I've always wanted to see a battleship in person and not just on the movie screen so I was so excited when I got the opportunity to visit the battleship USS New Jersey. While attending the Disney Social Media Mom's Conference in Philadelphia, my husband and I went a few days early so we could do some sightseeing. The best part of our trip, by far, was touring the battleship USS New Jersey. This warship was a hub of activity during World War II, in fact it was commissioned exactly one year after Pearl Harbor.
It was amazing to tour the ship and learn the history. One of the things I really enjoyed was the fact that we could do a self-guided tour. That way I could spend as much time as I wanted looking at everything and reading all the information that was posted around the ship. It really was inspiring to see where so many men served our county and lived for so much time.
Be ready to do quite a bit of walking and climbing. There are lots of stairs you need to climb up and down (some of them are quite steep) and there are several narrow passageways throughout the ship. Definitely wear comfortable shoes and clothing! If you aren't quite up to strenuous activity, you can do main deck tour that doesn't include all those stairs! 🙂 Also, strollers aren't allowed on the ship so be prepared to carry your little one or wear a baby carrier like a Baby Bjorn, Sling, etc..
In addition to the self-guided tour, there were many men stationed around the ship in uniform. These men had served in WWII and other wars. They were there to answer any questions and to give more information. We thoroughly enjoyed talking these men. They had so many stories to share from their experiences and it meant a lot more hearing it from them instead of just reading it.
If you are ever in Philadelphia, the battleship USS New Jersey needs to be the first stop on your list. They also offer a variety of other tours and you can stay the night on the ship. I think that would be such a fun experience for kids! Check out their website for more information and tickets.