After serving 47 proud years in the United States Navy, including stints in the Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm, the aircraft carrier "USS Midway" is now a floating naval-aviation museum on the Embarcadero and a not-to-be-missed San Diego landmark. The massive flight deck—1,001-feet long and covering a whopping four acres—displays around 30 vintage restored aircraft, including an SBD Dive Bomber from WWII, a Vietnam-era Huey gunship helicopter and an F-14 Tomcat fighter; the newest addition is a rare F4F Wildcat which was restored over several years by dedicated museum volunteers. There are also two flight simulators, approximately 60 interactive exhibits, and several cockpits that kids love to explore. 

In the fall of 2014 the museum debuts a new theater with a multi-media show on the battle of Midway. The free self-guided audio tour narrated by former sailors does an excellent job of detailing daily life aboard the warship; the tour covers a lot of ground, both historically and physically—make sure you're okay with lots of stairs, ladders, and tight spaces. The docents, many of whom are veterans, couldn't be more helpful and engaging.