Americans love their rockets and proudly display them, as is evident when approaching the US Space center. Rocket Park, sporting a 200′ Saturn 1 and other rockets is visible on the horizon well before reaching the center. […]
When traveling through our country, I am often amazed if not amused at the collections of war “junk” that we decide to place on our city squares and courthouse lawns. I wonder if the howitzers on display are a show of Government might so we don’t go off on the unsuspecting DMV worker. For some reason, an M16 tank with the barrel pointing down Main street is just a little too much, in your face, largess for my taste. […]
I arrive at the HOF and Museum complex and park on the road adjacent to the museum right at 9:00am. I am shocked that parking is available on the beach frontal road and only $3.75 for 3 hours. A large competition pool nestles between 2 buildings; one being the Swimming Museum the other the Swimming Hall of Fame. I walk to the Hall of Fame to find doors are locked. […]
The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is organized into Mission Zones where attractions and tours are 
grouped by chronological era. From the dawn of space exploration to current and ongoing missions. I’m in the park just as the gates open and opt to skip ahead in time.
The one thing I really want to do is the Shuttle Launch Experience. Veteran NASA astronauts call the simulation the next best thing to flying aboard the space shuttle.
To ensure I beat the crowds, I dart across the park quickly looking through the Rocket Garden heading over to the Atlantis Discovery Center.
I have been wanting to drop into the International Bluegrass Museum for a couple of years but somehow it never seems to fit into the schedule. On a previous visit, the museum was closed.
It’s an early rainy morning the weekend before Christmas and the whole riverfront is deserted. Much to my surprise, the museum is open today. […]
While camping in nearby Dandridge, TN, I begin my early morning fossil expedition as the sun rises on Douglas Lake. It’s only an hour drive to the fossil site, but I want to explore the Tri-cities area a bit before the museum and dig site open. […]