The National Museum of Naval Aviation
add photosYou can allso watch the Blue Angels practice for free - check the schedule:
http://www.navy.com/about/navylife/onduty/blueangels/practice/
Admission to simulator is $5.00 per per-son; IMAX costs $8.00 for adults, $7.50 for seniors and ages 5 through 12.
17 Reviews for The National Museum of Naval Aviation
2
00 families found this helpful
"Awesome for kids of all ages"
I have 1,3, and 5 yr old boys (not to mention my boy-at-heart husband). This museum is awesome!!! And it's free to boot! Unlike a previous review stated, the kids can touch almost everything. There are cockpits scattered throughout that they can climb in and touch the controls (even my 1 yr old loved this!). My 3 & 5 yr olds can name at least 20 different planes of different eras, and can even tell you which countries were the allies and the enemies by the planes that they flew! So this museum isn't just fun, it's educational, too! When they're tired of walking around, there is a great kids' play area (a mock battleship), where the kids can play for hours, while the parents can relax. There is a small restaurant, but I don't recommend it because of the limited menu (nothing healthy- no fruit or veggies. All sandwiches come with chips). But also on base are plenty of picnic opportunities on the water or in shade. While you're out on base, also check out Fort Barancas and the old lighthouse that older children can climb the 100+ steps for a great view. We go here about twice a year and the museum always changes, so it never gets old for us or the kids. I highly recommend it!
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It's helpful0 families found this helpful
"really interesting"
Every year we stay at our condo in Gulf Shores and make the short drive to the Museum. They have recently added a new wing that we haven't explored yet. I always seem to learn some new fact each time I go. You can spend hours in here. Even if airplanes and such aren't your thing, you can still find it fascinating.
0 families found this helpful
"Amazing Aviation"
We live in Pensacola and never tire of going to the Naval Aviation Museum. It is such a fun day with the kids and it is great that it is free! My kids love to climb all over the planes. There is so much history there and we always have a fabulous time.
The IMAX is excellent as well. There is a wide variety of shows and always something new playing. The IMAX is not free but it isn't expensive and well worth the cost for everything that we have seen.
0 families found this helpful
"navy buff"
This a great place to go if you kids loves planes or if you have a navy buff in the group. They have planes that you can see they even allow you to take pictures in the museum of the kids by the planes. Their are a couple of navy bases near by so you may even see some Navy personell in uniform and get pictures with them too
0 families found this helpful
"Loved it!"
My kids are 11 and 5 and we have been 3 times since my youngest was born. The kids love it. They like getting the chance to sit in the airplanes and riding the flight simulator. {which does cost money} The cost of the actual museum is free, which is a huge plus! It's a great place to take your kids if you home school. There is a lot of education to be learned here from not only various wars but also the air crafts themselves.
0 families found this helpful
"Naval Air Musuem"
This is a great activity for kids of any age. shows a historic walk through of the different World Wars, and the time area they occured. There are all kinds of planes and helicopters to climb in. There is also a 3D Imax Theater, which prvides a variety of different educational shows.
0 families found this helpful
"Naval Air Station in Pensacola"
Wondeful place to visit especially if you have a navy buff with you. This place says free and it is indeed free to get in, but they offer several activities that have costs so be aware. This is a place to spend the entire day exploring. They have a shuttle that gives you the feeling that you are in a real space vehicle. (additional costs)The downstairs has tons of actual naval planes and other vehicle that have been decommissioned. They have a training station that allows you to "learn" to fly one of their vehicles. This is tucked away in the back so don't miss it. (additional costs)They have videos that give you the look and feel that you are actually flying w/the navy (has additional costs). They have an area outside that has tons of planes etc. too. My favorite part is the upstairs. They have several war periods and booths set up that give you the look and feel of different parts of American history from a small general store to the jungles of Vietnam. This is definitely worth the visit even if you don't do all the "extras".
0 families found this helpful
"Best for k-5 and up"
Our kids were 3 and under when we went. My husband and I enjoyed the museum multiple times but when we took the kids it wasn't that big of a hit since there is not a lot they can do that young or touch. They were getting cranky quickly. Will try to take them again when they are older. There are opportunities to climb up in a few of the cockpits for the older children and even an imax theater. We didn't take them in to that seeing as it can be a little much for even me at times.
0 families found this helpful
"Fun and Educational"
This Naval Museum is very educational and extremely interesting to walk through. It is not all boats, but also has a room full of airplanes hanging down (all part of the navy, but not the first thing I think of). They also have a great Imax show. Family friendly to say the least, and also a fun, educational experience for all ages! If you're going to bring a stroller, make sure it's a single one that can easily turn corners though!
0 families found this helpful
"Pensacola's Aviation Museum"
If you have a little one (or big one) who's into planes, this is the place to go! There is a small play area for the littlest airplane enthusiasts, but the museum is definitely geared towards an older crowd. The huge planes inside are pretty cool by just about anyone's standards though! The museum's restaraunt is quite good as well.
'11
0 families found this helpful
"Flight Museum"
Great museum for any family visiting Pensacola area.
Great activites for little toddlers (play area for climbing and building), interesting facts for middles chool age and teenagers. If you are really into flight and want to spend time reading the interesting facts etc, try splitting up with your spouse, because the little ones will get bored if you stop to read everything!
Lots of room outside to run and play if you want to spread out the morning. Older kids will love the flight simulator..and all ages will love the sample planes on the second floor that they can climb inot and pretend they are pilots.
Try to catch the museum on a Tues or Wed morning when the Blue ANgels are practicing...very loaud for amny small children however.
0 families found this helpful
"awesome!!!!!"
My daughter will be one-year-old next week and she LOVES it here!!!! We've been 4 times since we moved here at the end of January. A pilot in the making.... if my husband gets his way :) Kid friendly area and a cafe to grab a bite to eat at. We live nearby so can't really say anything about the food.....sorry :(
0 families found this helpful
"Naval Air Station Museum"
Our 2 yr. old grandson had such a good time at the museum, we will go back many times as he grows.There is a kid friendly indoor play area. Airplanes and history abound. Nice snack bar is fun place for children and adults. Great history lessons and makes you proud to be an American. They are in the process of building a camp for children to learn about aviation. Nice retired military folks are the docents. Also great IMAX movies for all to enjoy. and not far from Perdido Key beaches.
2 families found this helpful
"So much to see!"
This expanding and ever changing museum is very child friendly and has so much for everyone! My son was wearing a shirt with a plane on it, so a docent issued him special sticker 'wings' at the desk. We spent hours looking at old favorites and new exhibits, climbing in and out of cockpits, shopping, playing... whew!
While the museum is free, donations are accepted in the lobby. Imax or flight simulators for cost - from $5-$20/person. We've never found the need to use them.
There is a café on site for sandwiches and if you go between April-May, you might be able to catch the Blue Angels practicing just outside!! Free!! http://www.navy.com/about/navylife/onduty/blueangels/practice/
2 families found this helpful
"Best free activity in town"
We have been to the Naval Air Station Museum so many times, we practically know it by heart. The museum contains many airplanes on the main floor, and many more suspended from the ceiling. There is an IMAX theater and motion simulator ride, but those do cost. My children really love to go to 2 areas. The first area is the WWII era village. They can go into a house or a grocery store and see what things were like and how different they were at that time. There other favorite area is the cockpit area. There are about 10 different airplane cockpits that children can sit in and pretend to fly. This makes for great photos!
0 families found this helpful
"Fun with the Family"
This immense facility preserves the history of military aircraft. It contains more than150 specialized aircraft in all, including the A-4 Skyhawks once used by the worlfamous Blue Angels.
Kids can manipulate controls in a test cockpit trainer and antiair-craft gun battery. A motion-based, fifteen-seat flight simulator ride re-creates a Desert Storm aircraft engagement and barnstorming flight.
In the IMAX theater, you feel as though you’re flying an F-18 fighter jet. Guided tours of the museum run fourtimes daily. The Blue Angels Air Show highlights a November visit.
1 family found this helpful
"Fly an airplane or meet a Blue Angel!"
One of our favorite places to go on a rainy day is the National Museum of Naval Aviation. The first place my kids head are the Cockpit Trainers were we can all climb in and out of airplane and helicopter cockpits. The kids love to see if there is a new IMAX movie playing and look at all the planes hanging from the ceiling. When the Blue Angels are home, check the schedule to see when you can view their morning practices. After practice, you can even meet the Blues and get their autographs. Perfect for the little (or big) pilot in your household!
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