Space Shuttle launch 5.31
 

We're going to Naples and thinking of taking a drive to the launch? Do we need to get tickets or just watch from somewhere close? Any suggestions for a room? How far from Naples. We do have a room for the 1st & 2nd, but the 31st is booked. Anything else we can explore while up there, bars, food, beaches.Thanks

It will take you at least 5-6 hours to drive from Naples. Traffic around KSC (Kennedy Space Center) can get backed up if alot of people come to see the launch.

Keep in mind that launch dates and times often "slip", so no guarantee if you make the trip. It is an awesome experience, but best done if you already have other plans in the area.

Tickets purchased from the Visitor's Center allow you to drive onto KSC property and take a bus to a viewing area 3 miles from the launch pad. It is the best view, but you pay for the priviledge.

You can also see the launch from Cocoa Beach and the riverfront in Titusville. In Cocoa Beach, the best view is from Jetty Park (fee to enter), and in Titusville, the best view is on the north end of town, near Sand Point Park (no fee).

I think the view in Titusville is the best, second to the KSC tickets, but its a sleepy town with few restaurants. It sounds like you are into beaches and nightlife, so I'd recommend the Cocoa Beach/Cape Canaveral area. I'm not really up on the hotels in that area, but have some favorite restaurants: Grills (has a tiki bar), Fish Lips (popular locals hangout), Slow-n-Low BBQ, and Roberto's (Cuban).

If you are bringing a laptop, check www.spaceflightnow.com for the latest updates on the launch, especially if you drive over.

Whatever you do don't miss the launch, we have been to three and there is nothing more spectacular to witness.We always got a room in Titusville on the river,you can,t get a better view.

The closest you can get is through Kennedy Space Center which sells tickets to several different viewing sites. The closest one they sell is already sold out, but as of this afternoon, they still had tickets for viewing from the Visitors Center. http://www.ksctickets.com/stspshat.html

This site has all kinds of great info on shuttle launch viewing sites, including other than KSC:

http://www.launchphotography.com/Shu...h_Viewing.html

As rascat notes, launch dates are notorious for being changed, so be aware of that.

Also, rascat's given you some great restaurant/bar recos. Here are a few others in Cocoa Beach: Bunky's on the 520 causeway, Cush - a lounge next door to Slow n Low, Simply Delicious on southbound A1A for great breakfasts.

Thanks so much, don't you just love a friend that never says no to a road trip. I'll post when we get back. Gonna try to get in KSC, if not Titusville here we come

Norden1, been looking into Titusville, can you tell me where you stayed. Alot of reviews are really scary. Can you stay at a hotel close and walk to Sand Point Park?

The only hotel on the river I would consider staying at is the Clarion (formerly a Holiday Inn). It is on the south end of Titusville, but would still give you a decent view.

Any hotel/motels on the north end of town are old mom & pop type places or "resident" lodging. I like a deal, but don't think I'd stay in any of them.

Most of the hotels in the area are at S.R. 50 and I-95. Of these, the Hampton Inn is the newest (don't think the Fairfield Inn is open yet). You will be approximately 2-3 miles from the river if you stay in this area. Traffic may be heavy if a lot of people come to see the launch, but you should be able to get to the river if you leave 1-2 hours early.

There are only a few restaurants in Titusville I would recommend. El Leoncito (sp?) serves Mexican and Cuban, as does La Bamba. Durango's Steakhouse does o.k., but can be very noisy (their bar seems popular). People keep Dixie Crossroads busy (seafood), but DH and I don't understand the fuss (can get better seafood elsewhere). If you do go, get the rock shrimp, which is a local specialty. The Indian River Bar & Grill (in the local bowling alley) does a nice job with wings and sandwiches if you want lunch or a light supper.

When we are in the area in the evening, we like to stop at New York, New York. The food is really hit-or-miss, but it is one of the few places where you can sit by the river and enjoy a drink (tiki bar) and a bite.

I'm a little confused. Will the launch be early in the morning? If so, you'd need to be there the night of the 30th, not the 31st -- right?

Also be aware that at that time of year -- starting the rainy season -- delays of hours or even days for the launch is not uncommon.

Hi Patrick, the launch is 5pm, so thinking of leaving Naples around 7am, which should put us in the area around 12 or 1pm, is that right?

PS, is there a big difference between Titusville viewing and Cocoa Beach? I know Titusville is better, just think I'd have better chance at better hotel in Cocoa Beach. Thanks again, love last minute road trips.

That's a hard question to answer, because the answer depends on many variables.

Titusville lines up with the launchpads, so if you find the right location, you see the shuttle more quickly, and sometimes even see some of the smoke/steam that billows out of the bunker under the pad. Part of the excitement of the launch is the rumble (noise) the launch creates. With a heavy payload, it literally shakes the ground, rattles the windows, sets off car alarms, and sets the local dogs to howling. But the level of noise also seems to depend on the direction of the wind and the orbit they are heading for. If the wind is out of the west, and they head north, Titusville gets less sound.

Cocoa Beach is south of the launch pads, along the beach. Port Canaveral and Cape Canaveral jut out, so you don't get a clear view to the pad. You see the shuttle after it has cleared the pad. It's still a great view, and if the weather is nice, waiting on the beach can be enjoyable. It never seems quite as loud there to me.

Personally, I'd look into the hotels and stay where you feel most comfortable. Either site will give you a good view, especially if you've never seen a launch before.

Linda, did you take a look at the link I posted for viewing sites? It spells out the differences between KSC, Titusville, and Cocoa Beach.

rascat, I so agree with you about Dixie Crossroads. People rave, but I just don't get it.

I agree about Dixie Crossroads. They one at Festival Bay in Orlando closed finally. Awful food, overpriced for the tourists.
DC was pretty good in the early 90s, then just started to slide.

I would hope by the end of May we might be having afternoon storms again, too many weeks without any rain.
But, that being said, the best places I have seen for the launch, the Wendys at Titusville, and Jetty Park.
As long as you are within a couple of miles I think you can still feel the rumble, the best part IMO.
If that doesn't impress you, you can see the launch for miles, I watch it from my porch every time.

I called a scalper yesterday with tics. $115 each for causeway.

Any feedback on the Hampton Inn Titusville for a room on launch weekend?

Wow, I had no idea there were scalpers selling these tickets!!!

I remember when the passes were free, you just had to send in your name and address for a lottery drawing. My mom (they live in Titusville) used to send in a card for every member of the family. You could take as many people with you as your car could hold, so we even borrowed a motor home once.

One launch, Mom had an extra pass, so we drove down to the river to give it away. She spotted a family with a bunch of kids and tried to give it to the father. He was skeptical, but the wife understood, and kept telling him "Take it, take it!" Finally she just grabbed it from my mom's hand, yelling "Kids, get in the car!!"

We have watched a launch from the Astronaut's Hall of Fame, which is right next to the main gate that they close before the launch (this saturday it's around 9am). We had a nice view and you could hear it.

We have tickets to watch it from the causeway this time - the tickets are non-transferrable, and I believe they ask for ID. Security is very tight now. They close down roads, waterways, and airspace in advance of launches.

Good luck if you go!

So, I waited too long to get a room in Titusville.

Full are:
Hampton Inn
Best Western
Comfort Inn
Days Inn

Any other suggestions for accomadations for a family of four for a 1 night stay driving into town for the launch.

Thank you.

Kristinesonja, if those hotels in Titusville are full, you'd better try Cape Canaveral or Cocoa Beach. There's a Country Inn & Suites at the Port that would be less of a drive than the Cocoa Beach hotels and is nice.