Space Shuttle - Best viewing options?
 

Hi everyone.

We will be in the US in June-July 2015 and would like to view one of the Space Shuttles. With our itinerary, we have these options -

Enterprise (New York); Endeavour (California), or Discovery (Chantilly, VA - a bit of an exercise for us to get to Discovery as we wouldn't have a car).

Are there any particular recommendations, which one would give us the most up close and personal experience? Particularly for the kids.

The Hazy-Udvar Air and Space Museum should be the easiest.
http://airandspace.si.edu/visit/udvar-hazy-center/
Fly into Dulles which in Chantilly. Maybe take a taxi and check into a hotel near the airport to ditch the luggage before going to the museum.

New York would be the easiest to see. Plus the aircraft carrier is a big bonus.

Where in the US are you going to be? That should be the first factor.

Thank you.

Tchoiniere, we'll be in NY for a week (no car), LA for a week (with car), and Washington DC for 2 and a 1/2 days (no car).

Not DC. The Udvar-Hazy is great, but it will take the better part of a day to get there and back, and with only 2 ½ days in DC, you don't have time.

I don't know anything about the California site, but certainly New York would be very doable.

Enjoy!

If you are in NYC anyway that will be the easiest. Plus you can tour the aircraft carrier Intrepid as well as view the Space Shuttle. It is docked in the HUdson River right in midtown.

Definitely agree with NY. Seeing it on the Aircraft Carrier along with the rest of the Museum is amazing. The new Viewing area should be open by now if not by then so you should be able to get close to it. I spent nearly 3 hours on the Intrepid in March and it was great. Amazing sites and right on the river. Given time, pair it with a Circle Line cruise around the tip of Manhattan / Statue of Liberty. They are right next to each other.

But make sure you go to Air and Space in DC (one on the Mall) as it has an amazing Space exhibit and a great selection of planes.

I haven't been to the Enterprise but it sounds simple.

The Endeavor is in the California Science Center next to the Memorial Coliseum. It would also be very easy w/ a car. It is close to the 110 freeway. You also might be interested in seeing the Coliseum ('32 and '84 Olympics etc)

So either NYC or LA would be easy.

Thanks everyone, greatly appreciated! I think we'll do the Intrepid and the Air and Space museum on the mall in DC.

The Battleship USS Iowa has tours. It is on the LA waterfront in San Pedro in the event you change your plans.

Thanks mpflim - had a quick look online, the USS Iowa also looks awesome! Will definitely try fit that in

>>Intrepid and the Air and Space museum on the mall in DC.<<

Just to clarify -- the Intrepid is not on the Mall. The Museum is great -- but the Intrepid far out of town at Udvar-Hazy and quite inconvenient. It would be by far the most difficult to see of the 3.

Right, janisj--I think you share my worry that the OP has conflated the two. I second what janisj said.

Hi guys, thanks - sorry I wasn't very clear.
Yes I am aware that the Intrepid is in NY, we're hoping to do both the Intrepid + Enterprise whilst in NY, as well as visit the Air/Space museum in Washington on the Mall.