| If you are looking for a vacation idea and | | | | Dulles International Airport. The distance |
| are an air and space enthusiast, look no | | | | between the two museum sites is 28 miles. You |
| further. The National Air and Space Museum, | | | | can find a map and directions to the Center |
| Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center near Washington | | | | on Yahoo! Maps and you can try using the |
| Dulles International Airport is the place for | | | | following coordinates at Mapquest: Latitude: |
| you. | | | | 38.9111; Longitude: -77.4425 (select zoom |
| | | | level 8 for best results, no directions |
| I am fortunate enough to live in the | | | | provided). |
| Washington, DC area, so I can take advantage | | | | |
| of all the available free attractions | | | | Hours: Open 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily. |
| offered. Today (2/19/2006) I wend on a field | | | | Closed Dec. 25. |
| trip to the National Air and Space Museum, | | | | |
| Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. This center is | | | | Admission Charge: There is no admission |
| full of historical aircraft and spacecraft | | | | charge but there is a $12 fee to park at the |
| enough to fill a modern building the size of | | | | Udvar-Hazy Center and there are neither rail |
| 3 to 4 football fields. | | | | stations nor bus stops nearby. There is also |
| | | | no shuttle service at this time from Dulles |
| The center has two I-Max theaters, one space | | | | to the Udvar-Hazy Center. |
| walk simulator and two flight simulators in | | | | |
| which I enjoyed immensely. | | | | Local Accommodations: There are several |
| | | | hotels, shopping centers and car rentals near |
| But the attractions I enjoyed most was the he | | | | the Dulles International Airport. |
| Enola Gay, the B-29 bomber used in the atomic | | | | |
| mission that destroyed Hiroshima, the | | | | Miscellaneous: You may take stills and video |
| Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird and of course the | | | | for private use in the center. There is a |
| Space Shuttle, Enterprise. | | | | restaurant in the center. The museum's Web |
| | | | site home page address is The tour office |
| If you love aviation like I do, I highly | | | | phone number is (202) 633-2563. |
| recommend you taking your next vacation to | | | | |
| Washington, DC to visit this center and the | | | | Your tax dollars help fund the two museums, |
| downtown space museum as well. | | | | so take advantage of being in the area and |
| | | | visit the original Air and Space museum down |
| Important Information: | | | | town. It is 28 miles from the Udvar-Hazy |
| | | | Center and will enhance your experience. Have |
| Location: Located in Chantilly, Va., off | | | | fun. |
| Route 28 north of Route 50, near Washington | | | | |