National Naval Aviation Museum

In the huge Naval Air Station Pensacola, the Museum is much more than one could reasonably guess. Spectacular, educational, touching, and overwhelming -- it was a real surprise to us.

Oh ... did I mention it is the home of the Blue Angels? There are some very watchable IMAX movies on them and other flight related topics.

We took about 300 photos and videos. This is a seaplane that crossed the Atlantic in 1917. It's huge, but the cockpit area is both open to the elements and startlingly small.

This raft, just about big enough to hold me, was the home for three Navy men for 34 days.

These are the men.

This is their story.

The controls of a Blue Angel jet. Seriously ... how do these guys do it???

The still active lighthouse across the street from the museum. There's been a beacon here for over 150 years. So if you like planes, the Navy, and/or lighthouses -- this be the place.