Viva Florida 500 Tall Ship Event Sails Into Port Canaveral May 1-12, 2013

May 2, 2013May 2, 2013 - Michelle Snow

Travel back in time over at Port Canaveral with the Viva Florida 500 Tall Ship Event, which takes place May 1-12, 2013.

The Galleon, a replica of the 16th century ships that the Spanish explorers used when they discovered Florida will be docked in the cove in Port Canaveral between Fishlips and baja Tavern.

It will be open for public tours daily from noon to 5pm. After the interactive tour, there will be exhibits and displays to check out, as well.

May 8 & 9, the Spanish Navy de Elcano ship will also be docked for public tours.

General Admission tickets are $15 for everyone over 13, and $11 ages 6-12. There are also Express Lane Admission tickets, which allow no waiting access, for $22 over 13 and $18 ages 6-12.

To purchase tickets, or for more information, visit TallShipEvent.com. This event is a production of the National Air, Sea and Space Foundation.

Kennedy Space Center Opens Angry Birds Space Encounter Attraction March 22, 2013

March 22, 2013March 27, 2013 - Michelle Snow

Kids of all ages will have another reason to visit the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex starting today (March 22), as the Angry Birds Space Encounter attraction opens.

Based on the popular video game, the attraction aims to inspire learning about science and technology in a fun way.

The 4,485-sq-ft Angry Birds Space Encounter includes six interactive stations:

Create Your Own Angry Bird – Guests create their own Angry Bird and then can print their bird as a keepsake
Danger Zone – A mirrored labyrinth challenges guests to find hidden Angry Birds
Cold Cuts Tile Puzzle – Guests attempt to solve Angry Birds sliding puzzles, with three levels of difficulties
Red Planet Lazer Challenge – Journey to the surface of the Red Planet, where lazer beams create obstacles along a course during a search for the mythical eggs
Eggsteroids Slingshot – Compete against other players using mini Angry Birds launched in a slingshot at the Space Pigs
Angry Birds Game Zone – Play the actual Angry Birds game against other guests

NASA astronaut Donald Pettit, Ph.D., who previously announced from the International Space Station that NASA and Rovio would partner on the creation of the Angry Birds Space game, was also on hand for the grand opening.

The opening of Angry Birds Space Encounter comes a few months before the Kennedy Space Center will celebrate the grand opening of the new $100 million home of Space Shuttle Atlantis June 29.

Admission is $50 + tax for adults and $40 + tax for children ages 3-11. The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex Commander’s Club Annual Pass is $63 + tax for adults and $53 + tax for children ages 3-11.

For more information, call 877-313-2610 or visit KennedySpaceCenter.com.

Kennedy Space Center to Open Space Shuttle Atlantis Exhibit on June 29, 2013

March 11, 2013March 6, 2013 - Michelle Snow

The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex has announced that it will open the Space Shuttle Atlantis exhibit on June 29, 2013.

This $100 million project will feature the shuttle as its centerpiece. Atlantis will be suspended off the ground and placed at a 43-degree angle with its payload doors open and its robotic arm extended.

The 90,000-square-foot exhibit will also include 60 interactive stations detailing the history of the space shuttle program.

“Although the multimillion-dollar interactive exhibit encompasses much, much more than the display of Atlantis, there is no denying, she is truly the star of the show,” said Bill Moore, chief operating officer of Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. “We know that this majestic beauty, which safely ferried men and women to space and back on 33 successful missions, is the real reason that our guests will travel thousands of miles, across oceans and across continents to visit Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex to see her in all her glory. There are no words to accurately describe the emotions and insights guests will gain when this attraction opens this summer, for there has truly never been anything like it before.”

Atlantis was rolled to its new home in a ceremony we covered last November. It has been covered in shrink wrap since then to protect it from construction dust and debris, and will be unwrapped in May, prior to the exhibit opening.

For more information on the Space Shuttle Atlantis exhibit, go to kennedyspacecenter.com.

Kennedy Space Center Offers Florida Resident $99 Four-Pack Deal

March 8, 2013March 6, 2013 - Michelle Snow

For a limited time, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is bringing back a great deal on admissions for Florida residents.

From now until March 24, 2013, guests can use a coupon available online (kennedyspacecenter.com/four-pack.aspx) to receive admission for four people on the same day for only $99. Normal ticket price is $50 per adult, so it’s basically like getting two people in free.

You must print out the coupon and present it at the ticket plaza at the KSC Visitor Complex with your proof of Florida residency to get this deal.

For more information, visit: kennedyspacecenter.com.

Florida Strawberry Festival Returns to Plant City February 28 Through March 10, 2013

February 19, 2013February 15, 2013 - Michelle Snow

Yes, the annual Florida Strawberry Festival is known for its food – especially, as you would imagine, its strawberry dishes – but it’s also known for its nightly headlining entertainment.

This year, the festival runs February 28 through March 10, 2013. Most nights there are two separate concerts, but on a few nights, there are three. The headliners are mostly country, but there are some classic rock and gospel thrown into the mix.

Here is a rundown of who is playing this year:

February 28 – Foreigner ($25); Chubby Checker ($15/$20); Jimmy Sturr (Free)
March 01 – Casting Crowns ($20/$25); Gene Watson ($15/$20)
March 02 – Justin Moore ($15/$20); Gloriana ($15/$20); Caroline Kole (Free)
March 03 – Alan Jackson ($45); Randy Houser ($15/$20)
March 04 – Dwight Yoakam ($20/$25); Lorrie Morgan with Pam Tillis ($15/$20)
March 05 – Martina McBride ($30); Bobby Vinton ($15/$20)
March 06 – Trace Adkins ($30); Neil McCoy ($15/$20)
March 07 – Brantley Gilbert ($35); Mel Tillis ($15/$20); Steve Hall & The Shotgun Red Show (Free)
March 08 – Scotty McCreery ($25/$30); T.G. Sheppard with Janie Fricke ($15/$20)
March 09 – Bret Michaels ($25/$30); Gaither Vocal Band ($20/$25)
March 10 – Blake Shelton with Michaela Paige ($55); Hunter Hayes ($15/$20)

Ringling Bros Fail to Amaze in Tampa Opening of Tour

January 12, 2013January 13, 2013 - Carol Garreans

[Editor’s note: This review is from the Tampa opening date – January 2, 2013 – of the entire tour, which was attended by our family blogger Carol, with her family. You can read a review of the Orlando show here.]

I grew up in Baraboo, WI, the original home to the Ringling Brothers Circus. My family knew a couple of the siblings. So when a show comes out with the Ringling name on it, my expectations are high.

We were blessed to be given tickets to the opening show of this current production, Built to Amaze!, over in Tampa, FL. When the doors open for the show, there is a preshow on the arena floor that is interesting and fun usually, without it costing any additional money. This year, however, they decided to add a bounce house for $6 additional for 2 runs through it. It was big and looked like a ton of fun! And of course, I was persuaded by 2 little people to spend the money so they could go bounce off some energy before the show. The kids liked it, but $12 on top of ticket prices is just ridiculously high priced for only 2 trips through the maze. Otherwise, the lines are long as more and more people make their way into the arena for the show. This really limits what you can do and we just gave up and headed for our seats.

I missed the first couple minutes of the show getting food, but it seemed as it was just a little segment for the people already in their seats, while still giving time for the rest of us to get back in to our seats. The Ring Master is introduced with great hype and the show begins.

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex Unveils New $16 Million Entry Plaza

December 28, 2012 - Michelle Snow

Yesterday (December 27), the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex unveiled the first phase of a 10-year Master Plan to enhance the guest experience, when it opened a new $16 million entry.

The new entry includes:

a grand plaza and fountain
ticket stations and self-service kiosks
will call, guest services and information stations
a retail shop
a restaurant

The new entrance draws guests from the parking lot into a grand entry plaza where they are greeted by a first-ever 3D representation of the NASA insignia that spans 13 feet in diameter.

To the right of the globe stands a 75-foot-long fountain that pays homage to the dreams of late President John F. Kennedy, for whom NASA’s Kennedy Space Center is named.

Kennedy’s face, along with a quote from his famous 1962 “moon speech” at Rice University, are laser etched onto a skyward-reaching arch of blue granite that stands 30-feet at its highest point. The inscription reads, “For the eyes of the world now look into space, to the moon and to the planets beyond…”

The 5,000-gallon fountain is lit in the evenings with LED lights and features 26 jets of water that can be programmed to create light shows for guests as they exit the park or during evening special events or exhibitions.

Get One Free Child Admission with Paid Adult at Kennedy Space Center through January 7, 2013

December 23, 2012December 23, 2012 - Michelle Snow

The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is offering a special discount for guests who visit during this holiday season.

Purchase one adult admission at $50 + tax, and get one child admission free (a $40 savings).

This special runs through January 7, 2013, and is only available when purchasing admission at the front gate ticket plaza. The offer is not available for advance purchase.

Admission includes the Kennedy Space Center Tour, featuring an actual Saturn V moon rocket, Shuttle Launch Experience, 3D IMAX® space films, Astronaut Encounter, Exploration Space: Explorers Wanted and all exhibits. Admission also includes the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame®, featuring historic spacecraft and the world’s largest collection of personal astronaut memorabilia opens daily at noon and closing times vary by season.

It also includes KSC’s second annual “Holidays in Space,” which runs through January 1, 2013. This includes holiday decorations and the opportunity to learn about the holiday traditions of each of the International Space Station partner countries: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and United States.