One of the highlights of any visit to Florida must be to watch the launch of a Space Shuttle from Kennedy Space Center. The Space Center is only a 1 hour drive from the area our vacation homes are in and is worth a visit even if there is not a scheduled launch. I would recommend viewing a launch even at night - It is a spectacular sight day or night. If the conditions are right, you can actually see shuttles on their journey into orbit from our vacation homes, as well as from most of the theme parks and other areas around Kissimmee, but you will not be able to see the actual launch unless you travel to the East coast. You do not necessarily need to get tickets into the Space Center to see a launch (tickets are very limited on launch days and need to be booked well in advance). You can get good views (although not quite as close) by driving to Coco Beach and watching from there. If you have access to an Internet enabled PC then you can check the NASA web site for up to date information on launches and current missions, so you won't be disappointed when you get there if a launch is cancelled or postponed.