hi audrey
re best place to watch shuttle lanch
I think that if you have not got tickets to go on to the space center and you want to be close to the launch site then you should go to cocoa beach.. look at this link for launch details
http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/schedule/schedule.htm
It looks like a pm launch time so you could spend the day in the cocoa beach area an whilst there you should ask the locals the best area to veiw launches from they will gladly help and tell you what time to get there for the best spot ..
but be prepared for the launch to be scrubbed at the last minute
we spent three days of our holiday in nov/dec 2001 at kennedy trying to catch the launch but we were out of luck
so heres hoping that you get to see this once in a lifetime experience
hope this helps
jayne 2