A Boyhood Dream Fulfilled: Space-Geek Tour of the USA

[Human]

A fantastic trip report @Human. I don’t recall any other one where I’ve logged on and scrolled to see the next instalment.

One benefit that you may not have contemplated is to be able to go back and read your own bits of trip report as a great way to remember or recall details that you might forget along the way.

As @Hvr noted above, keep your eye out for social events and consider coming along. Besides the Olive Tree dinners, there is also the annual AFF get together in Melbourne this year in November.Don’t worry about not knowing anyone - you’ll be made very welcome and they are a lot of fun. And it’s often where the good travel insights are shared.

Thread 'AFF Gathering #18 in MEL on 21-23 November 2025'
AFF Gathering #18 in MEL on 21-23 November 2025

Thank you for your very kind words and for the invitation. Yes, I most definitely believe that I will be returning to my TR often!

I'd love to go to the gathering if I could ... unfortunately that weekend will be the weekend before I'll have to write and submit approximately 250 end-of-semester school reports. I'll put myself down in the thread as "gold" and use the gathering as a motivation to be disciplined and efficient and to try to get the reports done before the deadline!

 

[kevrosmith]

Thank you for your very kind words and for the invitation. Yes, I most definitely believe that I will be returning to my TR often!

I'd love to go to the gathering if I could ... unfortunately that weekend will be the weekend before I'll have to write and submit approximately 250 end-of-semester school reports. I'll put myself down in the thread as "gold" and use the gathering as a motivation to be disciplined and efficient and to try to get the reports done before the deadline!

Just take the reports along to the dinner and have the other members help you grade your students. I mean, what could possibly go wrong with that approach…?

Great TR. you brought back memories of my trip to DC & NYC 10 years ago. (How time flies).

 

[somebol]

Brilliant report @Human

Really happy for you to have lived the "dream holiday".
A lot of us dream but only some are able to do it.

 

[Human]

Brilliant report @Human

Really happy for you to have lived the "dream holiday".
A lot of us dream but only some are able to do it.

So glad you enjoyed reading my TR!

Yes, I was incredibly blessed being able to do it -- I never actually thought it would happen!

My advice would be ... the best things come to those who wait. You can work out from Post #1 how old I am. I was well into middle age before I flew long-haul Business class for the first time, and it was only last year that I flew First for the first time. This specific trip took over a year to plan, but in another sense it was decades in the making.

I obviously don't know your specific situation, but I encourage you to not give up on whatever your dream is -- you never know ... you just never know.

 

[Freq Flier 2013]

So glad you enjoyed reading my TR!

Yes, I was incredibly blessed being able to do it -- I never actually thought it would happen!

My advice would be ... the best things come to those who wait. You can work out from Post #1 how old I am. I was well into middle age before I flew long-haul Business class for the first time, and it was only last year that I flew First for the first time. This specific trip took over a year to plan, but in another sense it was decades in the making.

I obviously don't know your specific situation, but I encourage you to not give up on whatever your dream is -- you never know ... you just never know.

An Oscar worthy acceptance speech

 

[Gladstone Tim]

Human, another highly appreciative follower. Thank you!

 

[jastel]

Its like you stole my photos and posted ALL of them, well from the space museums part anyway...
No First Class flights for me...

Been AWOL for a couple of weeks so binged this tonight, glad you did Udvar Hazy and saw a real launch at KSC.

I was similarly geeked out on my first visit but came away with the feeling of "Look what we achieved...but what have we done since??" I was raised on stories of living on the moon by the year 2000, exploring Mars etc etc. But we haven't even got back to the moon yet. I get it is hard to justify spending the dollars when people are begging for basic food and shelter but hopefully Musk and Bezos can spark some interest in Space again.

 

[Human]

Postscript:

Today this arrived: Apollo Remastered. It contains high-quality remasters, from the original negatives, of hundreds of photos taken during the Apollo missions.

I saw it in the gift shop at Space Center Houston (and every gift shop I visited after that) and immediately knew that I wanted it, but it weighs at least a couple of kilograms and so I bought it online on my return, rather than lugging it across the USA and the world in my luggage.

If you're one tenth of the space geek I am, you'll want this book!

 

[Trekky1]

In 2009, I saw the launch of Space Shuttle Discovery - I was there a good 2 weeks, just in case it got delayed and it was twice. Discovery launched on the 3rd attempt!

Then in 2013, I did a 'Space Shuttle' tour - I saw all 4 shuttles in their new homes. It was amazing.

Endeavour at the California Space Center
Atlantis at Kennedy (and I got to tour the VAB!)
Discovery at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
Enterprise at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum

I'll have to go back for Endeavour's new display, when it opens in 2026/27 (No date has been given)

 

[Trekky1]

First stop was the absolutely massive “Vehicle Assembly Building”.

Did you go into the VAB?

Excellent Trip report - this bought back so many memories for me!

 

[Human]

Did you go into the VAB?

So glad that the TR brought back happy memories for you!

Unfortunately the public aren't being allowed into the Vehicle Assembly Building at the moment. We were told that it's all systems Go in there with Artemis and the SLS heating up. I do recall someone on the tour (maybe it was the guide) talking about how tours used to be allowed in there but they're not any longer.

 

[offshore171]

Incredible trip report!

I will make the observation there is a greater chance of me visiting the International Space Station than willingly attending a musical or stageshow!

Seriously though, thanks for the superb effort on writing up this TR

 

[Human]

there is a greater chance of me visiting the International Space Station than willingly attending a musical or stageshow!

You don't know what you're missing!

Mind you, that's exactly what many of my friends said to me when they found out that I went to the USA and didn't attend a single NBA game.

And thanks for the kind words about the TR -- it was a lot of fun to write.

 

[Justinf]

I just binged this whole TR in a couple of hours.
Absolutely amazing. I loved every single bit of it.
Interesting when you saw the meteorites.
My mum was pregnant with me when the Murchison meteorite struck just a few kilometres from the family farm in 1969.
My parents said the animals started going berserk a few minutes before it struck.
I have a piece of the meteorite, which is worth a fortune nowadays.
Once again, amazing TR.

 

[Human]

I just binged this whole TR in a couple of hours.
Absolutely amazing. I loved every single bit of it.
Interesting when you saw the meteorites.
My mum was pregnant with me when the Murchison meteorite struck just a few kilometres from the family farm in 1969.
My parents said the animals started going berserk a few minutes before it struck.
I have a piece of the meteorite, which is worth a fortune nowadays.
Once again, amazing TR.

Wow -- you own a piece of meteorite! Definitely a family heirloom.

I'm glad you enjoyed bingeing on the TR ... I must admit to have binged on it a couple of times myself since I got back!

 

[karen blancfield]

I’m sure your head is elsewhere now but two questions you might help with please

Did you still need a stash of USA S$1 notes for tips? If so, where’s the best place to get them, Aus or USA?

Did you, or anyone, consider the helicopter ride over NYC and any recommended companies? That’s my gift to two Melbourne nieces going for a big birthday soon.

Thank you! Lovely memories.

 

[Human]

I’m sure your head is elsewhere now but two questions you might help with please

Did you still need a stash of USA S$1 notes for tips? If so, where’s the best place to get them, Aus or USA?

Did you, or anyone, consider the helicopter ride over NYC and any recommended companies? That’s my gift to two Melbourne nieces going for a big birthday soon.

Thank you! Lovely memories.

Actually I still think I'm on a bit of a high from my trip ... !

Yes, I had a stash of 30 x US$1 bills in my wallet when I arrived (I also had a smaller stash of $5s). I'd picked them up from the currency exchange booth at my local Westfield a few days before I left. I figured that I wanted to be ready to tip as soon as I hit the ground in the USA, and also I didn't want to have to worry about finding a local ATM. The exchange rate at the shopping mall was quite ok too: not fantastic, but not daylight robbery either and much more convenient for me.

I did use all my bills by the time I left. These days you can tip most of the time by credit card, but on a few occasions cash is still easier (eg. a couple of times I was at a bar and I just asked for a glass of water, for which a $1 tip seems to be the going rate) and the night I went to The Back Room in NYC they were taking cash only.

Tipping is still a bit of a minefield and on one occasion I needed to send a desperate SMS to an American friend because I really didn't know what to do! In particular, takeaway places will now ask you for a tip, but generally there's no need to give one if you're not receiving table (or bar) service. On the other hand if you are being served, tipping is expected.

I didn't consider the helicopter ride because I was on a budget. To get very cheap (or free) views of the skyline you can take the Staten Island ferry or the Roosevelt Island Tramway -- or you could climb a building such as the Empire State Building or The Edge. But it goes without saying that a helicopter ride would be spectacular!

 

[karen blancfield]

Actually I still think I'm on a bit of a high from my trip ... !

Yes, I had a stash of 30 x US$1 bills in my wallet when I arrived (I also had a smaller stash of $5s). I'd picked them up from the currency exchange booth at my local Westfield a few days before I left. I figured that I wanted to be ready to tip as soon as I hit the ground in the USA, and also I didn't want to have to worry about finding a local ATM. The exchange rate at the shopping mall was quite ok too: not fantastic, but not daylight robbery either and much more convenient for me.

I did use all my bills by the time I left. These days you can tip most of the time by credit card, but on a few occasions cash is still easier (eg. a couple of times I was at a bar and I just asked for a glass of water, for which a $1 tip seems to be the going rate) and the night I went to The Back Room in NYC they were taking cash only.

Tipping is still a bit of a minefield and on one occasion I needed to send a desperate SMS to an American friend because I really didn't know what to do! In particular, takeaway places will now ask you for a tip, but generally there's no need to give one if you're not receiving table (or bar) service. On the other hand if you are being served, tipping is expected.

I didn't consider the helicopter ride because I was on a budget. To get very cheap (or free) views of the skyline you can take the Staten Island ferry or the Roosevelt Island Tramway -- or you could climb a building such as the Empire State Building or The Edge. But it goes without saying that a helicopter ride would be spectacular!

Thanks for that help. We haven’t been back to USA since late 2023 but have been regulars including 6 months in a Winnebago.

We did the helicopter trip once and though pricey, I’m happy to shout two special nieces this as a big birthday celebration (50!) I think it’s around $500 Aus each but there’s so much choice, don’t know where to start.

We travelled a lot with older American friends and learned how to tip Eye watering, I hate it!

 

[jastel]

I did the helicopter flight (a while back so no help on prices, plus the exchanbge rate was better then) and most of them left from over near the Staaten Island Ferry terminal anyway. You get to the Ferry terminal and are mugged by touts from various companies usually.

When I did it, it was just after Hurricane Sandy in 2012, it was perfect winters day. I actually just walked across the 6 lane FDR freeway, which was closed due to the flooding and "appeared" there without a booking or tout. I asked a few companies and one said we have a space in 30 minutes or something. I paid for the basic tour, 15 minutes, I think. The girl came back after about 10 minutes and said I could go on the next chopper as there was 1 space, she also said, this tour is a 25 minute one but I wont charge you extra as we didnt have to pay commission to the tout. She said dont tell the other passengers but...they were Russian so I couldnt anyway. Also as I was solo I got the front seat next to the Pilot for the best views and photos. The Russians were all couples. That was a good day.

The tours are all pretty much the same, they fly over Statue of Liberty and Ellis island, and then up the Hudson side, the "shorter" ones turn back earlier, the longer on I did went up past Central Park.
The pilot pointed out a few things to me but didnt do a full commentary, maybe because of the Russians.

I would definitely do it...like you said its a once off treat.

 

[DaleS]

Ooh I love a bit of controversy in a Trip Report!

For me, I don't care if I don't know the plot (listening to a soundtrack actually doesn't tell me all that much about the plot anyway), but I love being familiar enough with the music to be able to at least recognise it when it comes up. Just maybe we're all different and we all enjoy musicals in different ways?

When I'm in NYC I'll get my tickets from the last-minute TKTS booth in Times Square, so I won't necessarily be able to choose what I see. I want to give priority to shows that haven't come and/or are not due to come to Australia, so that rules out, for example, Hamilton and Hades Town (and I've seen the stage show of Wicked twice, and the movie once, already). I really would like to see Gypsy, largely because of its current star, Audra McDonald, who is multi-Tony-winning Broadway Royalty. The new version of Sunset Blvd also has received amazing reviews. The exception to my rule is The Lion King, which apparently is just so well done, with (of course) great music. But I'll let you know via this TR what I end up seeing!

I’m riveted and really impressed by the quality of this trip report. However there is nothing in the world that would get me to any of those musicals. I realise I’m in the minority but do know there are other ‘musical yeah/na’ people out there too - we’re just happily doing something else