Family Vacation Ideas

Military & Space Exhibits

There are some great Military and Space exhibits around the country that are sure to thrill both kids
and parents alike. You'll get a kick out of the look on your son or daughter's face when they are
standing next to one of the big guns on the USS Alabama, or on the deck of an aircraft carrier.

Use these trips for a short excursion or weekend getaway, or incorporate them into your overall family
vacation. You'll be glad that you did.

USS Alabama Battleship Exhibit
Located in Mobile, Alabama.
Along the shores of Mobile Bay come visit the battleship USS Alabama,
Submarine USS Drum, Military Aircraft, Tanks and Artillery and other
equipment.

USS Lexington Aircraft Carrier Museum
Located in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Open seven days a week except for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Come visit
this floating city and see all that it has to offer. Check into special events, and
the chance to camp overnight aboard the USS Lexington.

Vicksburg National Military Park
Located in Vicksburg, Mississippi.
This Civil War Era National Military Park has an incredible driving tour. Allow it
least two hours for the tour. A cassette is available at the visitor center that
narrates what you are seeing as you drive along the tour. It suggests
particular stops and explains what you are about to visit. The memorials along
the way are quite incredible.

There is also a military cemetery located here, and a museum and display of
the USS Cairo. This was one of 7 ironclad gunboats named in honor of towns
along the upper Mississippi and Ohio rivers.

Pima Air and Space Museum
Located in Tucson, Arizona.
The Pima Air & Space Museum is the largest Air & Space Museum in the
Western United States. Here you'll find many different types of aircraft and
space artifacts. This is definitely a must see if you are going to be in the
Tucson area.

Johnson Space Center
Located in Houston, Texas.
Take a look behind the scenes on a guided tram tour of NASA's Johnson
Space Center. You can visit Historic Mission Control Center, Hangar X and the
Space Vehicle Mockup Facility. Before returning to Space Center Houston, you
have an optional stop at Rocket Park, home of the massive rockets used in
the earliest days of the space program. Occasionally, the tram tour may visit
other facilities, such as the New Mission Control Center or the Sonny Carter
Training Facility. You may even get to see astronauts training for upcoming
missions.

Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
Located at Pier 86 in New York, New York
The Museum is centered on the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid (CVS-11). Explore
the aircraft carrier and get an up-close look at dozens of aircraft, and climb
aboard the USS Growler submarine. Visitors can also ride in the A-6 Cockpit
Simulator, visit the Virtual Flight Zone, and tour the inside of the world’s fastest
commercial airplane, the Concorde.

Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
Located in the Washington, D.C. area
There are actually two very large air and space exhibits here. The National Air
and Space Museum is located in the National Mall building in Washington,
D.C. and the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is in Chantilly, Virginia. This
makes up the largest collection of historic aviation and space artifacts in the
world. Exhibits include the Wright brothers' original 1903 Flyer, Charles
Lindberghs' Spirit of St. Louis, a wide range of historic military aircraft and
even the Space Shuttle Enterprise.

National Museum of the U.S. Air Force
Located at Wright-Patterson AFB - Dayton, Ohio
This is the largest and oldest military aviation museum in the world. It features
over 360 aerospace vehicles and missiles, and covers over 17 acres of
indoor exhibit space. Galleries include: Early Years, World War II, the Korean
War, Southeast Asia, the Cold War, Military and Space, along with Presidential
and Research and Development aircraft.

National Naval Aviation Museum
Located in Pensacola, Florida
The museum includes about 150 aircraft, and includes such aircraft as the
NC-4 flying boat, the SBD Dauntless, along with a number of aircraft that
logged missions over Iraq during Operation Desert Storm and an F-14
Tomcat. In addition to aircraft, there are more than 4,000 uniforms, along with
flight gear, weaponry, medals and decorations.

Kennedy Space Center
Located near Cocoa Beach, Florida
The Kennedy Space Center attractions feature inspiring exhibits and hands-
on experiences, including: interactive space flight simulators, guided tours
into exclusive areas of the Kennedy Space Center's working space flight
facilities, the Apollo/Saturn V Center, and IMAX® theaters where you can feel
the thrill of space exploration.

USS North Carolina Battleship Exhibit
Located at Wilmington, North Carolina
Visitors are welcome to walk the deck of the battleship and discover one of
America’s most historic ships. While touring the ship, envision the daily life
and fierce combat her crew faced in the Pacific Theatre during World War II.

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