USS Hornet Sea, Air and Space Museum has become one of those rare places that works equally well for a deep dive into naval history, a family day out, or even a completely unexpected anime convention. The sheer scale of this Essex-class aircraft carrier hits you the moment you walk up. It's currently the largest military museum in the San Francisco Bay Area, and you can explore three main levels: the massive hangar deck, the upper flight deck where aircraft like the Gulf War-veteran F-14 Tomcat sit nose to nose, and the mid-level deck with everything from the kitchen to the medical bay. The ship is such a labyrinth of passageways that you'll struggle to fit it all into one visit, but somehow that maze-like quality adds to the immersion rather than feeling frustrating. On our visit, we loved wandering on our own through the Apollo exhibit, which includes an authentic Block 1 command module and the Mobile Quarantine Facility that held the Apollo 11 astronauts after their splashdown. One of the quietest surprises is how reflective the ship feels despite its enormous size. Even on busy days, there are long stretches where you can walk through entire sections with nobody else around, just the hum of the bay and the distant lights of San Francisco across the water. The ship is sometimes called the "Grey Ghost," and on a foggy Alameda afternoon, you'll understand why. Parking is completely free in the lot across the street, and it's worth setting aside at least two to three hours to really soak everything in. For anyone in the Bay Area looking for a memorable, hands-on history lesson, this location delivers. And if you happen to visit during CarrierCon, you get to see the flight deck transformed into an anime convention complete with VTuber panels, cosplay meetups, and after-hours dance parties. read more

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USS Hornet (CV-12) is the 4th Essex class aircraft carrier built in 1943 and served in the Pacific theater fighting some of the biggest battles of WWII. Later, after her modernization overhauls, she would serve as recovery ship for the Apollo 11 & 12 moon missions. Now in her retirement, she serves as an aviation and space museum in Alameda, CA. Of the 24 Essex carriers that were built, only 4 remain as museum ships today. We were lucky to visit on a great day with fantastic weather! You have to drive to this remote location on the island of Alameda, a former naval base, where there is ample parking. Being so far away from downtown SF keeps the crowds away, but is not that great for the museum because it doesn't get enough visitors to sustain them financially, so they rely a lot on volunteers and donations. I heard that there are plans to move the ship over near Fisherman's Wharf, which will increase the flow of visitors. I hope that they will bring her in for a nice facelift before that because the old girl is looking a little ragged these days. Let's see how you look when you're 82 years old! From the pier you have to climb a set of stairs and walk over a sloped gangway high over the the water into the hangar. Her hangar deck and flight deck are pretty spacious with not a lot of aircraft exhibits because they are hard to come by these days and Hornet could use a nice sponsor to help. Even so, the exhibits they do have are significant. The historical aircraft span from the WWII ones she carried into combat like the FM-2 Wildcat fighter and the TBM Avenger torpedo bomber, to the jet age of the Vietnam War with the FJ-2 Fury, the F8U Crusader and F11F Tiger jet fighters and recent ones such as the F-14 Tomcat (of Top Gun fame), S-3 Viking sub hunter and the current F/A-18 Hornet. Below decks, you get to do the self-guided tour of the spaces occupied by the crew, from their sleeping racks to the mess decks to see how they lived day-to-day at sea for months. There are also additional docent led guided tours (at extra cost) that will take you up to the bridge in the island superstructure and also into the bowels of the ship's engine rooms. For me as a military history buff, this is what I like to do on vacations and I drag my poor wife along for the ride. read more

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This is our 5th year attending the overnight on the USS Hornet with the Scouts. Every year we still learn or see something new. Each year Natalie is amazing getting us booked and answering every question we have. All the docents are so friendly and knowledgeable. Ross is one of our favorites every year, and Steve did a great job as our unit leader this year. The food was good and the portions were generious. The tours were great. Can't wait to see what we learn next year. If you haven't been I highly recommend just visiting, but the overnights are the best. read more

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USS Hornet is a nice place to visit with kids at least once. There are some interesting exhibits and aircraft to see, and it's a fun way to explore a historic aircraft carrier. However, if you've been to the aircraft carrier in San Diego, you may find this one a bit underwhelming. The San Diego ship has more aircraft on display and offers more interactive exhibits where you can sit inside some of the planes. In comparison, the USS Hornet has fewer displays and hands-on experiences. Overall, it's still worth a one-time visit, especially for families with kids and anyone interested in naval history. read more

Surprisingly you are able to see quite a lot on the self guided tour, including up to the flight deck. You are able to see a wide variety of aircraft up close, including the famed fighter from the movie Top Gun. It's worth the admission and the drive. There are a lot of narrow passage ways and stairs so wear sturdy comfortable walking shoes. read more

USS Hornet Museum - Museums Near Me - Alameda, California

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Really cool experience. Not the most ideal for cosplay but worth the experience. Nothing really to complain about read more

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Wow what is not to like? It checked off 3 #AvGeek items in one fell swoop. Aircraft museum on an Aircraft carrier? Check Docents with cool and interesting stories? Check The perfect platform to see the historic Martin Mars seaplane land one last time? Check It had been over a decade since I had visited this historic museum. And being perfectly candid I ventured in waiting for an historic seaplane to land in the bay in front of it. I was going to use the fantail as my perch. I had forgotten how cool this place is. Tons of aircraft that are well restored and the docents are fantastic with the knowledge of the ship and aircraft. Plus the links to the Cold War era space program are not to be missed read more

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Yesterday, March 29 was welcome home Vietnam veterans Day. It's a national day of remembrance of our Veterans. At least a couple times a year. We make a pilgrimage out and spend the day on the hornet. We always make sure to pack a picnic lunch in case the weather is favorable and enjoy all the sites and activities. We were not disappointed. The dose that there are five star. So helpful and so informative if it makes every bit of this experience worth it. I am a Vietnam veteran. And it was fun to go out there and see that the national holiday was an opportunity for me to put on my old uniform and rub elbows with brothers and arms. My wife and my daughter came with me and it was such a wonderful experience because we were able to share all these moments that we had to board the ship and the weather was amazing. Happy national welcome home Vietnam Veterans Day. See you there memorial Day. The museums and planes were awesome. Ty. read more

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Fantastic piece of naval/space and American history everyone should have a chance to see. Tickets are only $25 for adults and admission is free for children 6 and under. If you are lucky and the weather is good you'll be able to see across the Bay to SF. There are self guided and docent guided tours spanning 3 decks of the ship, including the flight deck, main hanger deck, and the deck immediately below. Plenty to see with historical and more modern aircraft including the F18 and F14 as well as older planes such as the Avenger torpedo bomber and Wildcat. There's even a plane cockpit that you can hop into for pictures. Also lots to explore on all the decks with the medbay and quarters/galley. There are areas which are more exclusive, Be advised that getting to the Bridge requires a paid docent tour and is restricted to ages 4 and older. There's a small café serving drinks and hoy food items off the grill such as hotdogs/burgers and sandwiches. Highly recommend to stop by to check this place our. You can easily spend 2 hours here at the very minimum. read more

USS Hornet Museum - Museums Near Me - Alameda, California

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My boyfriend has always wanted to come here and while we were close for another event we decided to make the trip and check it out. He had spent his childhood wanting to go here and never got the opportunity to do so. We entered the ship and paid for the Weapons Tour on top of our entry fee. Our tour started roughly 10 minutes later. We were the only ones on this specific tour so we had the guide all to ourselves. He was very informative and knew alot about not only what was on board and how it was used/operated but he brought his own knowledge from his previous employment. I was wearing backless shoes - which I would NOT recommend for this museum as there is quite a bit of up and down stairs that are steep as this is a Naval ship. There was alot to see and many levels on the ship - however you cannot go lower than 2 deck unless you are on a guided tour. There is a small gift shop in the center of the main deck for souvenirs. This was a really cool experience and I learned quite a bit about the ship and how it operated and what weapons were onboard. I would recommend this especially if you have kids interested in boats/planes/history. read more

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Fun place to go for an outing. We went with family and our 4 year old niece. You can see how an aircraft carrier works and some of the history of the ship. They have an f14 tomcat like on top gun. read more

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We did the VIP tour on a Tuesday. Absolutely worth it. Our tour guide, Ross, a Navy veteran, was knowledgeable, friendly, fun and comfortable to be around! His personal stories enriched our experience greatly! We chatted like old friends. Note: The Cafe & store are closed on Tuesday's. The USS Hornet is only open for the VIP tours. read more

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For me, this was a must visit. I applaud the folks that are keeping history alive. I took my two sons with me and they enjoyed the visit as well. I do suggest to add on one of the guided tours. You learn so much more!! read more

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Everyone should experience this atleast once. Tickets online are $25 per person with a few discounts offered for students and seniors and military, and easy to book. This is self guided, but believe me there is something to learn at every corner, and if reading isn't really your thing, there are plenty of pictures, videos, and veteran volunteers walking around always willing to give some extra info. Please take advantage of the fact that they are walking around asking if you have questions, at first I didn't because I didn't want to bother them, but after a few hours, I started to ask small questions and the small "fun facts" they told us was quite interesting and wouldn't have known these things had we not talked to them. I encourage everyone to come and learn afew things, we spent about 3 hours, and lived every minute. read more

USS Hornet Museum - Museums Near Me - Alameda, California

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Everyone should see this. Very much a part of our nations history. Show casing the men and women existence and living quarters at sea serving our country. read more

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Great museum for young and old alike. Wasn't very crowded. Unfortunately I don't think a wheel chair would be able to access and someone who needs assistance might find it challenging to get to various areas of the ship. Lots of stairs to get to other parts of the ship and even to the flight deck. So I'd recommend wearing comfortable shoes. I still highly recommend this activity to learn about history and hands on experiences. Many of the docents are veterans and have stories to share. There is a video presentation to watch and you can even sit inside of a cockpit of one of the planes. Not a huge place and it can occupy you for about 2-3 hours. Parking is on the dock. I really enjoyed it. read more

USS Hornet Museum - Outside of the ship - Museums Near Me - Alameda, California

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I don't know how you cannot give this Museum 5 Stars!!! They basically turned this whole Aircraft Carrier into a museum, and it's awesome!! Although you can't go everywhere on the ship, which is understandable, you can go to enough places on this huge ship that you feel like you've been everywhere!! Located in Alameda, It costs $25 for admission, well worth it!! Being ex military myself (U.S. Army) these types of places always make me recall my own military experiences as well. So you can go from the flight deck to the hanger and a few floors below. You will see the galley, meeting rooms, sleep quarters officers rooms, engine rooms, just a lot. There's also plaques throughout that explain things, videos also, lots of information!! You will also see plenty of different aircraft and spacecraft, different types of airplanes, helicopters and modules and capsules!! They also have guided tours, but I prefer my own self guided tour. The stairs down below are steep, so definitely watch your step!! But most of all, be prepared to spend a good amount of time here, because there is plenty to see!! read more

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We traveled to San Francisco primarily to see people, not as tourists, so, I really didn't know what to expect when my husband suggesting sightseeing here. We quickly learned how brutal trying to park anywhere is, so it was great that it was not only spacious, but free here. I've never seen an aircraft carrier in real life before, so it didn't strike me as particularly large when we first arrived. Once we trekked aboard, though, I realized how misleading my initial perspective was. When I say trekked aboard, I mean, not only are there considerable stairs/ladders; it surprised me how not simple it was, given that I've boarded many very large ships before. When we got inside, we were quickly greeted by one of the many volunteer staff. She was eager to the point of asking whether we were going to just stand and gawk in the entryway, or come in. Yes, we were making our way to the ticket counter, lol...if she were a salesperson it would be annoying, but she was simply enthusiastic about the museum, and continued to tell us many things after we bought our entry. And there are many, many really amazing things to learn about the Hornet and its role in WWII. It's a CV-8 Yorktown-class carrier, the 7th US Navy vessel to carry its name. It's not just a stagnant, historical artifact. I was thrilled to see that they had a plane set up for visitors to actually go inside and "play" with. It's set up so that you watch the preamble video when you come in, and then board the plane beside the mini-theatre if you wish. There's a designated volunteer to assist you in and out of the plane, and, like many of the other volunteers there, an actual veteran. He answered a lot of questions, and gave plenty of interesting information. When he helped us out of the plane, we got the coolest souvenir - a little pin. How cool is earning your wings on a US WWII plane, on a US WWII carrier? The ship is so large, you can spend all day exploring the levels, sections, and other aircraft on board for display. The best surprise was the Apollo modules they actually have from participating in the Apollo 11 recovery mission (among other things.) If you're into Space Race history, you might be really excited to see the footprints of the astronauts painted onto the floor where they exited. They also have comprehensive exhibits on the Nisei veterans (American soldiers of Japanese ancestry), Anti-Submarine Warfare, and many other subjects. Last but not least, you can book a real overnight at the museum, or rent the venue. There is way too much to describe for a review, so I would highly recommend checking out their website for particulars. There is a gift shop to purchase souvenirs, but no food or beverages to purchase (and not really anyplace to eat on board, either) so you might want to take your other meal options into consideration before visiting. All in all, it was a super impressive attraction, and I'd go again if I ran out of other things to see as a tourist in San Francisco. 5/5 no question. read more

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We visited the Hornet with my father in law. He had served on the ship about 60 years ago and wanted to visit the museum to relive his time on the ship. He got us a tour that included the living quarters and let me say- our guide did NOT disappoint. I don't recall his name, unfortunately, but he was so knowledgeable, friendly, and even took extra time with us. There is so much to learn from those who served and so much to experience on this ship. I highly recommend a visit, especially if you love history like I do! read more

As a history buff I loved this place. It's huge, lots of walking. It took me about 2.5 hours to explore the whole ship, minus the docent led tours which I want to go back and do. I don't think it's a good place to bring little kids that want to run around and jump on everything though. It was amazing to get to walk through a place like this and imagine how it was when it was fully operational. I felt really immersed while walking through the 2nd deck, with all its twists and turns and different rooms. A must visit! They also have water filling stations, plenty of bathrooms, a gift shop, and snack vending machines. read more

2 Nov.'24-10:17-Admission is a little pricey but well worth it. We spent 3 hours here wandering endless winding corridors. It seemed like we were only here an hour. So cool to see how US Navy personnel lived and worked on the Aircraft Carrier. We learned a lot and got our exercise too. You've got to be in pretty good shape to navigate all the corridors and ladders. Totally worth the $25 admission fee and highly recommended. Don't miss it and enjoy the great views of San Francisco Cal. on the flight deck. read more

USS Hornet Museum - Flight Deck - Museums Near Me - Alameda, California

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Really fun and interactive museum. You can walk the flight deck, bay, and winding hallways below deck. The docents are also friendly and informative. Many descriptive, helpful exhibits on life on the aircraft carrier, the adventures of the USS hornet, and the history of the navy. Do note though that the stairs going between decks are very narrow and steep. I'm not sure how accessible the museum is for strollers or wheelchairs read more

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My husband and i made the trip up there yesterday to do another tour ..which was called the special weapons tour...It was very interesting..Thank you George! read more

Fantastic local museum on an aircraft carrier! It's not for mobility impaired. So much of this huge ship is available to just wander. Beautiful views of San Francisco and the bay read more

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What a great weekend to visit the Ship! Really puts into perspective what the Navy goes through and does. Shout out the Navy thank you for srrving and for Gods freedom may he bless this country! read more

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A gem. Amazing history right here. Take the kids and don't miss this experience. Great space/ NAS artifacts too.

This is a magical place, and it just keeps getting better. The first few times I went, they were still working on restoration. As they've made progress, more of the ship has been opened up, so you can now see more than just the planes in the hangar deck. Some of the spaces that are in progress are available for docent tours, which I haven't taken yet but am excited to. There are occasional special events. On Memorial Day, they had a vintage plane flyover. They also have a new year's celebration (which I have not yet attended) and the occasional party on the ship. Beyond naval aviation: The Hornet was the recovery ship for Apollo 11, so you can see the original quarantine trailer that the astronauts had to live in when they were brought aboard. As a bonus, the view of San Francisco off either the flight deck or the rear of the ship is awesome. read more

This was unique and interesting. It wasn't busy at all, despite it being Saturday, which made for a pleasant experience. The docents were nice and knowledgeable (and this was without using the guided tour). Walking around below deck really gives you a picture into what living on a boat would be like, and it felt cool to basically have the run of the ship to explore! I wish the island was included in your basic membership and wasn't extra, but that would be my only complaint. read more

This place was amazing! Went there with my Boy Scout troop And it was my first time, Great experience And ghost stores were awesome! read more

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I can't believe this gem is right here in the bay area! We thoroughly enjoyed our visit last week and learned so much. Although I would love some better maps and a better self-guided general tour since it's hard to find your way around. I fully recommend the guided tours, not just for that reason, but because the tour guides are amazing! Special shout-out to Ron - what a wealth of information, personal experience, and just a delightful and engaging speaker. read more

We were looking for something fun to do in the Bay Area and came across this on yelp. I really can't believe I haven't been here. First parking is free! You're literally boarding a ship it was so cool. I had two adults and one child in my party. The price was $40. My son was free and he's 5. I loved how you literally got to explore the entire ship on your own. You got a feel for real history and how they lived. You can even go outside it was very nice. There's a ton on walking do wear walking shoes. If anyone you know is into history this is a great gift. I highly recommend coming here even if you have no kids this is a fun activity for all ages. There was a man who gave my son a pin with wings it was so special. This is a must stop if you're in the Bay Area. read more

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Between the Hornet, Midway in San Diego I liked the hornet exhibit the best, not in the nicest location like Midway, it just felt more real to me. We have also seen yorktown charlest which was a great exhibit, and the lexington in Texas, only one more to go in New York no time soon. Great for the kids, but for us old farts a lot of climbing. read more

I'm really not a military history buff. Could you tell? Despite rumor, I wasn't alive during WWII, so my only memories of wartime combat came from Hollywood. My reason for coming here was rather incidental as I was strolling around the new Alameda Point Waterfront Park (review: https://bit.ly/3bfUGH0) and knew this was just down the road on the part of the island unfamiliar to me. It's quite an aircraft carrier to behold and it was built in the early 1940's back when my mom was a riveter in a Japanese Zero factory. Hey, we all had our loyalties. It's been parked here as a museum since 1998. You enter by way of an elevated gangway. Admission is $20, which struck me as a tad pricey for looking at a lot of battle-fatigued metal and historic aircraft, though students and seniors only have to pay $15. She charged me $15 without asking for my ID. It made me realize I should amp up my moisturizer. Once I was onboard, a docent led me to a video screen where I watched a vintage ten-minute film of the ship's history. From there, I was free to roam the three open floors of the ship. I decided to start with the flight deck by precariously climbing the stairs. There was little to see except some isolated aircraft and a unique view of the bay. Most of the historic aircraft is on the hangar deck as are the Apollo 11 artifacts like the command module and the quarantine trailer from which I remember Neil, Buzz, and Mike peeking through the window after their flight to the moon (photo: https://bit.ly/3HQHuES). The first deck below was the most claustrophobic area because it shows how the crew lived their daily lives onboard the ship. I can't say everyone would enjoy touring the Hornet. Even I was having trouble with some of the WWII memorabilia being displayed since it celebrated the number of planes shot down (photo: https://bit.ly/3Ojy7jB). That comes with looking backward at history, right? RELATED - Exploring Alameda? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2Ik8mky read more

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This is an incredible experience for the whole family! It's massive so wear comfortable shoes and a coat for when you hit the upper deck with views of San Francisco! read more

Did an overnight ghost tour, on the USS Hornet and it was so much fun. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable of the ship's history.

Welcome aboard the USS Hornet (CV-12). Amazing visit to the USS Hornet (CV-12), an Essex-class aircraft carrier which was built to serve the United States Navy during World War II. She was the eighth battleship to be named the USS Hornet. She was named to honor the fallen USS Hornet (CV-8) which sunk at the Battle of Santa Cruz Islands while protecting US forces holding Guadalcanal. Watch the movie or ask a guide (who may have served) to learn more about her role in history in the Pacific during World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam and the Space Race to the Moon. During World War II, she was assigned to the Fast Carrier Task Force, the navy's primary offensive force during the Pacific War. She is one of the most decorated ships of the US Navy. The USS Hornet (CV-12) was awarded nine Battle Stars for Pacific service in World War II. Under air attack 59 times, she was never seriously damaged. She played a major role in Pacific amphibious landings and airstrikes with many pilots achieving "Ace in a Day" status. After World War II, she helped bring the troops back to the US in Operation Magic Carpet. During the Apollo program on July 24, 1969, the USS Hornet recovered Apollo 11 astronauts, Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong and Mike Collins, as they returned from their historic walk on the moon. She recovered Apollo 12 astronauts Charles Conrad, Jr., Alan L. Bean, and Richard F. Gordon, Jr. a few months later. Today, you can tour this historic aircraft carrier and explore the flight deck, planes in the hangar, sickbay, crew quarters, torpedo room, mess hall and more. Learn about Women in the Military, the Space Race and Apollo Splashdown and the Evolution of Aircraft carriers. Take a guided tour to hear about life on the USS Hornet and access some behind the scenes areas. Enjoy the beautiful bay views from the flight deck. We used a reciprocal benefits with NARM for admission which is usually $20 per adult. Plenty of parking. Such an interesting part of history. read more

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Really cool old ship that you can pretty much explore on your own. Everything is super realistic and pretty much left as you would see it back in WWII. Wandering around the sick bay I can easily get lost in these fluorescent, dimly lit hallways. It was pretty spooky. I think they have overnight adventure options (totally not my thing), but cool if you're into that. One thing I will mention is that it's not very accessible for small children and babies. The ship is full of steep staircases and dangerous ladders. Definitely not stroller friendly! We carried our baby around and kept a close eye on the toddler. If you don't feel like chasing around children then I recommend coming here on your own so you can really explore and take things in. read more

Such an impressive big ship! Walking inside brings you back into the heroic history. The stairs are very steep and narrow. It's very cold and windy walking on the deck but the view is amazing.You can see the whole San Francisco bay and the Golden Gate bridge on the deck. It's not crowded even at weekends. Easy to park. Bathrooms are very clean. Not wheelchair or stroller friendly. read more

Have you ever wondered what's inside the USS Hornet in Alameda? Let's GO!! We decided to check out USS Hornet - Sea, Air and Space Museum. If you like the movie TOP Gun, then this place is for you, minus Tom Cruise. lol The aircrafts on the flight deck was so cool. Though there was a little eerie feeling while exploring the lower decks of the naval ship. The top deck was spacious to run around or just chill and watch the ocean. There were a lot of veterans on board to answer any of your questions, super friendly. Definitely a cool place to bring the family or on a date. read more

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This was a fun tour! Not only the aircraft, that was on display, but the walking tour of this carrier really answered questions about life and operations aboard a U.S. Carrier. read more