Space Center Houston, the official visitor center of NASA's Johnson Space Center, is a must-see attraction in Houston. And with the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon Landing, now is a perfect time to visit.

This is a huge complex, where you can walk through the space shuttle replica Independence and the enormous shuttle carrier aircraft it's mounted on. In the visitor center, you can wander inside a replica of America's first space station, Skylab, and touch a rock from the moon. This is also the place to learn about NASA's upcoming missions, including travel to Mars. If you are here on a Friday around noon, you can even meet an astronaut.

From the visitor center, you can take an open-air tram tour to Johnson Space Center, home of mission control, to see where astronauts train for space missions. This tour also takes you to Rocket Park to see actual rockets on display. Tickets are free but limited, and you can get a timed ticket to avoid waiting in lines.

If you want to experience something truly unique, sign up for a Level 9 Tour and enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at Johnson Space Center. You can see the Buoyancy Lab, the ISS Mission Control, and simulation labs, along with other areas off limits on regular tours, and possibly even encounter an astronaut. This is a one-of-a-kind experience, and only 12 tickets are sold per day for this exclusive, four- to five-hour VIP tour. Tours begin at the Space Center Houston, which you are free to explore with the purchase of this ticket.

A convenient way to visit the Houston Space Center during your trip to Houston is on NASA's Space Center Houston and City Sightseeing Tour, which includes free admission to the space center, as well as a bonus 1.5-hour open-air bus tour of the city's top sights.

Address: 1601 Nasa Pkwy, Houston, Texas

Official Site: https://spacecenter.org/

The Rim Trail is a mostly paved walking path that follows the rim of the Grand Canyon for 13 miles. It runs from South Kaibab Trailhead, east of the Visitor Center, to Hermit's Rest, at the far west end of Hermit Road.

This nearly level path, with a mix of sun and shade from scattered trees, is one of the most scenic walks in North America, with fabulous views along the entire distance of the trail.

You can access it in front of the visitor center at Mather Point, in the Village, or from any of the scenic stops along Hermit Road. If you have limited time and are only interested in a short walk, a good option is the section from Mather Point, heading west to Yavapai Point and the Geology Museum.

One of the most interesting and informative exhibits in Grand Canyon National Park is the Geological Museum. The location for this museum was chosen by a group of high profile geologists in the 1920s because the views from here were the most representative of the geology of the canyon.

The museum describes in detail the layers of rock visible as you look out the long wall of windows. Huge diagrams describe the formation of the canyon, from the uplifting of the rocks to the erosive power of the water running through the canyon far below.

From the windows, you can see the hiking trails below, including a great view of the route out to Plateau Point, an offshoot of the Bright Angel Trail, and a side path leading down to the Colorado River.

Hermit Road is a seven-mile scenic drive along the canyon rim, with numerous viewpoints. This is the most popular route in the park.

If you are visiting between the beginning of December and the end of February, you can do this drive in your own vehicle. From March 1 to November 30 you must use the park shuttle buses, which operate every 10 to 15 minutes and stop at nine overlooks.

All the overlooks along this route offer incredible vantage points over the canyon. Although it may be the source of some debate, some of the best views can be had from Maricopa Point, Hopi Point, The Abyss, and Pima Point. If you are short on time, you may want to skip the last stop, Hermit's Rest.