356.365 Vero Beach

It was another beautiful day...we really lucked out with the weather.  Today was partly cloudy and in the low 80s.  We would spend the morning at the pool, eat lunch poolside and then head to the beach which was a short walk away from the villa.   We would then head back to the pool for late afternoon.  We are also lucky to have friends that we travel well with and our kids have so much fun together.  

 They all had so much fun building a moat and sand castle.

 Washing the many shells they found.

 We also had moments of just standing in the surf and letting the waves crash around us.

This evening we noticed a bright orange glow in the sky and were amazed to see SpaceX launch their orbital rocket into space.  It made history as it was the first orbital rocket to launch and return to earth and safely land at Cape Canaveral.

Tonight was also memorable as Chris' Chewbacca impersonation brought us first in line for the s'mores during a fun bon-fire at the resort.  

355.365 Vero Beach

On Monday we spent the day at the pool and beach at our resort.  We stayed at Disney's Vero Beach Resort.  It was unseasonably warm in Florida too with temperatures 20 degrees above normal this time of year according to locals we met.  The water was cold but the air was warm and humid.  The kids all loved the beach with its crashing waves and sand.  

Every afternoon ended with an ice cream treat!  

354.365 Kennedy Space Center

On Sunday, we woke to a beautiful Florida day and headed to Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space center.  This is where many shuttles have been launched (and failed), and scientists and astronauts have come together to build, repair satellites and shuttles.   It took us about a hour from Orlando to Cape Canaveral area. 

 The entry to the Kennedy Space Center.  In 1961, John F Kennedy had a goal to make it to the moon and really inspired Americans to support a lunar landing.  

 We took the Kennedy Space Center Bus Tour which brought us from the visitor complex and we were able to see parts of the space center.  

 The bus had to stop to let an alligator walk across the road!

We then ended at the Apollo/Saturn V Center.  

 We were able to stand under the largest rocket ever flown, the Saturn V.  This rocket is 363 feet long and 33 feet wide.  This particular Saturn V was actually never used as the majority would have been burned when it re-entered the earth with the exception of the capsule.  Its sister rockets were used for the transportation for 27 astronauts who travelled to the moon and back.

 The girls touching a moon rock.

 We listened and watched through the eyes of the mission control, the historic day at the Lunar Theater.  

 In the Apollo Treasure Gallery

Alan Shepard's Apollo 14 spacesuit