Jaunted

A helpful item in the Dallas News points out several of the best places to mark the milestone. On Thursday, Buzz Aldrin (Buzz is a cool nickname) will be on hand at the Kennedy Space Center to stand beneath the Saturn V, along with seven other Apollo astronauts who will all share their nail-biting stories about blasting into space. The event with mark the opening of a new exhibit of Apollo memorabilia, including the Apollo 14 command module, Alan Shepard's space suit, and a list of tips on how to display the American flag on the moon. On July 20, the anniversary of the first moon walk, visitors can chomp on a record-setting 40-inch, 55-pound moon pie, with 14 pounds of marshmallows and six pounds of chocolate. Yum!

At the Johnson Space Center in Houston, meanwhile, visitors can soak up all sorts of space knowledge and even view the famous lectern from which John F. Kennedy announced in 1962 that the United States would go to the moon by the end of the decade. A special Level 9 Tour at the space center takes visitors to several behind-the-scenes nooks, including the astronaut training areas where space cadets sharpen their zero-gravity skills. Located next door, Space Center Houston has museum exhibits, a mock-up of the International Space Station, and the famous Mission Control center.

Meanwhile, in Washington, D.C., the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (one of the city's coolest museums) is marking the occasion with a collection of photographs, space suits, and dozens of Apollo 11 objects. Whatever you do, do not forget to buy a bag of astronaut ice cream in the gift shop. It's one of the greatest things to emerge from the space program.

[Photo: National Air and Space Museum]

Related Stories:
· To the Moon! Commemorate Apollo 11's 40th Anniversary [Dallas News]
· National Air and Space Museum [Official Site]
· NASA [Official Site]
· Kennedy Space Center [Official Site]
· Space Travel Coverage [Jaunted]