You can spend your entire Pensacola Beach vacation relaxing and playing on the beach – the beautiful, white, sugar-sand beaches of Florida’s Gulf Coast are among the best in the world – but it is well worth giving up some beach time to visit the National Naval Aviation Museum in nearby Pensacola.
Named a Travelers’ Choice 2013 Top Museum, the National Naval Aviation Museum has more than 4,000 artifacts and 150 aircraft from the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard on display. Museum visitors can experience the thrill of piloting an elite jet aircraft in the flight simulators. Giant-screen IMAX films let you feel the excitement of launching off an aircraft carrier or flying in formation with the famous Blue Angels.
Plenty of hands-on exhibits tracing the history of U.S. naval aviation keep children and adults engaged. Don’t miss the guided trolley tour of the flight line which is both interesting and entertaining. Pilots are usually on hand to chat with visitors and sign posters. You can even climb inside the cockpits of numerous planes and helicopters, grab the stick, check the dials and imagine yourself flying off into the wild blue yonder!
There’s a lot to see, so start your visit early in the morning. Make plans to lunch in the authentic Cubi Bar Café, but don’t wait too long to take a lunch break as the café closes around 3:30 p.m. And be sure to stop in the Flight Deck store to pick up a unique memento of your visit. Reduced hours are in effect at most federal sites so check the museum website for current hours of operation before you visit.
Pensacola Beach vacation rentals and Destin beach rentals on iTrip.net are the perfect place to stay during your Florida Gulf Coast vacation. Book yours today and get ready for take off!