NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida

Would you like to see the real Space Shuttle Atlantis up close? Or experience what's it like to be on a shuttle launch? How about an experience of having lunch with an Astronaut? There is more to these attractions if you visit NASA's Kennedy Space Center.

Express Ticket Area

When we sold our house in Cocoa, Florida last May, I was so sad knowing that I will be missing this place for good. We live about 10 minutes away from KSC and we have an annual pass therefore, when we live here, I go any day I want.

This express ticket area is convenient and the machine is easy to use.

Ticket Area

It's in the afternoon but, the line is long.

Ticket Area

Entrance to Kennedy Space Center

The Express Ticket Area is on the left if you do not like to wait in line.

NASA's Kennedy Space Center Entrance

Parking lot for Tour Buses and RV's

More Guests on this day.

Parking lot sign marks with numbers and names of Scientist and Astronauts.

Parking lot is full.

This is an old Ticket prices.

Presently, the Annual Pass has two choices:

Explorer Annual Pass - $139.36 for adults and 109.36 for child

Atlantis Annual Pass - $89.00 for adults and $71.00 for child

The Daily Admission and L:unch with an Astronaut - $79.99-Adult and $55.99-Child

The Daily Admission and Up-Close Explore Tour - $75.00-Adult and $59.00-Child

Other admission ticket price, please visit the Kennedy Space Center website.

If you travel to Florida often, you should get the Annual Pass because it is worth it. You will enjoy the visit for the whole year.

Stay at the Hershey Lodge at Chocolate Town USA

Have you been to Hershey Pennsylvania? This town is known as the “Sweetest Place” on earth and popularly called the “Chocolate Town, USA”, another awesome destination that should be in the top of your travel list. Interesting and educational places to visit are the following: the GIANT Center which is home of the Hershey Bears; the Hershey's Chocolate World which is open year-round; Milton S. Hershey Mansion which is in the National Historic Landmark and the Hershey Museum which is about the life and legacy of Milton S. Hershey.
 
To do all these itineraries, a relaxing place to stay is the grand hershey lodge shown in the photo below. What a great serene view isn't it? The resort has 665 guest rooms and can accommodate a large event for it has a huge function space.If you are looking for value, convenience and easy access to all the attractions that I mentioned above then, this place is a great resort to spend a fun vacation with your family and love-ones.

 

All over the resort, they have braille signage which is very heart-warming to know. Now, how many resorts offer this type of pleasant amenity? I tell you that it is very rare and I applaud them for having the braille signage in the resort. They offer valet parking and if you need anything, their concierge will handle it professionally for you.

 

Hershey Lodge guest rooms and deluxe suites have the great ambiance, cozy, relaxing, and have the amazing chocolate-themed decors and artwork. Guests can choose from either a king size bed or two queen size beds and I always prefer the latter. How about you? Do you find this guest room relaxing and soothing to stay?

 
Start planning your vacation today and take Hershey Pennsylvania as a must travel destination this year. 

Enjoying the Sunrise Along the Indian River

What have you been up to lately friends? I hope you had an exciting activity and had  fun with your family and friends. I was kinda' busy for the last few days but, I will keep you updated for what had transpired in those days. For now, I would like to share about these great shots that I took while driving down the neighborhood.

I am a nature lover by heart. This place along the Indian River is gorgeous. It would be nice to have a condo along this area because the sunrise is FREE for life (yah know what I mean to say) LOL. If I win a lotto (wink) , I buy me a condo unit that has the view by the water and my bedroom would be on the side where I can enjoy the sunrise and the sunset which means, it should be big :-). I can dream, can't I?

You know when there is a Rocket Launch by NASA? You can see it on that direction where the sun rises. Pretty view right? This area is a boat ramp and is about 5 minutes away from our home. If our house is just like my home back in the Philippines? Oh my goodness, I would enjoy the sunrise everyday without getting up from bed :-) .

After taking some pictures, I look further and saw this boat. This is a small yacht and yep, I dreamed of having one too (again, if I win a lotto) LOL. I will not choose the extravagant yacht but, just the one that is easy to maintain. Or better yet, an RV-Boat combo. If you can't imagine what it is, I will show you next time.

Anyway, that's all for now folks. Sharing you the views and my dreams ... remember, if I win a lotto (LOL) , I will have little luxuries in life ... a condo with water view and a boat ... uhm ... an RV-Boat combo hehehe... Thanks for stopping by and please do visit next time. Mwahhh!

Along Bennett Causeway

Whenever hubby and I decided to visit Cocoa Beach or go to the church in Merritt Island, we always pass by the bridge on 528 or known by the locals as Bennett Causeway. Driving straight ahead would be Cocoa Beach, one of the famous surfing destinations in the US. On this road, the sight of the Port Canaveral cruise ship terminal will be on the left side area. From this bridge, if we turn right, it would be the route towards the parish where we usually attend masses on a Sunday.

The typical daily activity along Indian River is fishing and boating like the photo below.

I like the houses along the riverbanks. Hubby and I drove down there in the neighborhood last December to watch their Christmas Lights. The place is gorgeous, houses are humongous and they have boat docks. The houses in the area are made of concrete that can withstand storms and hurricanes.

If I win a lotto, I would like to live in a place similar to this area where I can wake up appreciating the sunrise and see the glorious sunset in the evening. It would be awesome! What do you think? Would you prefer to live in a house nearby the body of water?  

Best Western Hotel in Brooksfield

I was really looking forward to travel Missouri and it was realized last October. For almost 5 years in the US, I don't know how many times I traveled the coast of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. The view along the scenic route was awesome! The marvelous sunset and sunshine by the beach and by the Gulf, I've seen all that almost everyday. Don't get me wrong! The view to most places that I've lived are perfect. Yet, I miss to see the mountain, LOL. When hubby cancelled our flight to Missouri to take a road trip, we both were excited. I will be posting here our escapades ... one blog at a time. For now, let me share to you about this hotel in Brooksfield, Missouri.

This is a Best Western Hotel along 28622 Highway 11, Brooksfield, Missouri 64628. We stayed in Room 200 and this room has a big glass window facing the only big store in the area, WalMart. We stayed here for one night but, we enjoyed our stay here because our room is super squeaky clean and , the customer service is great.

 

The rate was $84.59 but, I can't find anything to complain. Towels, bathroom, the complimentary breakfast, and Wi_fi speed are perfect. The queen size bed is comfortable. It was heaven after two days of road trip. If you travel towards Kansas City, you should re-charged your strength. Stay at Brooksfield for a day and explore Disney's hometown Marceline which is just few minutes drive. See Disney's childhood playground, his dreaming tree, his old house and his barn.

 

You should visit the Main Street USA at Marceline and see Disney's original memorabilia at Disney Museum. When you are tired, stay in this hotel, you will be refreshed when you wake up in the morning. Take this advice and you will not regret. If you travel far, I doubt if you can see a nice place to sleep for the night. Tell the nice lady at the front desk, I recommend this hotel for you. Enjoy!

Fort Christmas Historical Park in Florida

How's your New Year celebration everyone? Are you struggling to follow your New Year's Resolution? Oh, you can do it! Just follow patiently one day at a time. As promised, I will be posting more travel escapades that we have in 2012 starting from the nearest.

More or less 25 minutes away from our place is a replica of Fort Christmas. Dedicated in 1977, this place was built by the Orange County Parks in Florida together with the Recreation Department and the Fort Christmas Historical Society.

If you are traveling towards Kennedy Space Center (NASA) along East Colonial/Highway 50, you will not miss it. It is located at the south of Christmas Creek. When you are on Christmas, look for the made-made Christmas Tree with a manger on the left side of the road. The location is the entrance towards Fort Christmas.

Accordingly, the site of Fort Christmas is thought to be near the location of the original Fort. Inside these buildings are artifacts dating from the Seminole War period. There are weapons, clothes, tools, household appliances, classroom tables, chairs and more.

Inside Fort Christmas is the life-size replica of the fort. The park also features restored "Florida Cracker" houses and farm buildings. These houses are furnished with original and reproduction artifacts. It will show the life in rural Florida from the period of 1870 to1930.

We did not visit each of these houses and building but, we will be back and for sure, I will be sharing some photos on my next blog post.

Haunted House

Wanna see the picture of a Haunted House?

After I got my Schengen Visa, booked hotel reservation in Germany, booked in a car rental company and paid our airfare, our travel to Europe is postponed 'till next year. The good thing was, we got a full refund of our airfare and all the cancellation of itinerary bookings went good. Next big trip is not Europe but, Kansas City Missouri. I am excited to see the Gateway Arch, visit Branson as well as Hannibal the hometown of Mark Twain, the great American author and humorist.

All family members from Mississippi will be coming over too for a wedding event of our niece. I have been wanting to visit Missouri at winter time but, I guess it will not happen this year as well. I am also excited to see the ancestral house of my brother-in-law which the kids claimed as a haunted. You can check the image of haunted house in my blog post here.

They have 7 bedrooms and a huge basement and they only occupied I think three bedrooms. Hubby and I would not want to stay in their house but, we will visit them. I will take more pictures and share it here. I am excited!

Traveling to Central New Jersey

One of our friends who work in an airline company was offered for an early retirement by the company and she gladly took it. It is her preference to retire early to pursue her passion in her business. My husband was thinking of asking her a buddy pass so we can fly to Central New Jersey after October. A year ago, she gave us a buddy pass from Orlando to Mississippi for just $200 for both of us. Good deal for backpacker travelers like us huh?

Anyway, my husband and I are planning to visit few of the historical sites in New Jersey such as the Public Square or The Bill of Rights Arch. We love traveling and we wanted to see the Arch in Perth Amboy. We are both nationalistic so; by traveling to the historical places, we will learn by heart the importance of these places in our nation's history. The state of New Jersey is significant in the US history as the first state to ratify the Bill of Rights. Not only that, the Arch is a symbol that represents the true spirit of life and purpose of the history of our country. We would love to have a souvenir photo taken with the "Arch" as the background.

We would also like to check out Saint Peter's Church which is known as the oldest Episcopal Parish in New Jersey. Hubby and I are drawn to the charm and character of the buildings of Proprietary House and Kearny Cottage. I already check out the hotel which we love to stay in New Jersey. The $118 cheapest rate offered by Hyatt Regency Hotel is truly a deal breaker! I love the rate of this glorious hotel. The distance from Perth Amboy to Hyatt Regency Hotel is less than 14 miles which is awesome! Well, I am looking forward for this trip.

First Trip to the USA

I always like to have a window seat on the plane. It's nice to look out the window and I enjoyed watching the clouds which looks like a cotton candy. I remembered my first trip to the US and it was actually my first travel outside the country. I traveled alone while my husband was waiting for me at MCO airport.I was carrying one small suitcase and the X-ray result in hand which the custom never bothered to look at. It was a thrilling adventure and I was so confident with myself as if I was a jetsitter. Huge airports are confusing but, I have my maps with me so; it was like a puzzle game for me. I pretended that I was in the Amazing Race and as long as I have my maps and follow the instructions carefully, nothing could go wrong.First stop was Guam which was my port of entry. I had my fingerprint taken then, I was directed to a small room and a custom officer asked few questions about my address in the US and my purpose. He checked my visa and informed me of my limitations. In two minutes, I was back on the line to check in for my second flight bound to Honolulu, Hawaii.To find the gate at the airport, one should always pay attention with the issued announcements. Assigned gates could change anytime and it happens to my flight. My 3rd flight to Houston Texas was delayed but, since half of the passengers will be going on the same flight, the plane in Houston had no choice but, to wait for us.

We were given the passage for the elite so; we can reach the gate faster. Despite of the apology coming from the crew, half of the passengers in the plane were mad because they had to wait for hours.

It was a long travel for me but, I enjoyed it. The custom officials were nice and accommodating. None of them gave me a hard time which I was so thankful. I arrived Florida so exhausted and I slept for two days.