. In fact you can come to Orlando on Amtrak and bring your own car along.

Whatever your interests, you will find a smorgasbord of enjoyment for every member of your family. Just remember always that flexibility is a huge advantage in any circumstance, and apply it to your vacation plans wherever you go.

From 18000 feet, by Kennedy Space Center

Sky Diving for my 25th birthday

Campaign 2010: Loughlin, Russo diverge on issues

Campaign 2010: Loughlin, Russo diverge on issues
Republican candidates for Congress in District 1 agree only that U.S. is headed in wrong direction

Read more on The Providence Journal

UFO Brevard County Florida Approximately 14 Miles South Of The Kennedy Space Center

UFO video taped on December 28,2009 hovering over the Indian River Lagoon next to Patrick Air Force Base 14 miles south of the Kennedy Space Center in Brevard County Florida. I believe it’s our technology. I used a cheap telescope and most movement is from me trying to stay focused while I held the lap top. It looked different in the view finder then it does in the video. We lost the alternating rings of red, green and blue. You lose that on the video.

NASA Ares 1-X Rocket Launch from Kennedy Space Center 10/28/09 From VAB (3 Miles)

This is a video of today’s launch of Ares 1-X from the North West corner of the VAB.

Florida: Manatees, Dolphins and Gators, Oh My!

Looking for things to do in Florida? Having visited and lived in Florida I can tell you that there are an amazing number of manmade attractions and natural wonders in the Sunshine State.

Pensacola:  In the Florida Panhandle, Pensacola offers a number of great natural water sports; swimming, sailing and fishing just to name a few. Sam’s Fun City is a great place to take the kids for water fun, arcade games, indoor rides and laser tag.

Miami:  While in Miami, get away from the beach and shopping for a few hours of enjoying the lush botanicals at the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden.

Ft. Lauderdale: Located just north of Miami, Ft. Lauderdale is a great place to sightsee and watch the rich and famous by taking a Carrie B cruise of their yachts and homes. Get up close with nature on an exciting airboat ride at the Everglades Holiday Park.

Florida State Parks are located all around the State. When I visited last year, I was fascinated by the Blue Spring State Park with its large, clear spring, although I was disappointed to be there at the wrong time to see the protected manatees.

Navarre Beach: In the Panhandle, Navarre Beach draws visitors to its pristine beaches that are not as crowded as some of the other beaches on the Gulf Coast.

Florida Keys:  When you get to the Florida Keys make sure you take time to check out the Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. If you love viewing land and sea wildlife in their natural habitats these are a must.

Orlando: Everyone knows the most famous of Orlando’s family and kid-friendly attractions: Disney World, Universal Studios and Epcot Center.  However, take one night to visit the adults-only Pleasure Island for dining, dancing and live music.

Cocoa Beach: Cocoa Beach, Florida features the Cocoa Beach Thousand Islands Dolphin & Manatee Tour, the Kennedy Space Center and the Astronaut Hall of Fame.

Clearwater Beach: To find some great seashells, the beach at Clearwater Beach on the Gulf Coast of Florida is the perfect place to go shelling. But head out early or the local shell hunters will beat you to that big conch.

Key Largo: Swimming with dolphins is the dream of many people who feel an affinity for these gentle sea creatures. My sister visited Key Largo last year and was thrilled to get up close and personal with dolphins; a dream fulfilled.

So, what else can Florida offer me?!

Whenever somebody mentions going on holiday to Florida, your immediate thoughts are probably drawn towards images of Mickey Mouse and other famous Disney characters.  After all, the Orlando theme parks are a major part of the Florida experience and are often the sole reason why many holidaymakers choose to travel there.  But what if theme parks aren’t your cup of tea?  Does Florida have anything else to offer tourists other than big rides and burgers?

In short, a most definite and conclusive ‘yes’.  Florida is a diverse state and can be great for enjoying a relaxing break, exploring lots of areas of interest or simply partying hard.  The gorgeous coast around Tampa and St Petersburg to the west of Orlando makes for a picturesque retreat where the pace of life is chilled out and you can easily forget about all your little worries.  There are also some great beach areas to enjoy on the east coast too such as the areas in and around Daytona Beach and Cocoa Beach, where you’ll find proceedings somewhat busier than on the west coast. Cocoa Beach is near to Cape Canaveral, which is where NASA’s rocket launch headquarters are based and where you’ll also find the famous Kennedy Space Center, which its own website claims “is the only place on Earth where you can tour launch areas”. The website goes on to state that you can “meet a veteran astronaut, see giant rockets, train in spaceflight simulators, and even view a launch” at the center, which understandably helps to make it such a popular attraction.

Head further south and pay a visit to lively Miami and its famous shoreline. South Beach in particular is world renowned for its parties and is a great place to go and let your hair down, especially during the American spring break. Florida is a massively diverse place to visit though, so as well as catering for the party goers it looks after the nature lovers equally well. At Florida’s southern tip you will find the Everglades National Park, which is a fascinating wetland paradise and home to many rare and endangered species, as well as a group of islands known as ‘The Keys’ which stem out from the mainland. The Keys are a haven for sports fishing and are home to America’s only living coral barrier reef also, making it popular with scuba divers.

With the British Pound having a healthy exchange rate against the US Dollar at present, there is no better time to search for cheap holidays to Florida and take advantage of all this great State has to offer you. No matter what your interests are, the perfect holiday could be waiting just around the corner!