A Visit to the National Museum of Naval Aviation - Worth the Trip
Although the Naval Flight Museum and IMAX theater are over 60 miles from Destin, it was a convenient stop for us, as we flew into the Pensacola airport.
The museum is located within the Pensacola Naval Base. Their website (see below) had detailed directions. Entry into the museum is free, but the IMAX shows require a purchased ticket. The museum includes a variety of aircraft and other naval air memorabilia, but one highlight is the IMAX theater.
When we visited, there were two shows playing, one called "Space Station" and a second one called "Magic of Flight." A new show will be released June 2005 called "Fighter Pilot." We saw "Magic of Flight," and it was $7/pp for each ticket. It was both entertaining and educational. Although there were some "fancy" flight scenes, there were none that caused me to get sick to my stomach (as can happen in some IMAX shows).
If you want to add some education to your vacation experience, or if you are flying through Pensacola, I recommend a stop at the Naval Air Museum. If you are lucky, you will visit on a day that the Blue Angels are practicing (we missed out, but check their schedule - you may get lucky!). The museum is a great tribute to the men and women who served our country and made history in naval aviation.
For more information, visit their website at http://naval.aviation.museum/home.html