Vacation Part 2: Kennedy Space Center

We took the kiddos to the Kennedy Space Center during our stay on the Space Coast.  We were so excited to visit.  The kids had been asking about going since we toured Johnson Space Center a few years ago.  They aren't big science geeks, but love exploring NASA complexes and museums.  Hubs was also looking forward to this part of our vacation.

Kennedy Space Center sure has changed since my last visit twenty years ago!  There was so much more to do and see on this visit and we only had a day allotted for it. We could have easily spent two days here.

The rocket garden was spectacular.  Little Man was greatly intrigued, as was Hubs.  We loved exploring it and learning more about the rockets.

We experienced the Legends of Space and thought the program was well done.

The bus tour of the complex was the highlight.  Our bus driver was wonderful.  He was entertaining and energetic.  We loved viewing the launch pads and learning more about grounds.

The Saturn V area and mission control simulation of a launch really brought home what it was like during the missions to the moon.  The kids thought that was very cool.

We took in the Mission to Mars exhibit and the Space Shuttle Atlantis for our final part of the day.  Seeing the shuttle was magnificent.  Hubs and I grew up watching the shuttle launches on television and following the missions.  I really wish the kids could have experienced it.  At least they will be old enough to remember the upcoming Orion missions.

We ran out of time to experience the IMAX theaters and the memorials.  We will have to return for those at a later time.  Overall, we had an awesome visit and will definitely invest in a two day pass our next time.

Vacation Part 1: Jetty Park Campground

We took a two week family vacation in November.  This time we pulled the Zinger to Florida to camp and enjoy a home away from home.  Our first stop was Jetty Park Campground in Port Canaveral, Florida.  Camping at the beach has been on the bucket list and we got to check it off!

Jetty Park Campground is a great little park.  We had a full hook up site and could hear the ocean from our site.  We couldn't see the ocean.  None of the sites had that luxury.  However, we were just a short two minute walk to the beach from our site.

Jetty Park is part of the Port Canaveral complex and offers camping, pier fishing, beach, playground, and a view of all the cruise ships coming to and from port.  We loved watching the ships go out!

Greenville Confederate Museum and Library Field Trip

We are studying the American Civil War and wanted to learn more about the history of this time period.  Fortunately, we have a wonderful resource near us.  The Greenville Confederate Museum and Library, is packed full of Civil War items and stories.  I arranged a docent led tour for our home school group and we spent over two hours learning about the local ties to the war.

The men that keep the stories of the local families alive in this museum are outstanding.  They personalized the tour for our students and we learned many things that we had not studied or seen at other museums.  (My kiddos have been to many Civil War Era homes, battlefields, and museums.)

The curators told us they have had visitors from all over the world stop in and visit.  Many have interesting ties to the Confederacy.  They had a husband and wife from France that had ancestors that fought for the Confederacy and lived in Tennessee.  At the end of the war, their ancestors decided to move back to France and by chance these two individuals found they had a common heritage.

This little gem is a must see if ever in Greenville, SC and wanting to learn more about the American Civil War.