Astronaut Hall of Fame Museum

This museum is only a short drive from the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.  Your ticket from the Kennedy Space Center will get you into the Astronaut Hall of Fame within 7 days of your visit.  You can spend a couple hours here and see it all, well worth a stop if you are in the area.

A collection of test pilot helmets from a few of the original astronauts

The building houses the world's largest collection of personal space memorabilia and great displays showing the history of the Space Race and the US Space programs.

There is an area with interactive displays where you can try to do some of the tasks the astronauts do in space and a G-force trainer!  If you are brave enough there is the opportunity to experience 4Gs in the trainer - but lines can get long for this as it only seats 2 people at a time (about 20 per hour can do this).  You can try your hand at the Space Shuttle landing simulation which is quicker and doesn't have the same effect on your stomach as the G-force trainer!

A wall mural by Alan Bean

A small gift shop is at this location but there is no cafe or restaurant so plan accordingly.

Kennedy Space Center, the 'Up Close' tour

We returned to the Kennedy Space Center after learning about the Up Close tour offering.  This tour now includes a visit to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) that has been closed to tours since the beginning of the Shuttle program.  This tour has an additional cost ($25) above the entrance fee to the Kennedy Space Center.  Season pass holders can save 10% on the tour and also save on food and purchases in the gift shop.  If you are planning to go on this tour and purchase entrance tickets, check out the difference between season tickets and the benefits vs single day tickets.

Part of the Rocket Garden at the Kennedy Space Center

During the Shuttle program we were lucky to be on site at the Kennedy Space Center for 3 launches.  The museum displays, IMAX movies and exhibits do change - so there is always something new to see even if you have been here recently.  We arrived in the morning when the center opened and had time to look around a little before our 10am tour.  You are given a sticker badge with your tour and time on it, so you just show up at the bus tour area a few minutes before your tour time.  Be prepared to have your photo taken and available for purchase after your tour.   We were given a tour booklet and a bookmark while waiting in line - both have great information about the Kennedy Space Center and websites to visit.

Our tour bus at a photo stop with the VAB is the distance

This tour was different than the bus tour which is included in a visit to the center.  Our guide was an employee of NASA and had a PhD in engineering.  He had worked on many of the space programs,  was a great speaker and provided a wealth of information.  It wasn't the usual memorized script of a tour, but real stories and anecdotes that made this a great time for us!  Some things he told us were fun to know - like how the Mars rover that is due to land in August 2012 has Morse Code in the tires.  The engineers originally built the prototype tires with the letters JPL in reverse on the tires would leave tracks on Mars that showed JPL (for the Jet Propulsion Labs).   NASA said 'no' to advertising on the Martian surface, so the engineers changed the tires to have Morse Code built in for JPL.  We saw the prototype on display- with no mention anywhere of unusual tires!  Without this tour, we would not have noticed this interesting part.  Our guide also told us where we could see recovered solid rocket boosters and an external fuel tank that are being stored.  We were able to drive right up to the gate and take a look!

Mars explorer 'Opportunity'

External tank and solid rocket booster

The main reason we took the tour was to get up close to a Shuttle and to get inside the VAB.  Both events were great!  The Shuttle Endeavour was in the VAB at the time of our visit. The size of this building is hard to judge in pictures.  It is one of the world's largest enclosed spaces - 525 ft high, with four times the volume of the Empire State Building!  The Space Shuttles are being readied for their permanent homes on display around the country.  Atlantis will make it's home at Kennedy Space Center.  If you can go right now (Until Jan 30), Endeavour AND Atlantis are in the VAB to be seen on the Up Close tour!

Looking up in the VAB

Mission banners around the building were signed by workers

The main reason to be in the VAB!  This is shuttle Endeavour

Other stops on the tour included the A/B launch complex, views of the crawler transporters, mobile launch platforms and the Shuttle Landing Facility.  In addition you see the industrial area where NASA's headquarters are and the Operations & Checkout building.  The tour ends at the Apollo/Saturn V Center (the regular tours end here also).  You can spend as much time as you want here, buses run continually back to the Visitor Center.  There are a couple movies and displays to view here as well as a snack bar and gift shop.  This center is where the VIPs and family members watch launches from.

NASA rocket on a launch pad (inside the white covering)

One of the launch platforms

Launch Complex

Inside the Apollo/Saturn V center - you can see how massive these rockets are

When you visit the KSC make sure to check out the 'Astronaut Encounter'.  This is held in one of the small theaters and changes almost daily.  There will be an astronaut on site (usually the same one at the 'Lunch with an Astronaut' for that day).  The astronaut will give a presentation in the theater about their mission, job duties, show pictures and answer questions.  There is a photo op at the end - they take your picture to buy AND you can use your own camera too!  The astronaut is also available for autographs in the gift shop in the late afternoon - check the sign in the shop for times.  You can buy your photo, NASA stock photos or anything else you would like signed.  They will sign one item not purchased there per person.  Lots of kids had their ticket stubs signed.  Make sure you ask if there are any fees involved.  Some of the Mercury/Apollo astronauts get big $$ for signing items.  Most of the shuttle crews will autograph for free.  We were able to see Barbara Morgan STS-118 who was our 'Teacher in Space'.  She was the backup for Christa McAuliffe STS-51 and after the Challenger tragedy, it took 20+ years for her chance to fly.  She really enjoyed talking with kids and encouraging them to study math and science.  Lots of kids were happy to meet "a real, live astronaut"!

Astronaut Barbara Morgan STS-118

Time for visits and autographs

Okefenokee the "Land of Trembling Earth"

We decided to end 2011 at a place we have talked about visiting for quite some time - the Okefenokee.  Marlin Perkins gave us our first glimpse of the alligators, birds and the bouncy, moving ground that is actually layers of peat over the swamp in the 1960's.  We attempted to visit a couple of times before now, once it was raining and so windy that the rain was blowing sideways (not a good time for outdoor activity) and this past summer we were turned away at the gate due to wildfires.

There are areas untouched by fire and some that are already growing back

The Honey Prairie fire was started by lightning in April of 2011 and by October had burned over 309,000 acres.  Fire is a natural event in the swamps and needed to clear overgrowth and allow young cypress trees to get the sunlight they need.   Usually the fires can be controlled and directed, this one was different.  The fire raged and burned deep into the peat layers. Firefighters took months to gain control and unfortunately the fire consumed some of the areas that visitors enjoy - boardwalks, trails and a lookout tower.  There are still areas of the park that are burning and you can see scorched trees along the trails and drives.  Lots of new plants are already growing in and the fire cleared areas so you have an unobstructed view into parts of the swamp and marsh.

Sunset on the Canal

The East Entrance - Suwannee Canal Recreation Area was where we entered the park.  This area has a visitor center, a few hiking trails, scenic drive and Okefenokee Adventures.  The park is a National Wildlife Refuge and charges a nominal gate admission.

The visitor center and Okefenokee Adventures

We started our exploring at the Richard S. Bolt visitor center where the staff was helpful in giving us ideas of what to do and maps of the trails and scenic drive.  There is a movie about the swamp and interactive displays that teach the cycle of the swamp, flora, fauna and conservation efforts.  A small gift shop is at this site.

Make sure to read the warning signs!

Okefenokee Adventures is an on-site commercial provider of guided boat tours, canoe and camping gear rentals, food vendor and a gift shop.  There is a place to launch your boat- just make sure you register your trip with the staff.  We opted for a guided boat tour and were able to join a sunset cruise.  There were earlier cruises which are 90 mins and cost about $18 pp, our cruise was 2 1/2 hrs and was $24 pp.

Nile - our guide made sure we saw lots of wildlife and had time for pictures and questions

One of many gators we saw - I don't think we will canoe or camp out here!

Our boat left while it was still sunny and Nile was our guide.   He told us about the history, wildlife, plants and trees of the area while boating down the canal.  He was great at spotting gators, birds and more.  The group also helped to spot animals hiding in the area.  We boated out onto the marsh and were able to get out of the boat and jump on the ground to feel how it moves.  It was a very interesting experience - like walking on a big, spongy trampoline!

Barred Owl

Sandhill Cranes

At sunset we enjoyed listening to the bird calls and frogs.  By the time we arrived back at the pier it was getting dark.  This was a great end to a fun year of travels!  Our resolution for 2012 - more exploring of course!

Hermann, Missouri - Kristkindl Markt

Many people are familiar with the German heritage town of Hermann, Missouri for it's Oktoberfest, but there are other festivals and fun weekends that entice people to visit this Missouri River town.  We chose to visit during the annual Kristkindl Markt weekends in December.  The events were spread over two weekends and we ended up visiting both - too much to see and do in only one day!  Check out the town calendar of events on www.hermannmissouri.com to plan your visit.

The 'Christmas Pickle' ornament is a popular item

We drive down Missouri hwy 94 to get to Hermann which follows the Missouri River and the Katy (MKT) Trail.  Winter days are great for Bald Eagle spotting along the river.  Our first  stop in Hermann was at Stone Hill Winery.  The market was in their hall for the first weekend of the festival.  Parking was easy - big parking lots- and there were a couple of men with golf carts to take you to the hall if you wanted a lift.  The market was bustling with shoppers buying pottery, art, candles, sausages, nutcrackers, smokers, many kinds of ornaments and more!   There was a booth from the winery offering tastes of the warm spiced Christmas wine (Gluhwein) and a small dining area with wursts, soups and baked goods.

Indoor shopping with many handmade items

We shopped and then decided to take the tour of the winery.  Stone Hill charges a small fee for their tours, but it was informative and interesting.  You don't see any of the actual wine making or bottling - just the fermentation tanks and barrel cellars, but lots of local history is discussed.  After the tour we headed for the tasting room.  We were lucky and happened to be there on a day when the wine was buy a case and get a case FREE!! You also could mix cases - so we started shopping! 

The kids were interested in the old wine barrels

We had to taste in order to decide what to buy!

Merry Christmas to me!

After our wine purchase we headed over to St Georges church for their annual parish dinner and craft sale.  It was a great dinner in the church basement with chicken, turkey and all the fixings.  We ran out of time to visit  other sites on this Sunday - so we planned to come back on the following Saturday.

Our first stop on Saturday was the market which was held in the Festhalle and Hoffgarten.  The hall was decorated with boxwood garland, trees and candles.  Quite a festive event!  Many vendors were packed into the hall where they also had live music on a small stage and a wine bar from Hermannhof Winery which was serving wine, gluhwein (you could get it in a souvenir mug) and beer from the Tin Mill brewery.

Decorated for the holidays

There were benches to sit and enjoy the music

More vendors were in the Hoffgarten buildings where they also had a dining area.  We took a break and enjoyed the soup and German wurst plate along with some beer from Tin Mill.  There were carolers serenading us while we ate lunch.

Time for lunch!

Some of the carols were sung in German

The German school & museum was next on our list.  This tour has a small fee, but it is a self guided tour and you can take your time with the exhibits that interest you.  Two floors of the old school are filled with artifacts and information about the founding Hermann and life from the 1860's until now.  We were amazed with the many different rooms covering areas of home and farm, school, businesses, wars and an entire room dedicated to the riverboat trade.  There is a small store in the museum to purchase books, reproduction items, gifts and during the market weekends they have a German bakery with Stollen, Lebkuchen, Pffernuesse, Springerle and more.

A great example of a local woodcarvers work

I love the dollhouses wherever we go - this one has a Christmas tree!

The St George's rectory tour is a do not miss for this weekend!  This event is very popular and can have a small line waiting to tour, but it is well worth it.  There is a 'free will' offering at the end of the tour (the funds go to the local food bank).   The priest and members of this parish outdo themselves decorating this rectory.  This is Christmas overload in every room!!  There are over 40 decorated trees (over 4ft tall), garlands, nativities, candles, bows and lights everywhere you look. Some of the rooms have a theme and this is a self guided tour - volunteers direct the flow of visitors.

Living room tree with heirloom jewelry

The dining room has a Mardi Gras theme

This bedroom even had a stuffed bear and other animals

Irish themed bedroom

Weinachtsfest is the theme at the Deutschheim State Historic Site.  The home features 19th century trees, toys, cookie samples and information about German Christmas traditions.  There was a small gift shop where you could try the Springerle molds with play dough and there were cookbooks, molds, German 3D greeting cards and more for sale.

Sister city of Hermann is Bad Arolsen

We also visited Hermannhof winery (we do like their Norton and White Lady of Starkenburg) and the Tin Mill Brewery while in town.  Another fun filled sunny winter day complete!

Whatever your holiday traditions may be - we are wishing you a very Merry Christmas and look forward to our travels in 2012! (Maybe we will be coming to YOUR town!)

Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry

If you are in Chicago then try to find time to visit the Museum of Science and Industry!  We have been going to this museum for our whole lives and still enjoy the exhibits.  There is always something new - and of course our favorites that don't change much.   Admission for adults is $14 and parking is available in the garage for $18.  Members of other museums may get reduced or free admission - check with your home center (St Louis Science Center members get in free).  There are added paid exhibits like the Omnimax movies, coal mine, U505 submarine tours and traveling exhibits also.  We attended the Dr Seuss exhibit on this visit.  No photos were allowed in this area - but it was very good with original works, drawings, cartoons, sculpture and more.  We learned that Dr Seuss rhymes with 'voice' NOT 'goose'!

Contest winner Kevin got to live in the museum for a month!

Transportation Gallery - United Arlines 727, 999 Steam Locomotive, Spirit of America car and many more historic modes of transportation

Science Storms - the science behind natural phenomena of lightning, fire, tornadoes, avalanches, tsunamis, sunlight and atoms in motion

Everyone who knows this museum has their favorite spot - the chicks hatching, coal mine, U505, human development, Finnegan's Ice Cream Parlor, Coleen Moore's Fairy Castle.....  Check the schedules when you go to attend hands on science experiments led by museum staff. 

Gunther von Hagens' circulatory system - there are other body systems and illnesses shown in this way too

One of the many rooms in the Fairy Castle

Who can resist the lightning ball?!

The Museum of Science and Industry is located just off Lake Shore Drive and you can plan your visit by logging on to www.msichicago.org