USS Lexington

We couldn't be just a few hours from the beach and not go....so we headed down to Corpus Christi, TX for a few day to seek out our next adventures. First on our bucket list was the USS Lexington.  ..an old Navy Aircraft Carrier that you are able to walk through and tour.  Years ago when we came down to Corpus, we had wanted to tour the Lexington, but couldn't because Preston injured his foot right when we got to the hotel....so this time, we headed straight to the Lexington as soon as we got into Corpus - BEFORE we checked into our hotel just to make sure it happened! 

With a family like ours- who LOVES airplanes.... the top deck was a must see...it was full of static aircraft displays that we enjoyed touching, walking past, and sitting in.  It wasn't easy to get to...in order to get to the top we had to maneuver up and down steep stairways (and with little kids in tow...that can be quite a task!)  Definitely got our work out in plus it was HOT and HUMID! 

 

  After seeing the airplanes and gun displays - with which the boys pretended to defend the ship and shoot the enemy! - we were hot and sweaty...and a little disappointed - we had been to the top and the the main level which was a huge "museum" with displays about this and that.....but we really wanted to see what the aircraft carrier was like "back in the day" not an aircraft carrier that is remodeled into a fancy museum about airplanes and other military subjects.... as we were trying hard not to be too disappointed, we happened to see another stairwell that went DOWN...hmm... wonder where that goes!  So, down we went ....and out disappointment quickly disappeared when we discovered that the bottom levels where pretty much an underground city within the steel walls replicated just like it was in it's hay day!  There was a dentist, barber shop, post office, cafeteria, doctors office, sleeping quarters, etc.  it sure was eye opening to see how small the personal quarters were for the occupants!

We searched, discovered, and toured until the bitter end....the kids were getting tried and moving slowly by the end, but we motivated them to move a little faster when we told them it was closing time and we needed to make sure we made it to the top before they locked us in for the night!!! Oh boy, that got them moving alright!!!!  Get us out of here!!!