If you ever find yourself on deck down in Florida, chart a course straight for the National Naval…read moreAviation Museum at Naval Air Station Pensacola. First order of business: secure a seat in their giant-screen IMAX theater. That screen is massive one of those experiences where the engines roar, the jets scream across the sky, and you feel like you're strapped into the cockpit yourself. It's the kind of show that makes you sit up a little straighter in your seat and remember why naval aviation has always been the sharp end of the spear. Now the museum itself shipmate, this place is the real deal. Founded back in 1962 by Rear Admiral Magruder H. Tuttle, it started small with just a handful of aircraft. Today it's a full-on aviation hangar of history with more than 150 restored aircraft from the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard spread across huge exhibit bays. My son and I spent hours there, and the best part for him was getting up close with the aircraft climbing into cockpits, checking out helicopters, and seeing the machines that once launched off carrier decks into the wild blue. Top highlights include the historic Curtiss NC-4 (the first aircraft to cross the Atlantic), Blue Angels jets hanging in formation overhead, and flight simulators that let you feel like you're launching off a carrier deck. Bottom line: if you've got even a drop of saltwater in your veins or a love for aviation, this place is squared away. Bring the kids, bring your curiosity, and be prepared to spend a full day walking through the proud history of naval aviation. From one proud American to another this museum is absolutely mission ready.

Amazing place, must see. Great aviation history from pre WWI Kitty Hawk, to WWI battleships…read moreconverted to carriers, WW2 planes, Korea, Vietnam to current aviation.

3/27/2025: This was my favorite part of the historical tour downtown. This piece is a guided tour…read more Aiden was very detailed and had a full knowledge of the history of Pensacola. We started in a home built in 1805, then went to the oldest church in Florida built in 1832, then saw 2 additional homes. One was from 1871 and the other from 1890. I don't want to give too much away in my review, so the best thing I can suggest is to not miss this part! When Aiden detailed the past for us, he used words as current descriptions and like he was the one who was performing the daily tasks. It was a nice touch. To see how people lived long ago is amazing. When you walk into the area of the first home, you'll see a woman tending the garden, a man wood working, a woman playing the flute, and another woman playing the violin. It was like a little play. I've been vacationing in Pensacola since 1975 when I was 2 months old. I love the beach but this is the first time I saw the history it holds. Very impressed. The guided tour takes about an hour. You can only see these homes and the church by purchasing a ticket for the tour. It's a bundle ticket that also gets you into the self guided museums. $12 for adults. Highly recommend!

The most adorable street here in The City of 5 Flags, Adams St, sits Pensacola's gorgeous little…read moreHistoric Village. Anchored by the tall white steeple of the old Christ Church, also known as "Christ Church" which was built in 1832. It's one of the oldest surviving church buildings in Florida & has the cutest little cottage on the planet right behind it. Services/events are still held there & you can actually rent the Church & cottage for weddings/events. Historically, in 1822 Pensacola had just recently been acquired by the United States and with this acquisition, came a surge of missionaries. In 1828, Father Ralph Williston arrived in Pensacola & with some of the town's Protestants supporting him, Williston acquired a charter & the property to build Christ Church. It is Gothic revival, absolutely gorgeous, has a long torrid history that is worth a read & is def a must visit. Also the best preserved example of post Civil War Classical Revival architecture in the Pensacola Historic District is the Yellow "Dorr House" built by Clara Barkley Dorr in 1871 for her & her five children. Her sister in law, "Clara Dorr Moreno" was named after her, as she was part of the Moreno family that lived across the street. The Moreno 'shotgun' cottage that stands there today was built by Don Francisco Moreno for his daughter LaPearle, one of the youngest of his 27 chidren by three wives. The house was a gift for LaPearle on the eve of her marriage to Octavius Smith. It contained no kitchen, as the newlyweds took their meals in the main Moreno home which once stood on the very same lot. A great deal of Pensacola's heritage began with the Spanish Moreno men who rebuilt the Spanish population here in Pensacola, following the British departure of 1781. Local Legendary Spaniard "Don Francisco Moreno" is rumored to have been Pensacola's wealthiest man. Some reports suggest that "the Don" became the community's primary banker. True to Spanish Pirate style, strictly dealing in gold, that he hid under his bed, or maybe, somewhere X? That is the "Key" question. There is also the local Legendary Pirate stories of "Billy Bowlegs" who preyed & pillaged booty from the Spanish Conquistadors who shipped through the Gulf of Mexico here, until 1838. Bowlegs is said to have stored hundreds of thousands worth of silver & gold booty on his personal schooner. Eventually rumored, to have hid his vast Pirate treasure of gold & silver on a sandy island off the northern Gulf Coast. and/or on "Perdido Key." AKA The "lost KEY." As I have wrote about this before, Pensacola has recently been discovered, to be the VERY FIRST established city in modern America. The City of 5 flags, historical era, begins with the arrival of the Spanish Conquistadors who sailed into the bay in the 15th century. Six years BEFORE Spanish Conquistadors explorers arrived in St Augustine, Florida, in 1565. In 1559 Tristan de Luna & his mateys established the very first settlement at Pensacola Bay, the first multi-year European settlement, in what is now the continental United States of America. Abandoned for many years, in the late 17th century, the Spanish Conquistadors returned to find a more developed Pensacola, they battened down the hatches to hornswoggling an outpost, from which to defend their claims to Spanish Florida. Pensacola's idyllic, strategic but isolated "KEY" position, combined with the continued European rivalries playing out their "wars" in North America, lead to Pensacola changing hands among the Western powers a number of times. At these different times over the years, it was held by the British, the Spanish, the French, the United States & the Confederate States of America. Hence, the city of 5 flags. The Historic Village of Pensacola, AKA Pirate'cola, is def full of intriguing history. It's nine acres located exactly, in the original Spanish & British forts, in downtown Pensacola. I highly recommend you purchase a "One Ticket, Seven Days to Explore" ticket that enables you to leisurely visit all of the museums, participate in self-guided tours of all the historic homes. And you can even interact with period-dressed living history interpreters at some of the buildings. What I find most fascinating about Historic Pensacola Village is; every door, from the Dorr house to the Moreno Cottage to the 1810 Watson house, the street flags, even the entrance sign, has a giant symbol of a "Key." Perhaps it's just a symbol, a symbol of a "lost key." Or maybe, it's a reminder of a "key" to a Spanish Pirate treasure lost, lost here on the Gulf of Mexico. Lost on "Perdido Key." Highest Recommendations

Interesting art many unusual prints easy to get too Great place for a tour group to visitread more

Our family loves to visit and shop their gift store. They have great art camps in the summer, too.read more

Very interesting place with amazing views of the water and airfield. Very much worth getting into…read morethe air station to visit.

A a short walk from Oak Grove RV Park. My wife and I had a terrific time making the climb and…read moreenjoying the view! Not for the faint of heart or fear of heights.

I'm not sure why there are so many bad ratings of this place. Is it a world class place you can…read morespend an entire day? No. But will your kids have fun? Absolutely. We discovered this place as part of our ticket package to the history museum. The museum has two floors. The first floor is kind of small, but kids make the most of it. It is hands on activities related to early history of the area. The second floor has a lego room, a period school house and a pretend grocery store. Overall we spent about an hour and a half at the museum. A great way to spend a rainy day.

Such a great place to bring your toddler! We were in town visiting and looking for a place to bring…read moreour toddler and she had a blast! Different rooms for them to explore in, perfect for a rainy day.

We were in the Mobile area and decided to visit this expansive estate. Azaleas and camellia were…read morethe primary bloomers in mid-March, but there were other things to see in the gardens. Bellingrath is not among the gardens giving reciprocal admissions. After we paid, we were given a map and a brief explanation. Many of the garden paths are shady, while others are wide open. There are areas where there are lots of mosquitoes. Sunscreen and bug repellant are recommended for your visit. We enjoyed the water features, bridges, and the beautiful reflections. The so-called Asian-American garden near the end of the tour had some interesting hardscape but wasn't well maintained. The greenhouses were definitely worth a visit. There were lots of plants for sale during our visit. We didn't visit the Bellingrath Home Museum, which had an extra charge. All in all, we got some exercise and saw beautiful scenery during our visit. I'm guessing the gardens will be much nicer beginning in May. Hopefully the roses will be blooming by then.

It's inexpensive but not very expansive. For anyone traveling from out of state it's nice but…read morenothing incredibly memorable. There are some attractive water features and trees but a lot of the other plants will be garden flowers. It takes about an hour or so to walk through. If possible, avoid during the evening because even during the winter there will be mosquitoes unless it's actually cold. A nice walk and not that expensive so it's worth a trip if you're in the area.

Went here for a networking mixer and had a blast. A lot of cool artifacts are here and Trader Jon's…read moreexhibit was very nice. They served us passed hors d'oeuvres and it was a selection of wines, beer, and a specialty cocktail at the bar. Customer service was great and the food/drinks were very good! Just a back story on Trader Jon's for those who may not know - For decades, Trader Jon's was the watering hole of choice for the U.S. Navy pilots who trained in Pensacola, known far and wide for the eccentricities of owner Martin "Trader Jon" Weissman and his massive collection of Navy memorabilia. Again, my experience is a little different than a normal visit in any given day. I didn't have to pay an entry fee and I was with a large group for a private even. A unique spot for sure, so drop in if you can! We walked over from our hotel (2-min walk) and centrally located downtown where a lot of bars/restaurants are.

3/27/2025: Good information about Pensacola and laid out nicely with displays, 3 stories, and…read moreseparate rooms. We bought the ticket for the full historic district tours. It was $12 per adult ($7 for kids) and you can use the ticket for 7 days. I reviewed each piece separately for a better understanding of what you see in each section. I've been vacationing in Pensacola Beach since 1975 when I was a baby. I'm glad I finally got some history of the place I love so much!

I highly recommend the Pensacola Mess Hall. Mess stands for Math, Engineering, Science, and Stuff…read more Each station was so thoughtful and hands on. Our kids asked to come back and said, "this place is amazing." The adults enjoyed the interactive stations too. I enjoyed talking with Megan too about her inspiration for the Mess Hall.

Our family traveled from Dayton,OH and this museum was listed as a reciprocating benefits for our…read moremembership. We had doubts in the beginning seeing how small it seemed but so glad we stopped by! This is great place for toddlers 3 and up to prolly about preteens... heck adults would enjoy. Each station has a card to talk about how to use the materials and the science behind it! I love that the kids could go and just .. do stuff! Touch stuff. They have a station in thr back where you can check out fun activity kits to do once you are done checking all the stations. They have a daily challenge as well!

Absolutely outstanding experience. I cannot recommend the United States Air Force Armament Museum…read moreat Eglin Air Force Base highly enough. I visited with my two sons, ages 13 and 14, and we all had an incredible time. The museum itself is impressive, well laid out, and packed with history, but what truly made the visit unforgettable was a volunteer named Pappy. He generously spent a long time giving us a guided tour, sharing stories, answering questions, and connecting the exhibits to real-world history in a way that completely captivated my boys. They especially loved seeing the aircraft up close, including the mini planes and, in particular, the F-4 Phantom. That one hit home for our family, as their grandfather flew an F-4 in Vietnam. Seeing that aircraft in person, while hearing knowledgeable and respectful commentary, was genuinely meaningful. This museum does an exceptional job of honoring history while keeping it engaging for younger visitors. If you have children, especially teens, or any interest in aviation or military history, this is a must-see. We left impressed, grateful, and already talking about coming back. Five stars without hesitation.

Unfortunately the day I visited it was rainy and dreary. The lady at the front patiently went over…read morewhat the museum had to offer. I spent about 1.5 hours and really enjoyed myself. They were times I became emotional. The history of the AF runs deep and this space was a sliver. I didn't get to see the outside planes due to the weather. Check them out Yelpers.

We were in town for a few days and wanted to take the kids to different places they like. My son…read morewanted to see trains so we stopped by this museum. It's free, self guided, easy to walk through. You can do the whole thing in probably 20 minutes. It's small but nice.

I had a random weekday off and came over to Foley to sightsee and this is one of the places I came…read moreto. The model train exhibit is only open on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, so I missed it. Free admission, set in the old train depot, everything flowed well. The person working was friendly and informative. I would recommend to anyone in the area!