It all starts with a gentle drive out to Brevard County, where the first part of your adventure awaits on the St. Johns River. Here, on the longest river in Florida, your airboat captain will showcase the natural splendors of Central Florida with an unforgettable ride on one of these unique, flat-bottomed craft that is powered by a giant propeller.

Skimming along the river and its surrounding wetlands at up to 45mph, you will catch glimpses of alligators, turtles, and other wildlife that make the river their home, including the state’s abundance of birdlife, from egrets and herons to eagles and ospreys.

After your nature experience, it’s time to head to the home of One Small Step For Man and complete immersion in the world of NASA and its astronauts.

You will have the rest of the day to explore the Visitor Center and soak up the vast array of exhibits and presentations that provide the full lowdown on the past, present, and future of the space program as it gears up for a return to the moon, and on to Mars.

Be sure to visit the superb Space Shuttle Atlantis exhibit for one of the most emotional tributes to the former earth orbiter, as well as the Shuttle Launch Experience and a host of hands-on opportunities.