If your ever in Seattle you need to stop at The Museum of Flight. This attraction was included in our Seattle Citypass and while I wasn’t really excited to go here, I’m really glad I went. When you first pull into the parking lot you see outside the building full size warplanes. They are so cool looking and so big. This is nothing compared to all you will see inside.

When you walk into the big open area you will be amazed at what you see. They have planes hanging from the ceiling and on both levels. Everything from the first plane to hydroplanes to wooden planes. They even have a Boeing 737 that you can go inside of. They even have a replica McDonnell Mercury Capsule and other stuff there related to space flight. Another thing they have is a mock Control tower and you can hear actual control tower talk. Another thing is you are allowed to sit in some of the actual planes. One was a US Naval Pilot school plane, which is really cool.

Another sections holds something called "Red Barn" which is the original Boeing Airplane Factory. This is really cool to see. Another section I believe holds planes from certain world wars. Then this is my favorite part. Down the street are some full size planes that you can see and walk through a few. My favorite was a former Air Force One that JFK had used. They have it preserved really well and everything is behind glass but you get to see and be on a plane that held a former president. The plane is so interesting. You see Fold Down Bunks that people used to sleep on, The Secretary station, The Presidential Stateroom, a bathroom, Safes that held secret codes, the cockpit, the presidential conference room, and many many other cool things. Another thing they have down the block next to the Air Force One is a real British Airway Concorde. This was cool to walk through. They had all the seats covered in big hard plastic things to protect the seats but it was still really cool to look at.

There are so many more things to say about this Museum that I could be here all day. We spent like 5 hours here and did a lot of walking but it was so worth it. Here is the website in case you want to go here or get more info. Can’t say enough good things about this place. www.museumofflight.org

A free 1 hour tour is included in the admission price and several tours are given daily. The tour is historical in nature and covers both the Red Barn which was the original Boeing factory and the main room with the hanging airplanes. Highlights are the 1910 Gianni Caproni (first fighter plane), 1925 Boeing 80-A (first commercial plane), 1933 Douglas DC-3, Corsair, Blue Angels, Aerocar III, SR-71 Blackbird with an open cockpit to sit in, and the Lockheed M21 Blackbird.

Upon entering the main room to the left are several walled exhibits, and to the right, at the bottom of the stairs, are 2 flight simulators. They are manned by an attendant who shows you how to practice flying on the computer with a joystick before entering the flight simulator for your 2 minute solo or 4 minute dual flight. Through September 2002, the promotion price for using the flight similator was $5 per person, though it was going up to $10 per person. There is also another flight simulator at the opposite corner of the room.

Upstairs offers are a different perspective of the airplanes hanging from the ceiling and there are additional sections including a tower area where you can pretend you're a pilot, as well as a hallway of exhibits to understand the function of an ATC and test yourself on flying facts. Outside the museum, stands the Air Force One from 1954 which you are allowed to board, but only a few people can enter at a time and sometimes the wait in line can be extensive.

The cafeteria has a decent selection of food, but at museum prices. I enjoyed a piece of poached salmon on a bed of salad for $6.95 and enjoyed eating it on the patio overlooking Boeing field. There is also a great gift shop with lots of books, videos, interactive CDs, die cast airplanes, posters, clothing - t-shirts, hats, socks, ties and a variety of other flight related souvenirs to remember your visit.