<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 are free to walk around most places- and there will be small signs posted for those areas closed to the public-</p>
<p>but if I may offer a recommendation, the tours from the visitor's center are well worth the small price you pay- (they even have a discounted rate for students)- there is just so much information they give you about the place- it takes about 1.5 hours, but well, well worth it- in time and expense- it just adds a lot to the visit and you will come away with a far better understanding of the history of the place and lots of skuttlebutt too! </p>
<p>If you do decide to go on your own, you can pick up a map of the yard at the visitor's center inside Gate 1- and perhaps start with the short movie there. </p>
<p>Have fun!</p>
<p>Where'd my reply go? :confused:</p>
<p>Z- I think you are supposed to hit the enter key instead of delete!!! ;) (unless, that is, the moderators have you censored..... :eek: )</p>
<p>Zaphod - Sadly, I accidentally posted this same question in the parents forum thinking I was over here. You replied to that one.</p>
<p>So if I understand correctly, you can just show up to the academy, grab a map, and take a stroll around the yard?</p>
<p>Yup - you can do that! (don't forget your ID- you need that to get on the yard!) Have fun!</p>
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So if I understand correctly, you can just show up to the academy, grab a map, and take a stroll around the yard?
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<p>Unless things have changed (and it looks like they haven't), that's correct.</p>
<p>It's worth it, too. It really is a beautiful place.</p>
<p>I second that...makes me cry there it's so full of history</p>
<p>I went there quite a lot in the early 70's when my brother was a Mid (Class of 1975... he even married in the Chapel in 1983) and I loved every minute of it (except perhaps for a couple of blind dates my brother set me up with for dances)!!! It is a beautiful place and I missed it for years until I took my son on a road trip to visit the Academies last Fall.</p>
<p>We took the tour and watched lunch formation on perhaps the prettiest day I had ever seen! It was extremely emotional for me because my brother passed away three years ago in a private plane crash in Wyoming.</p>
<p>Since then I secretly hoped that my son would be able to realize his dream(not sure how he decided on that dream because we had not really talked about USNA until he asked us to attend a meeting a couple of years ago) and join USNA Class of 2010, but I knew it would happen if it was supposed to. I cannot tell you how excited I am to be able to go there with my son! I guess I'm a little older now, but I still feel a little giddy about being there once again,this time with my husband and 16 year old daughter.</p>
<p>Thanks for letting me ramble... I need a tissue now!</p>
<p>I totally recommend coming to the academy this time of year (April-may) Its not too hot and all the flower are in full bloom, and since all the exciting events like herndon, graduation, ring dance, etc. are happening, the grounds keepers work extra hard during this time...totally, if you are ever going to come for a visit, come now...besides..my boyfriend is playing in the blue and gold football game, so come cheer them on!!</p>
<p>Sorry to keep pestering about this, but it is completely okay to just show up at the Academy and walk around? No arrangements have to be made in advance?</p>
<p>again, much thanks</p>
<p>That is correct.</p>
<p>However, there are hours to visit, and some places are off-limits.</p>
<p>Hehe, when we were there two weeks ago, the nice young man at the gate (not a Marine, I noted, despite his cammies) let me in without my ID. Tragically, I'd left my purse back at the hotel (husband was moneybags for the day and I just forgot about ID). He really shouldn't have let me in, but I am the most harmless looking middle-aged mom there is. Spider grinned and said he knew what demographic terrorists need to recuit....soccer moms!</p>
<p>Tourists were everywhere. Spider's host mid said it's like that all the time, said it's "like living in a fishbowl". Poor mids kept getting stopped for photo ops. We wandered all over the place, avoiding only places marked "midshipmen only" or something similar. You can get a map that shows which buildings/spaces are open to the public. Didn't realize we could've eaten at the O-club, would've beaten the heck out of Drydock.</p>
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it's "like living in a fishbowl"
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<p>More like a zoo.</p>
<p>"Please don't feed the Midshipmen."</p>
<p>;)</p>