Will be traveling with my 5 yo and 2 yo. Have received advice on this forum not to visit the Midway due to lots of walking and stairs. Both boys are very much interested in vehicles, boats, etc and I'd like for them to at least see the carrier and maybe some of the aircraft on deck.

Would you recommend a harbor tour for this or just skip it and wait for them to be older?

Thanks!

You can see the ship from the land, no need for a harbor tour. You can walk along some it to get a sense of the size. I doubt you would be able to see the planes on deck from either the harbor tour or the area around the ship, it's pretty high up.

Google uss midway photos to see for yourself.

You can see some of the planes from then adjacent park on the left hand side of it but not great views. I agree that it is a lot of walking and stairs but its at your own pace so it would be doable. Alternativelly there is aan Air and Space Museum within Balboa Park.

You can see the planes on the deck of the Midway a little bit from walking around the areas you can by the ship - but why not take the tour.

Don't know who advised not to visit it - as you can request the elevator if you don't want to walk up the stairs and I think the boys would love it.

And the harbor tour is also fun, or take the ferry ride across to Coronado.

I think visiting The Air & Space Museum, (along with the Science museum)in Balboa Park would be far better with 2 young boys if you want them to be able to see aircraft etc.

When my nephew was 5, he LOVED touring an aircraft carrier....

The science museum in Balboa Park is a great suggestion~lots of interactive fun for all ages.

http://www.sandiegoairandspace.org/

MPT
We took our 2 1/2 yr old the the Air & Space Museum in Balboa Park and he loved it. They try to provide activities for all ages. It's small but very managable. It's become one of my favorite museums.

We also saw the Pirate exhibit at the Natural History Museum. Again even our 2 1/2 yr old loved it.

http://www.sdnhm.org/

I think you can just pay for the exhibit and the other part of the museum separately. Ask before you pay.

Don't understand the trepidation about taking young children on the Midway - but you could also tour the great museums in Balboa Park - including the model railroad museum, and the fun science exhibits/games at the Ruben E. Fleet.

They also have interesting movies in the IMAX at the fleet - and at the former IMAX across the prado at the Natural History Musuem. Go online to check the schedule/offerings for those and all the museums at Balboa Park.