Sorry to continue this OT thread, but can't resist asking where in the
    U.S.  would be the best place to visit for rocket launch watching ? I
    want to go see the shuttle take off some day, but the % of launches
    completed per schedule is too low.

That would depend on whether you're willing to include amateur, HPR, and
model rocketry in the things you'd like to see.  www.rocketryonline.com
is a good place to start.

NASA's launch schedules are online somewhere too...

BillW