<p>I am planning to go down to the Navy Blue-Gold football game next Friday with my Dad. The game doesn't start until 7:00 so I'd like to be able to look around the Academy for a while before the game. Do you HAVE to go with a guide on a tour or are you allowed to just walk around?</p>
<p>If it helps at all, I will graduate from HS this year but am a prospective Mid for the Academy's Class of 2011.</p>
<p>Any info is appreciated.</p>
<p>You used to be able to visit almost without issue, provided you stayed out of the buildings and such.</p>
<p>That, however, was pre-9/11. I honestly don't know now.</p>
<p>Do they still run the tours with the guides dressed as Colonials? ;)</p>
<p>Thanks for the reply, Zaphod. Thought I was in the USNA forum. Sorry.</p>
<p>When I was there over the weekend for my CVW, I saw several dressed as Colonials. I asked about it, and apparently they aren't affiliated with the Academy, but they're part of some tour company that does tours all around Annapolis, and has permission to do tours of the Yard as well.</p>
<p>You can go around without a tour. The museum and the visitor center are open to visitors who aren't on a tour and you can walk around the grounds. The colonial tour departs from the Annapolis Chamber of Commerce building and covers the Yard as well as other historical parts of the city (like the State Capitol). We also went on the guided Yard tour, which includes a film and covers most of the key places (JPJ tomb, Memorial Hall, the chapel, etc.). We did all three last summer while killing time while our son was at NASS.</p>