Get Packin'

I still remember the pride I felt when the Apollo 11 lunar module “Eagle”, landed in the Sea of Tranquility on the Moon. I watched it on a small TV set, and it was in black and white, but it still stands out as one of the most memorable moments I’ve every experienced, especially these words which were engraved in my mind: “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” I was a million miles away and still felt goose bumps; so I can imagine the kaleidoscope of emotions that Penny Terry (Hospitality International’s Administrative Assistant) experienced when watching her cousin fly off into space.

Space Shuttle Launch as seen from Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Flickr Photo by Minds-eye

Astronaut Stephanie D. Wilson was always interested in space and at the age of 13, after interviewing an astronomer, thought being an astronaut, traveling “literally” around the world would be “neat!”  Wilson has certainly proven that dreams can come true.

Photo Courtesy of Great Lakes Science Center

For those of us who are fascinated with outer space, but for one reason or another will never achieve what Ms. Wilson did, perhaps we can do the next best thing:  We can attend a space camp or opt for some type of outer space simulation experience like viewing outer space through the Hubble Space Telescope (which, by the way is celebrating its 20^th anniversary).  Click on this link for your very own space adventure. http://imax.com/hubble

There are approximately 13 NASA Space Centers where you can experience a variety of things associated with space and science.  Although there may be fees associated with space camps, and there may be some entry fees to various museums and the facilities themselves, many of exhibits are free.  You might want to start with the National Air & Space Museum in Washington, D.C., or visit the Ames Research Center near San Francisco, which boasts the largest Immersive theater on the West Coast, with its 40 ft. wide-screen offering panoramic views with eye-popping movies and special effects.

Photo Courtesy of Great Lakes Science Center

How about the Great Lakes Science Center (part of the Glenn Research Center) in Cleveland, Ohio?   Here you can view shows like Sea Monsters (A prehistoric adventure) or Hubble the “most iconic scientific instrument of our time,”  launching you into ‘virtual’ space and experience amazing sites.  Along with

Photo Courtesy of Great Lakes Science Center

features like these in the Omnimax Theater, you’ll find plenty of exhibits that will appeal to children, like Strange Matter (beginning May 29^th) or go deep into the oceans and see Sea Monsters!

Want to learn more about these unusual exhibits, click here: http://www.glsc.org/strange_matter/strange_matter_programs.php

 If you’re traveling south then perhaps the Kennedy Space Center is the ideal place to visit with several more launches scheduled before the end of the year.  For their schedule and to get complete information on all of the NASA related space centers, click here: http://www.nasa.gov/about/sites/index.html  You’ll find listings for  the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, AL and the Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX., just to name a few.

Experiencing something so exhilarating as a rocket ship hurtling into space, especially with children would be a memory for eternity; or being able to see the sky through powerful telescopes that make you feel as though you could reach out and easily touch the stars would be an awesome experience as well.  Even watching movies like Star Wars or Star Trek can leave you with a feeling of traveling beyond time. 

It’s just a matter of time when you’ll be able to book your vacation to Mars or the Moon, and hopefully there will be accommodations where you can get a good night’s sleep.

Not many of us can brag about knowing an astronaut first hand, and even fewer of us can say that we are related to an astronaut. Can we even say we know someone, who, in person, saw a rocket ship blast off into space?  Not many of us can even boast of this, except our very own Penny Terry, Administrative Assistant for Hospitality International.

NASA Astronaut Stephanie D. Wilson in Uniform

Penny  not only traveled to Cape Canaveral three times, but viewed the lift off of the space shuttle; with her first cousin, Astronaut Stephanie D. Wilson, aboard the shuttle soaring into space.

I asked about her experience during the first space mission her cousin Stephanie Wilson was on.  “It was very emotional!” she said.  ”I didn’t know what to expect.  When the space shuttle began to lift off it was extremely loud.  There was this loud rumble, and then this huge cloud of dust appeared. I said to Myself,  My cousin is actually going into space.  I was so very proud of her.”  Penny  said the cloud of smoke and dust prevented them from seeing a great deal until Discovery was high into the sky.  She saw the boosters fall away and then the shuttle was a mere trail of smoke as it went higher and higher.

What about the second time I asked?  “I actually spent more time concentrating on the launch itself,” she said.  “I was not as emotional as the first time since I sort of knew what to expect.  I wanted to see everything and to experience it all.”  

Because Stephanie Wilson had such a large family group present they had to divide them up into teams, and unless you were part of the A-team, you would observe most everything from a distance and have little or no physical contact with the astronauts.  “It was still exciting,” said Penny, “But, I was not as emotional as the first time my cousin went into space.”

Family photo taken at brunch, two days before shuttle launch. Penny Terry (4th person from the left) is standing next to her cousin ,NASA Astronaut Stephanie D. Wilson, to her right.

Astronauts provide a list of persons who they would like to come see the space shuttle launch.  NASA then sends an invitation to each person, giving them a choice of being at the launch or for the return trip. 

NASA Astronaut Stephanie D. Wilson in Space Suit

“How about your cousin’s third launch into space,” I asked?  Penny remarked, “I was part of the A-Team and invited to the brunch, which was two days before the lift off.  I could actually touch my cousin and give her a hug.” She added, “This was the best lift off I’ve experienced, because it took place at around 6:00 a.m. The sky was still dark so when Discovery blasted off the entire night sky lit up. It was spectacular and I was in awe.” Not only did Penny Terry experience this remarkable event first hand, she was able to compare it to the first two shuttle’s she observed going into space, and still has a hard time believing she was there and was related to someone aboard the Discovery space shuttle, and that she was part of this memorable event.

Space Shuttle Discovery Crew

Niagara Falls, photo by Day Trips Canada - www.day-trips.ca/

It’s always a challenge to figure out something to do for summer vacation that will please the entire family. In my case that would be me and my nine year old son.  As a mom I want to instill an appreciation for the finer things in life- art and architecture, good food and a sense of history, not to mention awesome natural scenery. As a kid he has his own ideas of the finer things in life…Water parks and video arcades, corn dogs and lemonade. Natural scenery is good too as long as he is not required to hike, bike or otherwise engage said scenery. What can I say, despite my best efforts he is natural born couch potato techno-geek. I am thinking Niagara Falls. 

Skylon Tower, Flickr Photo by shidairyproduct

As I begin my research I think this looks promising. The official website, www.niagarafallstourism.com, touts “water parks inside hotels, Ferris wheels and kid-friendly restaurants” Well, that sounds good, and we have the non-engagable awesome scenery covered. But what about the art and architecture and history?  Skyscrapers don’t count although I am sure he will love the 775 ft. high Skylon Tower with the revolving restaurant; and it even has a game arcade!  I think this may require a little more research.

 I let my fingers do the walking and end up on www.wrightnowinbuffalo.com. This is more like it. Buffalo Niagara- a Great American Road Trip “Does great American architecture fascinate you? Are you a fan of Frank Lloyd Wright, Louis Sullivan and H.H. ? Does the American Arts & Crafts Movement and the work of the Roycrofters have a place in your home and heart? Do you enjoy botanical gardens and the parks of Frederick Law Olmsted? Does African American heritage and the Underground Railroad arouse your curiosity? Are you interested in American originals like artist Charles Burchfield? …Do you savor road food and hard-to-find regional dishes? “Wow, seems like I hit pay-dirt. The website offers a tour for every special interest, from cultural and history itineraries to family getaways and nature lovers. Looks like I am off and running and no matter what we decide to do, I know I will be able to find comfortable affordable lodging in the area…

Frank Lloyd Wright Greycliff, Buffalo,NY, Flickr photo by bobistraveling