Pensacola’s Naval Aviation Museum Soars

Pensacola, Florida is known for its sugary-white sand beaches, delicious Gulf Seafood, and one of the country’s best aviation museums, the National Naval Aviation Museum. Every naval aviator flyboy (or fly girl) comes through Pensacola Naval Air Station to earn their wings of gold. So, what better place to house the nation’s premier collection of Naval Aircraft?

It’s a museum like no other. Here, you can walk aboard the actual wooden flight deck from a World War II aircraft carrier. Travel back in time to Pensacola circa 1940’s to see what life was like as the boys went off to war. Find yourself on a Pacific Island as American forces advance across the Pacific. Walk through a World War II aircraft carrier, complete with a pilot ready room. Go deep below Lake Michigan in search of World War II aircraft. Take a tour of a flight line filled with vintage, historic Navy aircraft. Test your aviation skills inside an F-14 Tomcat simulator.

Then, there’s the impressive collection of airplanes. The museum is land out by period, beginning with the first Navy aircraft. Fantastic displays show just how far aviation came in such a short time period. See the massive NC-4, the first airplane (aka Flying Boat) to fly across the Atlantic Ocean. Marvel at the Blue Angels suspended high above in a 7 story glass atrium. Take a look inside a PBY Catalina. Get your picture taken by a Tomcat, Hellcat, Viper, or Hornet. Peak inside a K-47 flying airship.

And, there’s more. The much anticipated Hanger Bay One opened in late 2010, paying tribute to post World War II aircraft. Walk up the stairs of a Presidential Helicopter that once flew President Nixon. See the Navy’s last flying boat, the SP-5B Marlin. Check out the R4D-5L Skytrain and P2V-1 Neptune.

Make sure to stop at the Cubi Bar Café for a cold drink or sandwich during your visit. It’s a replica of the famed NAS Cubi Point Officer’s Club in the Philippines. The plaques hanging on these walls came directly from the Cubi Club. The food’s great too – the best on the base!

Admission to the National Naval Aviation Museum is absolutely free! Try to take one of the free guided museum tours that are offered throughout the day. The guides are all retired military and provide fantastic insight on the history of Navy aviation. Plus, you can see the Blue Angels practice on select Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout the year!

For more details, visit www.navalaviationmuseum.org

Bike down a 10,023 Foot Dormant Volcano? Only in Hawaii!

When you think of a Hawaiian vacation, you probably imagine sitting on a sun-drenched beach with a Mai-Tai as palm trees sway in warm tropical breezes. That is, after all, the quintessential tropical Hawaiian vacation. But what about biking down a massive, towering volcano? You can in Maui, with little effort at all!

Haleakala towers above Maui, rising over 10,000 feet into the sky. It’s the volcano that helped shaped this island all the way through the 17th century. Scientists say that one day it could erupt again, or it couldn’t. Native Hawaiians hold the volcano with deep reverence. And, on a clear day, Haleakala seems to pierce its way all the way up to the heavens. So, adventure companies decided to offer visitors the adventure of a lifetime. Bike 28 miles down a 10,023 feet volcano in just under 4 hours, without having to pedal!

It’s a bike ride like no other on the planet. You begin your ride on top of the world, where the landscape is rocky, harsh, and virtually barren. As you coast down, you pass through the fertile farm land of Maui where the famed Maui Onion grows, cattle roam, and flower farms are plentiful. Then, you end up down by the ocean in the town of Paia, where a refreshing drink is waiting for you!

Of course, the bike ride alone is thrilling enough. Bikers get to ease into switchbacks as they take in absolutely gorgeous views of one of the most beautiful islands in the world. But, there is another benefit. Haleakala offers some of the most gorgeous sunrises on the planet. As the sun creeps over the crater, the sun’s rays play off the numerous cinder cones, creating a rainbow of colors. So, these adventures companies offer Sunrise Bike Tours of Haleakala. But, you will need to be an early riser to take the sunrise tours. Adventure operators pick you up at your hotel around 2:30AM!

Do you need to be a world-class bike rider and in terrific shape to ride down Haleakala? Absolutely not! If you can ride a bike and are in decent shape, you will do just fine. In fact, most tours have a safari van follow the bike riders. If you get tired or are uncomfortable on the bike, just hop in the van and ride down the volcano in air conditioned comfort.

Interested in learning more about adventures on Maui? Our Maui Pocket Travel Guide can help. Learn about off the beaten path adventures, receive 4 distinct Maui itineraries, discover the best places to stay (it’s not the big chains), where to eat, play golf, and beaches that offer the best in snorkeling, swimming, and walking.

Have a Kindle, IPhone, or IPad? Then, purchase the Maui Pocket Travel Guide directly from the Kindle Store: www.amazon.com/dp/B005G0JJA6. Or purchase the PDF version from our website: www.greatamericanvacationideas.com/Hawaii.html

America’s Military Might is on Display at Patriot’s Point

Military engagements have shaped the history of Charleston, South Carolina. So, it is only fitting that one of the nation’s best naval attractions is located just across the Cooper River. Patriot’s Point is a Naval and Maritime Museum. Here you can explore some of the nation’s most decorated naval ships, including an aircraft carrier, World War II destroyer, a cold war era submarine, along with a Vietnam Support Base Camp, and the moving Medal of Honor Museum.

USS Yorktown
Patriot’s Point main attraction is the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown, “The Fighting Lady.” She saw extensive action in the Pacific and was awarded 11 battle stars during World War II. She also picked up the Apollo 8 astronauts after they splashed down in the Pacific Ocean. You can literally spend hours here exploring. There are 6 terrific walking tours that give you a glimpse of what life is like aboard an aircraft carrier with 3,000 + men! All tours are self-guided, so you can take your time. Our favorites are:

•The Flight Deck and Bridge – Walk through the Pilot’s Ready Room, Air Traffic Control, and Combat Information Center on the way to the Captain’s Bridge. Then, explore the flight deck complete with some of the Navy’s most powerful aircraft. Check out the catapults and see just how little room for error Navy Pilot’s have!

•Hanger Deck – Aircraft had to be brought up from the Hanger Deck to the Flight Deck. Here you can see impressive displays of F6F Hellcats, the F-9 Cougar, the F4F Wildcat, flight simulators, and Apollo and Mercury replicas. The moving Medal of Honor Museum is also located here. A walk through this museum is sure to make any American’s heart beam with pride at the sacrifices these brave men and women made.

•Living and Working Quarters – An aircraft carrier is a city on the sea. Here you can see where the crew ate, slept, and worked. Check out the Bakery to see how to make an order of 10,000 chocolate chip cookies!

USS Clamagore
This is your chance to step aboard a naval submarine. The USS Clamagore is a GUPPY II class submarine that was used extensively during the Cold War. Imagine living aboard this submarine. There is hardly any room to maneuver in! A walking tour takes you through the torpedo firing room, crew’s living quarters, the cramped kitchen, and dining areas.

It’s easy to spend at least half a day exploring Patriot’s Point. Make sure to dress comfortably – there is virtually no air conditioning on these ships. That makes the experience all that more authentic! For more information, visit their official website: www.patriotspoint.org

Note: The World War II destroyer, USS Laffey, is currently undergoing a complete refurbishment. It is not available to tour at this time.