Keep reading if you want to see more about our trip!
This was the wonderful house we stayed in for the week. It was on stilts and on Sunday, we actually got some pretty intense storms and you could feel the house sway! It was like being on a cruise ship. But it was gorgeous on the inside and had a great deck with porch swing that we really enjoyed.
This was our view from the porch. We were sure spoiled having such a short walk to the beach! We didn't have great weather, unfortunately, for most of the week while we were there, but the last day we were there was beautiful (this is around sunset on our last day).
It was just so relaxing being there and taking walks down the shore. One night we walked a little too far and must have worried the in-laws, because we came back to flashlights shining from the porch so we'd know where we belonged. :)
One of my favorite activities-- besides eating fresh fresh fresh Gulf shrimp of course-- was touring the Johnson Space Center at NASA outside of Houston. They had a great museum set up with replicas of shuttle cockpits (above), lots of actually used astronaut suits, interactive presentations about the Mars Rover & other topics, and a cool space cafe.
But what was really awesome about this place was the tour we got to take (we were shuttled around on trams on a pretty cold day, so that was not so fun, but it was definitely worth it) where they showed us selected actual NASA training facilities. This was part of an international space station training facility that is one of several around the globe that astronauts actually use when training to go to the ISS. We didn't see anyone training, but we did see people working. It was so amazing to be there and appreciate how crazy, big and complicated all of it is.
After that, they took us to a park where there were lots of rockets that actually had been launched into space and were now displayed. This was the first one we saw when we walked in, and I couldn't tell you how big it is, but all I know is it was huge!
This picture of Mike in front of the rocket helps put it into perspective. I tried to get NASA to relaunch this rocket and send him to his home planet, but no one would listen to me. ;)
This, by far, was one of the coolest things that we got to see at NASA-- a real rocket warehoused at the space center that had actually been to the moon. The size of it was overwhelming and they built the warehouse around the rocket. It was really awesome to be able to get up close to it, and you could see some of the rust and other residue from travelling in space. It was honestly one of the coolest things I've ever seen!
Happy faces enjoying the Space Center!
On our last morning there, we wanted to get an early start so we woke up to finish packing up pretty early. But it was so worth it because we got to see the most beautiful sunrise over the beach. Of course the picture doesn't even do it justice, but it helps us remember our last peaceful moments on the beach.
Clearly this isn't the greatest picture of me, haha. What can I say.. I'm not used to "Cleary Time" yet! ;)
Cute in-laws on the last day of vacation.
Thanks to my in-laws, Kate & Jerry for a wonderful vacation that we will remember forever!
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