Visitors to Florida will be happy to know that there are plenty of low-cost and even free attractions that are every bit as exciting as theme parks for which this state is famous. One such attraction is the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola.
The museum is part of the Naval Air Station at Pensacola and contains more than 150 historic aircraft as well as thousands of artifacts representing the history of the air services of the Navy, Marine Corps and the Coast Guard. In addition the museum also contains memorabilia representing nearly a century of Naval Aviation history, including personal mementos from historic battles, flight logs, vintage equipment and flight clothing If you are visiting during the months of March through November you can watch the aerial exploits of the Blue Angels. The practice sessions of the Blue Angels take place on most Tuesday and Wednesday mornings of these months and are followed by autograph sessions that are sure to be a hit with your kids.
Regardless of when you visit, the museum has plenty of exhibits that will make you appreciate the 100 year history of naval aviation. Special exhibits include Faces of Aviation History, Medal of Honor, Enlisted Pilots, P.O.W. Exhibit, Hall of Honor, Then and Now Frontiers of Aviation History , Lighter than Air, WWI, Space, World War II and the Age of Carriers and several others.
Entrance to the museum and all of these exhibits is free of charge and that includes the Blue Angels sessions too. In addition the museum also offers several tours that are free of charge.
Admission to the museum’s thrilling aerial simulators and its huge seven storey IMAX however are not free, but you will be happy to know that the fees are quite reasonable and affordable.
The IMAX Theater at the museum has a number of films that are entertaining, thrilling and educational at the same time, as well as visually awesome when viewed on the huge screen. Films on the bill include “Straight Up! Helicopters in Action,” “The Magic of Flight,” “Grand Canyon Adventure – River at Risk,” and “Fighter Pilot.” The museum describes the Fighter Pilot film as the “closest to air combat you can get without joining the military!” Admission to the IMAX Theater costs $8.00 with discounts for seniors, military personnel and others.
The flight simulators are another stand-out item at the museum. The museum has two flight simulators. There is the Motion Based Simulator which is a five minute ride that combines high definition audio-visual images, surround sound and a moving simulator capsule that lets you and 14 other passengers experience movement in six directions as well as horizontal rolls, longitudinal pitches and vertical climbs.
The motion based simulator offers two options, a Blue Angels simulation on a high speed low-level flight with high-performance turns and maneuvers, and a take-off from an aircraft carrier in a Desert Storm simulation that includes a battle in the Iraqi desert.
The other simulator is the Top Gun Air Combat Simulator which is the actual two person simulator that was used to train the pilots of the Navy F-14 Tomcat. In this simulator you can test your flying skills, engage in a dog fight and land on an aircraft carrier.
If flight, thrills or history is your thing, then a visit to the National Museum of Naval Aviation should be put on your must-see list. Here are the contact details: National Naval Aviation Museum, 1750 Radford Blvd., Suite C, Naval Air Station Pensacola, FL 32508, Phone: (850) 452-3604 or (850) 452-3606, Fax: (850) 452-3296
Mark and Susan Whichard are Orlando tourism experts and write frequently about attractions in and around Orlando. He and his wife Susan are the proprietors of Orlando's Finest Vacation Homes and you can get great deals on Orlando Vacation Homes at this website http://www.orlandosfinest.com
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Monday, February 15, 2010
Enjoy Thrilling Aerial Exploits at the National Museum of Naval Aviation
Visitors to Florida will be happy to know that there are plenty of low-cost and even free attractions that are every bit as exciting as theme parks for which this state is famous. One such attraction is the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola.
The museum is part of the Naval Air Station at Pensacola and contains more than 150 historic aircraft as well as thousands of artifacts representing the history of the air services of the Navy, Marine Corps and the Coast Guard. In addition the museum also contains memorabilia representing nearly a century of Naval Aviation history, including personal mementos from historic battles, flight logs, vintage equipment and flight clothing
If you are visiting during the months of March through November you can watch the aerial exploits of the Blue Angels. The practice sessions of the Blue Angels take place on most Tuesday and Wednesday mornings of these months and are followed by autograph sessions that are sure to be a hit with your kids.
Regardless of when you visit, the museum has plenty of exhibits that will make you appreciate the 100 year history of naval aviation. Special exhibits include Faces of Aviation History, Medal of Honor, Enlisted Pilots, P.O.W. Exhibit, Hall of Honor, Then and Now Frontiers of Aviation History , Lighter than Air, WWI, Space, World War II and the Age of Carriers and several others.
Entrance to the museum and all of these exhibits is free of charge and that includes the Blue Angels sessions too. In addition the museum also offers several tours that are free of charge.
Admission to the museum’s thrilling aerial simulators and its huge seven storey IMAX however are not free, but you will be happy to know that the fees are quite reasonable and affordable.
The IMAX Theater at the museum has a number of films that are entertaining, thrilling and educational at the same time, as well as visually awesome when viewed on the huge screen.
Films on the bill include “Straight Up! Helicopters in Action,” “The Magic of Flight,” “Grand Canyon Adventure – River at Risk,” and “Fighter Pilot.” The museum describes the Fighter Pilot film as the “closest to air combat you can get without joining the military!” Admission to the IMAX Theater costs $8.00 with discounts for seniors, military personnel and others.
The flight simulators are another stand-out item at the museum. The museum has two flight simulators. There is the Motion Based Simulator which is a five minute ride that combines high definition audio-visual images, surround sound and a moving simulator capsule that lets you and 14 other passengers experience movement in six directions as well as horizontal rolls, longitudinal pitches and vertical climbs.
The motion based simulator offers two options, a Blue Angels simulation on a high speed low-level flight with high-performance turns and maneuvers, and a take-off from an aircraft carrier in a Desert Storm simulation that includes a battle in the Iraqi desert.
The other simulator is the Top Gun Air Combat Simulator which is the actual two person simulator that was used to train the pilots of the Navy F-14 Tomcat. In this simulator you can test your flying skills, engage in a dog fight and land on an aircraft carrier.
If flight, thrills or history is your thing, then a visit to the National Museum of Naval Aviation should be put on your must-see list. Here are the contact details: National Naval Aviation Museum, 1750 Radford Blvd., Suite C, Naval Air Station Pensacola, FL 32508, Phone: (850) 452-3604 or (850) 452-3606, Fax: (850) 452-3296
Mark and Susan Whichard are Orlando tourism experts and write frequently about attractions in and around Orlando. He and his wife Susan are the proprietors of Orlando's Finest Vacation Homes and you can get great deals on Orlando Vacation Homes at this website http://www.orlandosfinest.com
The museum is part of the Naval Air Station at Pensacola and contains more than 150 historic aircraft as well as thousands of artifacts representing the history of the air services of the Navy, Marine Corps and the Coast Guard. In addition the museum also contains memorabilia representing nearly a century of Naval Aviation history, including personal mementos from historic battles, flight logs, vintage equipment and flight clothing
If you are visiting during the months of March through November you can watch the aerial exploits of the Blue Angels. The practice sessions of the Blue Angels take place on most Tuesday and Wednesday mornings of these months and are followed by autograph sessions that are sure to be a hit with your kids.
Regardless of when you visit, the museum has plenty of exhibits that will make you appreciate the 100 year history of naval aviation. Special exhibits include Faces of Aviation History, Medal of Honor, Enlisted Pilots, P.O.W. Exhibit, Hall of Honor, Then and Now Frontiers of Aviation History , Lighter than Air, WWI, Space, World War II and the Age of Carriers and several others.
Entrance to the museum and all of these exhibits is free of charge and that includes the Blue Angels sessions too. In addition the museum also offers several tours that are free of charge.
Admission to the museum’s thrilling aerial simulators and its huge seven storey IMAX however are not free, but you will be happy to know that the fees are quite reasonable and affordable.
The IMAX Theater at the museum has a number of films that are entertaining, thrilling and educational at the same time, as well as visually awesome when viewed on the huge screen.
Films on the bill include “Straight Up! Helicopters in Action,” “The Magic of Flight,” “Grand Canyon Adventure – River at Risk,” and “Fighter Pilot.” The museum describes the Fighter Pilot film as the “closest to air combat you can get without joining the military!” Admission to the IMAX Theater costs $8.00 with discounts for seniors, military personnel and others.
The flight simulators are another stand-out item at the museum. The museum has two flight simulators. There is the Motion Based Simulator which is a five minute ride that combines high definition audio-visual images, surround sound and a moving simulator capsule that lets you and 14 other passengers experience movement in six directions as well as horizontal rolls, longitudinal pitches and vertical climbs.
The motion based simulator offers two options, a Blue Angels simulation on a high speed low-level flight with high-performance turns and maneuvers, and a take-off from an aircraft carrier in a Desert Storm simulation that includes a battle in the Iraqi desert.
The other simulator is the Top Gun Air Combat Simulator which is the actual two person simulator that was used to train the pilots of the Navy F-14 Tomcat. In this simulator you can test your flying skills, engage in a dog fight and land on an aircraft carrier.
If flight, thrills or history is your thing, then a visit to the National Museum of Naval Aviation should be put on your must-see list. Here are the contact details: National Naval Aviation Museum, 1750 Radford Blvd., Suite C, Naval Air Station Pensacola, FL 32508, Phone: (850) 452-3604 or (850) 452-3606, Fax: (850) 452-3296
Mark and Susan Whichard are Orlando tourism experts and write frequently about attractions in and around Orlando. He and his wife Susan are the proprietors of Orlando's Finest Vacation Homes and you can get great deals on Orlando Vacation Homes at this website http://www.orlandosfinest.com
Friday, January 8, 2010
Cool Off at Sea World’s Aquatica Water Park
Water Parks are definitely “in” at vacation centers like Orlando. The hot Florida summers and the water parks were made for each other. Though a relative newcomer to the attractions of Orlando, SeaWorld’s Aquatica water park’s creative design and imaginative rides have already made it a vacation favorite. I would like to give you an overview of what you can expect to find at Aquatica.
The park opened in March 2008 and it has a South Sea Islands feel to it. In addition to the thrilling rides you get sandy beaches, lagoons, rivers filled with exotic plants, birds and animals.
The makers of the park brought in three million pounds of sand and constructed more than 80,000 square feet of beaches. Then they added over 2000 kinds of trees and brought in exotic birds and animals from around the world including iguanas, anteaters, black and white dolphins, macaws and much more.
This exotic habitat is the backdrop for the rides and slides so let’s turn our attention to some of them now.
First there are two popular slides. The biggest attraction here is Commerson’s Dolphin Slides which consists of 300 feet of clear tubes running through a lagoon filled with black and white dolphins.
If you like a touch of competition in your ride, then the Eight Lane Racer Slide is the one for you. You can compete with your friends in the eight lane slide that twists and turns in a thrilling way.
The wave pools at Aquatica are engineering design masterpieces and lots of fun too. They consist of more than 800,000 gallons of water lined by wide beaches. There is a high energy lagoon with crashing waves alongside a lagoon that has gently rolling waves. Take your pick, or if you like, try both of them.
Just as there are two wave pools to choose from, you can take your pick of two river rides. The Adventure River ride is the wild one, taking you through 1,500 feet of swirling rapids, waterfalls and geysers while the Lazy River ride gives you a chance to observe the exotic fish as well as an underwater view of the Commersons Dolphins.
If you would like to experience the thrill of rafting on a raging river then check out the rafting rides. You have a choice of three rides:
The Triple Drop is for the most adventurous and you will feel the experience of weightlessness as you drop downwards on this intense ride.
The Family Raft Ride is for the whole family and you can ride down 600 feet of winding curves and tunnels.
The Bowl Ride features twin bowls that spin you around before dropping you and your raft into a pool
There are also areas that are perfect for children. The family play area features a large and colorful Rain Fortress with lots of play area plus slides and water cannons. There is also a special children’s pool with slides, tubes and children-sized rafts.
If all of this sounds like your kind of fun, then be sure to set aside one day for a visit to the Sea World’s Aquatica Water Park.
Mark Whichard is an Orlando tourism expert and writes frequently about attractions in and around Orlando. He and his wife Susan are the proprietors of Orlando's Finest Vacation Homes and you can get great deals on Orlando Vacation Home Rentals at this website http://www.orlandosfinest.com
The park opened in March 2008 and it has a South Sea Islands feel to it. In addition to the thrilling rides you get sandy beaches, lagoons, rivers filled with exotic plants, birds and animals.
The makers of the park brought in three million pounds of sand and constructed more than 80,000 square feet of beaches. Then they added over 2000 kinds of trees and brought in exotic birds and animals from around the world including iguanas, anteaters, black and white dolphins, macaws and much more.
This exotic habitat is the backdrop for the rides and slides so let’s turn our attention to some of them now.
First there are two popular slides. The biggest attraction here is Commerson’s Dolphin Slides which consists of 300 feet of clear tubes running through a lagoon filled with black and white dolphins.
If you like a touch of competition in your ride, then the Eight Lane Racer Slide is the one for you. You can compete with your friends in the eight lane slide that twists and turns in a thrilling way.
The wave pools at Aquatica are engineering design masterpieces and lots of fun too. They consist of more than 800,000 gallons of water lined by wide beaches. There is a high energy lagoon with crashing waves alongside a lagoon that has gently rolling waves. Take your pick, or if you like, try both of them.
Just as there are two wave pools to choose from, you can take your pick of two river rides. The Adventure River ride is the wild one, taking you through 1,500 feet of swirling rapids, waterfalls and geysers while the Lazy River ride gives you a chance to observe the exotic fish as well as an underwater view of the Commersons Dolphins.
If you would like to experience the thrill of rafting on a raging river then check out the rafting rides. You have a choice of three rides:
The Triple Drop is for the most adventurous and you will feel the experience of weightlessness as you drop downwards on this intense ride.
The Family Raft Ride is for the whole family and you can ride down 600 feet of winding curves and tunnels.
The Bowl Ride features twin bowls that spin you around before dropping you and your raft into a pool
There are also areas that are perfect for children. The family play area features a large and colorful Rain Fortress with lots of play area plus slides and water cannons. There is also a special children’s pool with slides, tubes and children-sized rafts.
If all of this sounds like your kind of fun, then be sure to set aside one day for a visit to the Sea World’s Aquatica Water Park.
Mark Whichard is an Orlando tourism expert and writes frequently about attractions in and around Orlando. He and his wife Susan are the proprietors of Orlando's Finest Vacation Homes and you can get great deals on Orlando Vacation Home Rentals at this website http://www.orlandosfinest.com
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