Tour of the Pima Air and Space Museum- Tucson, AZ

A few days after Christmas, my family and I decided to visit the Pima Air and Space Museum which consists of 300 aircraft spread over 80 acres of south Tucson.

Since the planes are displayed throughout the property in hangers and out in the open air, it is best to avoid visiting the Air & Space Museum in the summer. Really, I wouldn't suggest visiting Tucson in the summer at all. (Tucsonans will thank me for sending even more visitors to them during their most crowded tourist season. NOT.) The hotel prices would certainly be less expensive and the city less crowded in the summer, but unless you like baking yourself inside ovens or are going to spend your time exploring the top of Mt. Lemmon, you will enjoy your time more by visiting during the other seasons.

At the Pima Air & Space Museum there were planes of all sizes:

and colors:

Since I am more of a train lover and know little about planes, my excursion into this museum was merely rudimentary, as I was admiring the visual design and presence of the planes. I was amused by the names of the planes and a few of the symbols or sayings painted on the sides.

My little nephews, two three year olds and a five year old, and the adults ranging in ages 16-56 all enjoyed wandering the Air & Space Museum. As one of the largest in the world, it is visited by thousands of people from all over the world. In the main hanger, there are maps on the wall into which visitors can pin a thumbtack on the location of their home state or country. The staff remove the pins every month and by the end of December when we visited, the maps were crammed with pins in almost every continent and US states. Whether you are interested in World War II planes, spacecraft, fighter jets, rescue helicopters, or sea planes, the Pima Air and Space Museum is the place to visit!