U.S. Naval Academy

Description:

• Tucked behind Annapolis's historic district, standing proudly on the shores of the Severn River, the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) has been educating future naval officers for more than 160 years. Visitors to "The Yard" can tour the grounds, see a sample midshipman's room, and view the newly restored crypt of John Paul Jones in the chapel undercroft.

  Enter the Naval Academy on foot at Gate 1, at Randall and King George streets, or at the new entrance closer to the City Dock at Craig Street. (The only cars allowed are those with handicapped or DOD stickers.) Start your visit at the Armel-Leftwich Visitor Center, just beyond the Halsey Field House. Here you can see exhibits about midshipman life, watch an orientation film, and browse the gift shop. Look for exhibits on USNA graduates in space, including the Freedom 7 space capsule flown by alum Alan Shepard. Sign up for a tour to see Bancroft Hall, the largest dorm in the world, and the magnificent chapel. Security is tight, so guided tours are the only way to get around. These end at the naval history museum in Prebel Hall. Note: The museum is undergoing renovations that will keep it closed to the public until late 2008.

  Try to visit during noon formation -- held in Tecumseh Court Monday through Friday at 12:05pm, weather permitting -- when the midshipmen line up in front of Bancroft Hall before marching in for the midday meal. Commissioning Week, usually held the third week in May, is a colorful time of full-dress parades, parties, and a demonstration by the Blue Angels. (Plan well in advance for housing during Commissioning Week.)

• © Frommer's 2012

Awards:

Frommer's

•  Very Highly Recommended 2010