This day was absolutely AMAZING!
Morning
We started the bright and early as we made our way down to the lobby to get our breakfast. As mentioned in previous posts, the breakfast options had a lot of variety and for the most part, we enjoyed the breakfasts at Homewood Suites. After breakfast, the kids had a very fast 5 minute ping-pong game and then were on our way to the USS Midway in downtown San Diego.
Breakfast time at Homewood Suites!
The Backstory
I am a member of MANY Facebook groups, but one group is the Top Gun Fan Page. This is a group filled with over 100K fans of the 1986 blockbuster Top Gun. With the "New Top Gun" movie, Top Gun Maverick, coming out this spring, the page had been booming with information. It turns out that the very first premiere of the movie was going to the on USS Midway on May 4th. I randomly commented on a thread with "Oh no... My family and I will be in town just a few weeks before that. Bummer"
Later that day I got a private message from a man who was a docent at the USS Midway and offered to give us a behind the scenes look. I didn't respond at first because it just kind of threw me off but weeks later I responded and explained our trip dates and etc. He offered to give us a private tour and after having Chris review the information, we agreed to meet him on Thursday of our trip and hope for the best. We figured we were either going to get murdered or have the best tour experience ever.
It was clearly the latter of the two.
Even leading up to the day of our tour, we thought this guy would show us around the Midway for about an hour and then he would have to go to his other tour guide duties and we would be on our own. As we arrived around 8:20AM and got parked, I stepped out of the vehicle and jokingly said with Chris "Ok, its time to roll the dice" and out of nowhere came "Chappie" our tour guide. He called me by name and gave me a hug like we had known each other for years. It was kind of weird but SO COOL at the same time!
He explained a few things to us and then said "I am yours ALL DAY. We will go in around 9AM" but within moments we were already walking into the USS Midway via the workers entrance. We were on the USS Midway by 8:40AM. Chappie said hello to pretty much everyone and introduced us as his friends and guests. As the day progressed we learned that Mr. Ward was a retired Air Force Chaplain (how he got his nick name) and fit the "pastor" vibe to a T. In fact, he reminded me of my own Father who is also a minister. Chappie new EVEYRONE and everyone knew Chappie.
The very first thing we did is sit in the F14 from Top Gun. I got to be Goose and Maverick and so did the kids and Chris. This was already turning out to be the absolute best day ever! I was so very excited and acting like a kid in a candy store.
Little did I realize, it was only going to get better from there.
This is frame worthy and my favorite part of the day!
This will forever be one of my favorite pictures of Luke!
Smile!
I loved this SO MUCH!
Chris- "You can be my wingman anytime"
Me- "Bull----, You can be mine!"
After checking out the Top Gun F14, we went to the Flight Deck. This was SO COOL as it was only 9AM and we literally had the entire deck to ourselves as the Museum did not officially open until 10AM. We were able to see so many planes, including another F14, and hear so many stories from Chappie.
This was SUCH a cool experience!
Natalie secretly LOVED this! (Teenage eye rolls included)
The F14 from Top Gun. (Not the actual one but similar)
As we made our way towards the end of the Flight Deck, we traveled down into the ship to see the Control Tower. Here Chappie told us all about the duties of the officers when a pilot has to land his plane or take off in the middle of the ocean. We learned about the Boss and Mini-Boss as well as the other officers who look for the planes, guide the pilot to land and even write down all the planes landing/ taking off backwards so the boss can see. The pilot must be able to land his plane within 90 seconds and get's rated or scored by an officer about his landing performance. Chappie explained so much to us and things I had seen before in movies like Top Gun but never really understood until I was in that room.
The stairs to get to most of the rooms were narrow and VERY steep!
Boss- Luke and Mini- Natalie!
Just like in the movie "Call the Ball".
Someone had to literally call the ball for a pilot to land his plane.
Chappie telling Luke about North Island and the bay.
This was one of my favorite areas of the ship!
The past 16 years wrapped up in 1 picture...
From there we went into the Chart Room where a different set of officers would be "mapping" out the course of the ship as well as charting targets for battles to be fought. Luke loves maps so he really enjoyed this room.
On our way to the Chart Room and then the bridge!
The USS Carl Vincent. The ACTUAL aircraft carrier used in Top Gun!
Then we climbed many more very narrow stairs to get to the bridge where the "Commanding Officer" (CO) and the Navigator ("Gator") would command the ship. The kids were able to sit in the CO and Gator chairs as well as turn the ships wheel. Chappie explained the many roles of all of the navy men who would be in each room and I had no idea so many people and so many jobs would be needed. It was absolutely fascinating. We were also able to see (and actually go into, thanks to Chappie) many of the commanding officer's staterooms as well as the admiral's rooms.
Commanding Officer Luke ready for duty!
Luke LOVED this part so much!
Both kids got to "steer" the ship with the ship's wheel and learn how to guide the ship out of the bay!
We were able to see and do ALL OF THIS before the museum even opened to the public at 10AM. I already felt like we got our money's worth just in the first 90 minutes. And we then realized that Chappie was not going to give any one else a tour. We were literally his ALL day! We were truly VIPs. Thank you SO MUCH Mr. Ward! You are so incredibly kind and generous!
Afternoon
We stopped for a snack, which turned out to be lunch, just before 11AM and that is when we realized, this tour had many more stops and hour to go. We fed the kids (and the bear) and we were ready for the next part of our private tour!
Once inside the Combat Control Center, we were able to see how the officers would scope out targets or be able to see if someone is trying to "fire upon" the Midway. It really did look exactly like the beginning of Top Gun.
Inside the Combat Control Center on the USS Midway!
Chappie showing Natalie how to spot "migs" and other concerns!
We were also able to see many of the Ready Rooms on the ship. These rooms were locations where the pilots would wait before going out to fly for a mission. We got to see all of the squadrons listed from the USS Midway as well as information about the REAL Top Gun at Miramar, CA. We were even able to read about Pete Pettigrew, the REAL Viper in Top Gun. As it turns out Mr. Pettigrew is also a docent on the USS Midway and gives tours himself... just not on Thursdays! Again, I was so excited... I just cried!
Natalie in one of the Ready Rooms.
There he is... THE REAL VIPER!
This was so cool... I am such a NERD, and that is OK!
Another Ready Room on the USS Midway!
Luke is ready for take off!
After we saw many of the Ready Rooms, we were able to see the Chapel on the ship as well as other locations that were "off the beaten path" and regular visitors would not be able to see. This was so cool and we heard many more stories about life on the Midway and being a docent for this type of historical museum.
As we continued our tour, we were able to see the Commanding Officers barracks, the stateroom that Maverick would have stayed in as well as the stateroom Goose would have been assigned to. We also learned that each level of officer had their own kitchen and galley and personal chef! This blew my mind to have so many kitchens and so many chefs!
The stateroom where Maverick would have stayed.
Goose's stateroom category!
Admirals stateroom (Full bed, not bunk size twin)
This was part of the admirals Welcome area near his stateroom.
The meeting area in the Admirals Quarters that presidents and military personnel sat at to make decisions.
This was another stateroom of importance... The Commanding Officer's stateroom (I think)
Throughout the tour, we were meeting people non-stop as Chappie knew everyone on the ship. Often times we would be near other museum guest and Chappie would just pull down the roped off tape and let us go into a "forbidden" area. I literally felt like royalty.
We were able to see the Mission Control Room where Charlie (Kelly McGillis in Top Gun) would have reviewed all of the fighter pilots flights. "Gutsiest move I ever saw, man"- Hollywood- Top Gun!
We were even able to catch the 15 minute documentary about the actual battle of Midway. This was so cool to watch as well. We even met a few people who were at Midway and in the movie. We took a few pictures with Chappie and then spent way too much in the gift shop before we left the Midway after 3PM.
Our kids in the USS Midway BRIG!
Chappie explaining all the information that would have been happening in this room.
We made our way a few blocks over to Kansas City BBQ in downtown San Diego. This was the actual restaurant where the "Sleazy Bar Scene" was filmed in Top Gun. (The scene where Goose plays "Great Balls of Fire"). This tiny restaurant was decked out with Top Gun memorabilia, including the original juke box. TIP- The food was just "so-so" in our Texas BBQ loving minds but we only went for the nostalgia. The prices were high as well but if you are a Top Gun fan... it is a MUST!
Kansas City BBQ- 600 W Harbor Drive San Diego, CA 92101
(Parking on the side streets near by is CHEAP)
The Kansas City BBQ Menu- Prices were STEEP for BBQ but not as high as you might think for California.
I LOVE this!
The actual jukebox used in Top Gun!
I am such a nerd but I LOVED this!
My Maverick and I!
And the kids wanted in on the fun too!
This was such a cool experience!
Headed North to La Jolla
After our late lunch we decided to head north to La Jolla cove to see all of the seals during pup season. TIP- Pup season is February to June. Live births can be seen February to mid-March while the most seals to be seen overall is Mid-April to Early June. The exact location you want to search on Google or Apple Maps is La Jolla Cove. Parking was a "bit of an issue" but not terrible. And all of this is completely FREE.
This was also a HUGE hit with our family, especially the kids. There were SO MANY seals. Many of these large creatures were just laying and sunbathing in the sun on the beach, shores and rocks. There was a short pier you could walk out to get better views as well. We saw many pups and several adorable seals just learning how to swim. We spent over an hour just watching them all lay all over the beach.
The area near the pier at La Jolla Cove.
There were BIG seals and small pups as well! They didn't move much but it was so fun to watch them interact with each other!
I love that she WANTS to take a picture with me right now.
I am going to enjoy this while it lasts!
At the end of the pier at La Jolla Cove.
Luke swears he saw seals in and out of the water!
The scenery is breathtaking!
A true highlight of our trip! CHECK IT OUT!
We loved our time at La Jolla Cove!
After we watched the seals, we meandered down the beach a bit towards a hiking type area full of rocks. We found a local ice cream truck and got a snack and then just enjoyed the beauty of this area! The low tide had just passed and the kids were able to run all over this beach on and off the rocks. We stayed here until sundown before heading back to our Homewood Suites in San Diego. Our kids absolutely LOVED this part of our trip and I would HIGHLY recommend it to anyone in San Diego with kids!
California prices here... $6 for an ice cream treat!
La Jolla beach (further south than LJ cove)
One of my favorite pictures of the entire trip!
Once again, the scenery is UNREAL!
Hiking down to the beach was tricky in some spots.
Priceless memories!
There was a beach wedding and Natalie was able to take a rose from the bouquet.
Check out our time at La Jolla Beach!
Evening
With the super late lunch that we had at Kansas City BBQ, none of us were very hungry so we opted to go back to the hotel and swim in the hotel pool as long as we could. TIP- As I mentioned in a previous post, this hotel pool was a tad small, which meant for over crowding, but we all enjoyed it. The kids swam in the pool while Chris and I enjoyed the hot-tub until around 9PM when it became too crowded for our liking and we joined the kids in the pool. We stayed in the pool until 10PM and then went up to our room with 2 (3) hungry kids.
We ended up ordering pizza from a local place close to the hotel. This seems to be a new tradition of ordering pizza when exhausted from a day on vacation. After we ate and were settling down for the night, Chris and I felt a weird shake in the hotel. The kids never felt it but Chris and I definitely did! We found out the following day that it was an EARTHQUAKE registering 4.6 near Ensenada, Mexico.
We definitely felt this from our 6th floor hotel room!
It was a FULL day of excitement and the highlight of our trip. From the Flight Deck to the Ocean, it made for a busy and adventurous day! Thank you Paul Ward- "Chappie" for being such a gracious and generous host. We will certainly not forget you or our time on the USS Midway!
Up Next... Take Me Out to the Ballgame!
It's time for the real reason we came to San Diego... Petco Park!
Did you miss Day 1, 2 or 3? Check them out:
Day 1- Yep... I Still Hate Flying
Thanks for following along! We appreciate your support!
God is good... ALL THE TIME!
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