Kennedy Space Center

One of the highlights of visiting Florida is a trip to the Kennedy Space Center, home to the iconic launches that helped America win the Space Race. Today, private companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin set the stage for the next chapter in that great story.

Visits to the Space Center are filled with incredible story telling, the chance to glimpse rockets and capsules of yore, and hands-on opportunities to learn about the next frontiers in space travel.

The one downside to being such an iconic spot is crowds; even on a weekday, there are throngs of people just getting inside with a pre-printed ticket can take an hour. Still, the attraction is well worth the wait.

Pick your own adventure: There’s a lot to do here. If your interest lies more with Mars exploration, there’s an entire exhibit dedicated to that. If you’re a fan of the shuttle program, an incredible experience awaits that includes a close-up look at the massive and iconic shuttle, as well as a launch experience that’s about as close as you can get to the real thing.

If you want to get closer to the launch pads themselves, there’s a special interest bus tour that transports you out to the swamp where the rockets blast off.