Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum (Charleston, SC) is the home of the USS Yorktown. This massive aircraft carrier has been converted into a museum, and don’t expect to get in and out in a hurry. The length of the ship is about 4 football fields, and you can roam through a handful of different tours on multiple levels, including the flight deck.

We learnt that the USS Yorktown was used for service in Vietnam (1965-1968), and also picked up the astronauts and the landing capsule from Apollo 8 in December 1968. If you’re a history buff, visit http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/y1/yorktown-iv.htm to find an in-depth breakdown of the Yorktown’s history.

The museum is reasonably priced given the many hours you can spend on the ship, and kids 5 and under are free. However, if you are taking a stroller/pram, you will be limited on some of the tours due to stairs and narrow corridors. We highly suggest a baby carrier, especially if you will be visiting over your little one’s nap time.

Overall, we highly recommend Patriots Point for all ages and it’s a great family day out.

Click on a photo below to view the gallery.