Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

We recently spent a day at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.  Miss Cupcake enjoyed every moment of the fun and educational experience.  We all enjoyed learning about the engineering of rockets and the exciting plans to send astronauts to Mars.  It was certainly a pleasant day full of family fun!

Children's Play Dome

The Children's Play Dome immediately caught Miss Cupcake's eye when we entered. This one-of-a-kind space-themed playground with the majestic Rocket Garden as a backdrop allows children to take off in a spacecraft, climb a moon rock wall, crawl through rocket tunnels and slide to the surface of the Moon.

Dear Hubby and I used this opportunity to take a look at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex map and schedule of shows while Miss Cupcake enjoyed the Children's Play Dome. 

Atlantis Theater

Our journey began in the Atlantis Theater where we learned the story of the people who dared to do the impossible. We gazed in wonder at a close-up view of Space Shuttle Atlantis, displayed in mid-flight glory. With more than 60 interactive exhibits, this was an amazing opportunity to celebrate some of humankind's greatest achievements. 

Rocket Garden

We loved exploring and learning in the Rocket Garden!  At NASA, it is often said that we stand on the shoulders of giants. Nowhere is that more apparent than in the Rocket Garden. Behind every rocket you see are great men and women engineers and astronauts, designers and thinkers who turned dreams into history.  

Miss Cupcake was amazed by the Rocket Garden!

3D Presentations

A highlight of the day was the two incredible, five-story 3D presentations. One explores the breathtaking images captured by the Hubble Space Telescope, and the other details projects that NASA is currently working on, like sending astronauts to Mars.  This was Miss Cupcake's first time watching a 3D show, and she was highly impressed with the experience.

Astronaut Encounter

Miss Cupcake loved this large astronaut display!  But it gets even better than that... visitors have the unique opportunity to meet a real veteran NASA astronaut at the live Astronaut Encounter show. Offered multiple times daily, this exciting presentation features an astronaut every day with more than 30 of the approximately 500 hundred men and women who have flown in space scheduled. 

  throughout the year.  Lunch with an astronaut is also available!

Kennedy Space Center Tour Bus

There’s no better way to get a glimpse of Kennedy Space Center than on one of the daily tours.  These tours depart by bus every 15 minutes from the Visitor Complex. The experienced tour guides will take you past some of the most iconic NASA landmarks.  Miss Cupcake fell asleep on the bus which gave her an opportunity to sneak in an afternoon nap while the hubby and I enjoyed the tour.  Fun fact: we spotted several alligators during the bus tour!

Apollo/Saturn V Center

We relived the wonder and excitement of the Apollo era in this one-of-a-kind exhibit that celebrates the unprecedented achievement of putting man on the moon and the joy felt in that moment by all humankind.  

Journey To Mars: Explorers Wanted

 We learned more about what it truly takes to explore Mars in this inspiring show. The exhibits provided us with a look at prototypes and designs that will launch the next generation to Mars and beyond, including rovers, simulators, and the Orion crew capsule.  This was my personal favorite show at the  Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.

Being one of the first astronauts on Mars is now high on Miss Cupcakes's list of aspirations. 

Dream big little one!