The U.S. Space & Rocket Center puts you in the world of the astronaut with simulation, historical displays and futuristic exhibits. You'll find an interactive Space Transportation Exhibit, illustrating the evolution of the Space Shuttle through interactive displays and hands-on activities. Sit inside the Apollo Cockpit Trainer, watch live performances, and watch an IMAX film.

Located in a 40,000 square foot facility within America's second largest research park in Huntsville, Sci-Quest boasts more than 150 interactive exhibits covering areas of science such as engineering; electricity and magnetism; world ecosystems and weather sciences; fluid dynamics; physiology; waves, light and sound; chemistry and material sciences; and early childhood education. Sci-Quest's newest component is the one-of-a-kind Immersive Theater. This new format captivates audiences with majestic, high-definition 3D images projected onto a 12 ft. by 26 ft. screen and state-of-the-art stereo surround sound. Visitors are given control of the various program scenarios through the use of touch-screen monitors and pop-up facts and questions, enabling each audience member to have an individually customized experience. Sci-Quest offers more than 200 public educational programs each year for children of all ages. Instead of using a traditional classroom format, however, Sci-Quest's science educators use interactive demonstrations and hands-on experiments to enhance the audience's experience.

Visit the Southern Museum of Flight in Birmingham to see some of the machines that helped the world take to the skies. Aircraft on display include one of Delta Air Line's first planes, a Huff Daland crop duster, a 1912 Curtiss Pusher replica, an A-12 Blackbird and F- 4 jet fighter. The museum also houses aviation memorabilia, including the gloves worn by Germany's Red Baron on his last flight, a landing light used by the Wright Brothers at their Montgomery flying school and artifacts from the "Flying Tigers" of World War II. Also features historic photos and the Alabama Aviation Hall of Fame. The Flight Simulator Hangar offers an opportunity for pilots of all ages to try their wings.

See the wonders of our world in action, and leave with new-found perspectives. Through amazing hands-on exhibits, larger-than-life IMAX® films and quality educational programs, McWane Center in Birmingham strives to make learning an adventure for all ages. Features ScienceQuest, Just Mice Size, and World of Water exhibits.

ExploraVision is a competition for all students in grades K-12 attending a school in the U.S., Canada, U.S. Territory or a Department of Defense school. Homeschooled students are eligible to enter. It is designed to encourage students to combine their imagination with their knowledge of science and technology to explore visions of the future. Teams of students select a technology, research how it works and why it was invented, and then project how that technology may change in the future. They must then identify what breakthroughs are required for their vision to become a reality and describe the positive and negative consequences of their technology on society. Winning ideas have focused on things as simple as ballpoint pens and as complex as satellite communications. The student teams write a paper and draw a series of Web page graphics to describe their idea. Regional winners make a Web site and a prototype of their future vision.