The USS Midway® Museum is truly one of San Diego’s gems.  We knew right off the bat that it had to be one of the top places to visit during our San Diego trip.  Why?  Well, beside it being rich in military history and also being the longest-serving aircraft carrier in the 20th century, the museum was an adventure for the entire family.  We went with our 2 under 2 along with grandma, grandpa, our siblings, and cousins and it was fun for all of us.

From the moment we walked in, although we were all amazed by all the planes, it was my toddler son, Caleb, who was over the moon!  Up until that moment, he had never seen a plane close before and he was so ecstatic that he even learned to pronounce “airplane” for the first time.  Now that we are back home, whenever Caleb sees a plane in the sky, he shouts, “airplane!”

The museum is huge and it has several decks.  It is open from 10AM to 4PM (doors close), so plan to be there at least 3 hours to explore the entire ship in all its glory.  We visited during Legacy Week on Memorial Day weekend and there were several activities for all ages including special tributes honoring our heroes.  We loved taking our time at the interactive displays at the Hangar Deck Exhibits and learning about our military heritage.  You can also experience climbing inside a cockpit, giving you a real-life glimpse of flight action.  They also have Max Flight simulators which my brothers-in-law hopped on and had a blast.

But my favorite part of the ship was the stunning flight deck that holds over 20 restored aircraft.  It is simply breathtaking and picture worthy!  The entire family was mesmerized by each aircraft.  There was even a small plane for kids to jump in and play.  Caleb hopped in with his cousin and did not want to get down.  We were all happy to have visited such an iconic place in San Diego and will return in the near future whenever we are in town.  If you are in the area or are planning a San Diego trip, be sure to check out the USS Midway® Museum and their calendar full of events great for a fun-filled family day!  They have a many summer activities for the entire family.  See what’s happening on board HERE.

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by the USS Midway® Museum as part of a partnership with the USS Midway® Museum. Although I was gifted entrance tickets, all opinions in this review remain my own and I was in no way influenced by the museum.