U.S. Space & Rocket Center

I recently got a chance to visit the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. It was an amazing experience. The initial inside exhibits were fun (starting with a look at sci-fi in pop culture, from magazines to Star Trek to Star Wars)—my personal favorite was "Mannequin Skywalker"—but it got even better when you went outside. Two Saturn rockets (a I and a V) were impressive, and the various space station, missile, and aircraft displays were also cool. The highlight, though, was Saturn V Hall, which had a second rocket, on its side, with the separate stages on full display. That hall also had SkyLab models, Apollo 16's capsule, and an Apollo 12 lunar rock sample. 

We had only 90 minutes to enjoy the museum before it closed, and we used every minute. We could have spent longer—there were films to watch and more interactive exhibits—but were pleased with what we got to see and would heartily recommend a stop, even if you can spare only an hour.