Over the last couple of days, we've shown you several vacation and staycation options, both locally and on the Gulf Coast. But if the beach just isn't your thing, and you want out of town, just go explore the heavens and earth.
Huntsville, The Rocket City, is home to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center and just about everything you could ever want to learn about our country's space exploration. From the early days of Werner Von Braun to the space shuttle, you can see it all.
Al Whitaker, with the Huntsville Space and Rocket Center, said, "At any time we have roughly 1,500 artifacts on display, including the only original and complete Saturn 5 rocket vehicle that took men to the moon."
Inside the Davidson Center there are engines, landing craft and a moon buggy. Then if you look up, an entire Saturn 5 rocket.
Daniel Bray said, “Space center's great. It's got a lot of neat things for the kids and they enjoy the ships, taking pictures…we've got a lot of questions, we get to see some of the ships and get the answers at the same time so it's learning at the same time."
Outside you'll find a walk of fame of astronauts who've walked on the lunar surface.
Meanwhile, a couple of hours away in Childersburg, you can check out the earth…or at least something cool that happens when you combine the earth, water and limestone. Desoto Caverns gives visitors a chance to see formations formed over thousands of years.
Desoto Caverns marketing assistant Christie Graham says the weakened economy could bring them record numbers this summer.
“It is a factor. Families just can’t afford to travel a long way, so they're staying closer to home."
Besides the formations there are other things here, too. There are water rides and a maze. And you can even pan for your own gem stones. And their new butterfly house will open Memorial Day weekend.
