NASA Houston

I have family in Clear Lake. I will ask them. I havent been to NASA in 15 years. Space Center Houston was more family oriented. Are you bringing young children?

Space Center Houston is a combination museum and theme park with a space theme, and I’d say that kids ages 11 and 7 hit the sweet spot. There’s usually a lot of hands-on exhibits and simulators and old space equipment, some of which is fun and interesting for adults too. There was a “land the shuttle” simulator that I enjoyed even in college.

From Space Center Houston, you can take a tour of the actual NASA buildings…they put a large group of people on a cart and drive you over there. The tour itself takes a while, but I’m pretty sure you get to see Mission Control at some point…whatever you get to see, it’s actual operational areas of NASA. At the end of the tour, you get to stop at a de-commissioned Saturn V rocket…it’s a great photo-op for the family. If you have an interest in space, I recommend the tour, although the kids might get a bit antsy.

I think there’s a place where you can touch a moon rock.

And don’t forget to set aside a bit of money for the gift shop. It’s pretty huge, and it’d be a crime to leave without astronaut ice cream. The texture is terrible, but kids love it!

Been so long I thought they were 2 different places. My uncle and Andy said about the same thing. Your kids are probably the right age to appreciate the NASA tour and the space center.

Let us know how it goes.