Aug 15, 2024 • 6 min read
29.07.2024 - 20:13 / thepointsguy.com
Growing up, space intrigued me. I wasn't exactly building model rockets in my backyard, but the idea of floating among the stars always seemed like a nifty alternative to physics class. While my dreams didn't take me to NASA, they occasionally drifted to the cosmos. So, when the opportunity to attend Adult Space Camp emerged, it felt like a cosmic nod to those quieter daydreams, albeit with a grown-up twist.
Heading to Adult Space Camp meant a weekend getaway with my husband without our lively 5-year-old son (because while they offer Family Space Camp, there's something about the phrase "no kids allowed" that sounds like heaven when you've just survived another round of birthday parties).
What better way to spend Mother's Day than by skipping the brunch crowds for a weekend of zero-gravity fun in Huntsville, Alabama?
So there we were, planning to trade sippy cups and soccer games for spacesuits and simulators and to see if pondering the mysteries of the universe would launch us into an adventure far from the orbit of our daily routines.
Could strapping into a flight simulator or maneuvering through a mock space mission rekindle the thrill of discovery and bring us closer as a couple? We were on a mission to discover if this out-of-this-world getaway might be the ultimate way for couples to reignite their cosmic spark.
Adult Space Camp, hosted at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, also known as Rocket City, brings every latent childhood dream of space exploration to vivid life. Officially called Adult Space Academy, this "camp" experience isn't just a walk through a museum; it's an immersive plunge into the life of an astronaut, complete with all the educational thrills of actual astronaut training.
Upon arrival, participants are whisked into a weekend of rigorous but fun activities that closely mirror the actual astronaut training process. You'll experience everything from receiving mission briefings to engaging in hands-on activities like building and launching model rockets. The camp is equipped with high-fidelity simulators, including the Multi-Axis Trainer, which mimics the disorientation in a tumbling spacecraft, and the 1/6th Gravity Chair, offering a taste of what walking on the moon feels like.
What sets this camp apart is not just the chance to live out a day in the life of an astronaut but also the opportunity to interact with actual space artifacts, some of which aren't typically available to the public, like a pair of moon boots. You get to see, touch and learn about pieces of space history that have seen the cosmos up close, adding an authentic layer of awe to the experience.
The educational component is robust. It dives into the details of spacecraft engineering, orbital
Aug 15, 2024 • 6 min read
This autumn, Belgium is the place to be for art lovers and curious minds alike, as the nation marks the centenary of Surrealism, a movement deeply embedded in its cultural DNA. Often characterized by its themes of eroticism, socialism, dreams, and the irrational, Surrealism in Belgium is far more than just René Magritte. This season, the cities of Liège, Mons, and Charleroi are hosting significant exhibitions and numerous events that promise to shed new light on this boundary-pushing art form.
Train travel through the South is about to get a fresh impetus next year, as a route along the Gulf Coast of Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana is on track to be restored after a nearly 20-year hiatus.
Travelers, mark August 23rd on your calendar—it’s National Cheap Flight Day. August 23rd is reported to be one of the best days of the year to book a flight, as kids return to school and the summer travel surge ends.
From a distance, the sandstone pillars resembled a gathering of giants turned to stone by a displeased god. Our group of eight travelers had set out when the sun was at its zenith, and now, as it made its descent, we arrived at this place with air so pure it seemed to hold no scent. The only sound was the wind, as faint as breath. The rocks are called tassili, and some stand more than 300 feet high. They have been carved by this same disarmingly gentle wind over many thousands of years. This is what deep time feels like.
Aug 9, 2024 • 8 min read
Aug 9, 2024 • 6 min read
As someone who's traveled to over 40 countries, there was one thing I never checked off my travel bucket list: flying business class. I always walked past the lie-flat seats and dreamed one day I would be able to.
Aug 5, 2024 • 6 min read
Aug 5, 2024 • 6 min read
Pantone is just like us, in the sense that they, too, are setting their intentions for the year — one filled with strength and energy. The Color of the Year for 2023 is Viva Magenta, which the company describes as powerful and empowering. “Viva Magenta is brave and fearless, and a pulsating color whose exuberance promotes a joyous and optimistic celebration… [It] revels in pure joy, encouraging experimentation and self-expression without restraint.” A year surrounded by joy and self-expression sounds like a year well spent to us.
A version of this article originally appeared in Condé Nast Traveller UK.