Summer Family Attractions – Space Center Houston

All you need is a little taste of NASA, and suddenly you’re all about it. They call the Cocoa Beach area of Florida the “Space Coast“, and even though the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center is on the southwestern edge of Houston, the big Texas town stills calls itself “Space City”. I guess we’d brag about it, too.

That’s why we’re headed to Space Center Houston, the official visitors center of the LBJ Space Center. This large aerospace museum is all NASA, all the time. Guests can see space modules up close, examine retired astronaut suits, learn what it’s like to live in microgravity, experience an unrivaled perspective on a shuttle launch and even tour the NASA facility.

And that’s just the basic experience. Space Center Houston always has something special going on.

One of my favorites is the Level 9 Tour. Offered weekdays all year long, this expanded tour leads you far deeper into the active NASA Center than the general admission tour. You’ll visit a decommissioned control center, preserved for history, as well as an active control center. Next you view the space vehicle mock-up facility from the observation catwalk, and you’ll even see the famous neutral buoyancy lab where astronauts practice for space in a specialized pool.

At $84.95 per person, it’s not the cheapest route, but you get a lot for it: two days’ general admission per ticket, a five hour tour, a hot launch in the actual astronaut cafeteria and an awe-inspiring look into the workings of a NASA space center. Only 12 guests are allowed for this tour each day, so be sure to get your reservations ahead of time. (Guests must be at least 14 years of age).

If you’re looking to get more, without so much paying more, you’re still in luck. Space Center Houston often hosts special exhibits, many offered free of charge. Right now, you can see “The Cinema of George Lucas” exhibit. This “visual biography” walks you through the astonishing cinematic career of George Lucas, and you can bet that priceless Stars Wars artifacts are front and center. These are joined by items from THX 1138, American Graffiti and the legendary Indiana Jones series. Best of all, it’s free to general admission guests.

Speaking of admission, the discounted Internet price is $16.95 for adults, $12.95 for children ages 4-11. Unless you’re using a City Pass, this is the way to go. Open daily; hours extended through the summer.

Learn more about Space Center Houston.

Two great family hotels for you, one in the heart of Houston, and one just a little off the beaten path but always worth the trip.

The Crowne Plaza Houston Downtown offers a consistently pleasant stay and they’re running a neat family package with City Passes included. If location is your top priority, this is it.

The Hilton Garden Inn Houston / Sugar Land is actually a few miles out of town in the Houston suburb of Sugar Land, but that’s not a bad thing. Sugar Land is a refreshing, relaxing kind of place to be. Slightly upscale, homey, and always comfortable, we especially enjoy it for extended stays in the area.

Have fun!

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