[kaydee]

My husband and I would love to head over to the "free viewing" area to see the launch. I know it would be a lengthy time hanging out ..tailgaiting etc. and naturally the question came up regarding bathroom facitlity. What is available in the area of roadside parking? Thanks in advance for any info from all you experienced viewers.

[Army Guy]

Yes, a lot of tail-gating does take place! And we have always had a blast. I have seen port-a-johns out there sometimes, other times, it is bring your own or the bushes will do just fine!

Just make sure when you park, that you walk up to the beginning slope of the causeway bridge, as that allows you the best distance view. As I said from there you can see the shuttle actually sitting on the pad. If you bring binos it is even better.

Army Guy

[tpop1]

Originally Posted by bkcunningham1

Army Guy, we booked at the Clarion Inn Kennedy Space Center for the September Shuttle launch. Now... since I haven't been to this particular hotel I really don't know what you can see or can't see from there.

I'm just worried now NASA will change the launch date!!

Rest assured, you an see the launch pad from the Clarion. I wish I had my photos here with me in Connecticut to post one for you. They are on my external hard drive in T.V.

The biggest benefit of booking the hotel is that we did not have to fight the traffic jam. Friends of ours who viewed the launch with us and who did not book a room, had a 4-5 hour trip back to Orlando.

Yes, as I said in my original post, you are at the mercy of any launch postponement. We lucked out and our launch went off perfectly.

P.s. However you decide to view it, take every effort to do it. It is AWESOME!

[Army Guy]

Another locals tip is on traffic. Since most of the people that go to the launches are visitors they only know pretty much the main roads, like the Bee Line.
What we do is, after the launch, cross over the causeway headed west, the first road you will hit is Highway 1, take it SOUTH (Most everyone else is headed north), in Melbourne get on Highway 192 and head to Orlando then back to TV. You will find yes it is a little longer in distance and a litlle more in time due to lights, but you are moving due to little traffic AND will beat everyone else home.

Army Guy

[phnzz]

Just received the email

Hello, my name is Tamaran with the Choice Cares Desk at Choice Hotels International. I am contacting you today with regard to your reservation for the Clarion Inn Kennedy Space Center located at 4951 S. Washington Ave in Titusville, FL


The hotel is closing their doors to business effective 6/1/10.

Now what???

[bkcunningham1]

Okay Army Guy. Looks like I'll have to take your suggestion to see the shuttle launch afterall. I just opened a letter today (Tuesday June 1, 2010) from Choice Hotels International. The letter is regarding my reservation for 9/15 at the Clarion Inn Kennedy Space Center. "The hotel is closing their doors to business effective 6/1/10. The hotel will be unable to honor your reservation."

Dagnabit....The best laid plans of mice and me....Oh, well, the launch will probably be cancelled. I told my husband just now and joked that everything always works out so perfectly for us. This is just a temporary setback.

[bkcunningham1]

phnzz, we must have bumped into each other in mid-Internet-airwaves posting. Oh my goodness how funny. I got the letter. You got the email. If they don't cancel the launch, I'm going to look for a nearby hotel to spend the night and watch the launch from either Ron Jon's or the beach at the Clarion. You suppose it will still be accessible?

[phnzz]

I looked on the internet and it was sold to a Christian group for a retreat. They plan to start using it right away.

[bkcunningham1]

Well, everything really does work for a reason. I was very bummed about the Clarion closing after making reservations for the last Space Shuttle launch. I kept putting off finding another hotel. We kept saying we'd just go from the house in TV to the beach, watch it and come back. But the thought of the traffic kept us from a firm commitment.

Now, I read where September isn't the final launch. I can procrastinate some more.


http://www.boston.com/news/nation/ar...ogram_to_2011/