Naval Aviation Museum

Our primary purpose for driving to Pensacola yesterday was to visit the much acclaimed National Naval Aviation Museum.  All those people who told us to be sure to go there were not wrong in their assessment.  It was first class.

Located within the Pensacola Naval Air Station, we had to pass through base security.  With literally hundreds of visitors a day to visit the museum, they are used to us nonmilitary types.   We showed our driver’s license and were waved right in.  The guard also gave us easy directions--turn right at the second traffic light and continue for 3 miles.  It was along this 3 mile section that we spotted the Gulf Islands National Seashore sign, which was a total surprise.  We could also see the Pensacola Lighthouse from the parking lot of the museum. That’s how we got off onto those other adventures.

The museum is a huge expanse as you might well imagine since they are displaying airplanes.  There are aircraft of every description everywhere on the floor and hanging from the ceiling.   There are free guided tours of the museum or you can wander around on your own.  On the second level, a walkway around the perimeter houses several exhibits plus a fantastic overview of what’s on the floor below.

There are more planes parked around the restoration hanger outside.  This area is accessible by trolley only, but again, this is a free guided tour.

We had our lunch at Cubi Bar Cafe, inside the museum.  Cubi Bar is special.  The “bar” area was the actual Cubi Bar at Subic Bay, Philippines.  When the base there closed, the bar was taken apart and shipped to Pensacola and reassembled.  Cubi Bar is famous for the plaques of squadrons which, for whatever reason, passed through Subic Bay.  The food was not outstanding (it’s just a soup and sandwich kind of place), but it was fun to eat there and look at the plaques.

Pensacola is the home of the famous Blue Angels.  They are off at their winter training grounds right now, but if you are here in February or March, you can come out and watch them do full dress rehearsals.  They fly 2 mornings each week and, yes, that’s free, too.  Just another reason why I’m gonna have to come back here.