Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum, Oregon International Air Show, Wings & Waves Water Park, 9-21-2019

When we visited the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum last year on the Smithsonian free museum day, I noticed the big empty fields and wondered what lovely earthscape could fill that space.  This year I noted beautiful grape vines.  And yet they don’t fill all the fields . . .   
 
This year, long before we reached the turn-off for the museum entrance, we were waiting in a long line of cars (and buses), and people were sitting in lawn chairs with picnics in any open spot along the way, ready to watch the Oregon International Air Show--we just happened on the right day, what a bonus!  Cars were what filled those fields on 9-21-19.
 
The Oregon International Air Show:
https://oregonairshow.com/
 
Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum(s)
The Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum is really a campus complex:  one building covers aviation, one space travel, and a building for the theater showing films on the big screen.  Between the buildings you can walk from one end of the solar system to the other, as depicted in beautiful stonework in the sidewalk.  Plaques along the way (showing some wear from the heat of the sun) talk about each planet.
 
You should plan at least a half day to explore everything.  The Museum is open 9-5 daily, except a few holidays.  There are flat screens with short films through-out the aviation museum, as well as the movies offered in the theater building.  Guided tours are led by volunteers who are deeply invested in aviation.  A somewhat primitive, but effective, elevator will lift disabled persons wanting to get up into the Spruce Goose.  A smaller aircraft can be boarded if there is a guide there, but it is not accessible to wheelchairs.
 
There are various photo ops, kid activities, models large and small, a mural sized timeline of aircraft from the Wright Brothers to the present, engines, propellers, all kinds of displays. There's a museum store with things to entice you to spend, and a cafe to find food.  Or, you can bring a picnic to eat outdoors. A fun flight-themed playground for kids is next to the Space building.  On the day of the airshow they were selling food outdoors, not cheaply, but it was tasty.
 
I tried and tried to get a picture that would show just how huge the Spruce Goose is, and it just can't be done.  So I'm picturing the visitor's guide.  Of course the guide just shows symbols for the different areas.  There are tons and tons of aircraft to be awed with.
 
Handicapped restrooms are indicated in both buildings--I didn't think to go in and check, but I'm guessing they are ADA accessible.  I didn't even make it to the space museum this year (so much to see!), but I'll post some pictures from last year.  Keep in mind, there is way more to see than I can include on this blog.
 
Costs
We went on free museum day because admission is very pricey. 
https://www.evergreenmuseum.org/museum-hours?
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/museumday/museum-day-2020/
 
Museum admission includes one theater movie.  Spruce Goose cockpit tours are $30 for up to 4, for a 15 minute tour.  They had a flight simulator for an extra $8, but it was on the fritz when we were there. 
 
Ordinarily there is no cost to park at the Museum.  But on the day of the airshow it costed $10 to park in the huge field, and of course in the parking lot as well.  I had cash, but I think they were able to take card, too. I was fortunately able to park in the handicapped parking.  It would be no problem walking the short distance through the field, but very rough going for a wheelchair (or walker), and fairly deep ditches guard the perimeter.  Some of the parking attendants didn't know, some had to be convinced or bypassed, for us to get to the handicapped spaces in the regular parking lot. 
 
Wings & Waves Water Park
Adjacent to, but not affilated with, the Aviation & Space Museum is the W&W Water Park.  The airliner on top of the building is where the big slides begin!  This place is very pricey . . . $30, plus $6-7 locker fee.  So come when you can spend the whole day.  Don't forget your flip flops.  Check summer and winter hours. https://wingsandwaveswaterpark.com/
 
They have family restrooms & showers, as well as the men's and women's.  They say they have accessible restrooms/showers.  I didn't see them, so you should ask.  If you have at least some use of your legs, it could be a great place to let the grandkids play while you relax (kids under 10 must be supervised, little ones must have an adult in with them). 
 
Keep in mind, it is not really a swimming pool, but a water park.  They have a couple pools (small and medium), and a spa.  One of the pools has a very gradual slope from 0 to 5'.  They have a great number of life vests, floatable donuts with handles (an upgrade from the old inner tubes of my time) and inflatable figure 8s.  Lots of fun stuff for little ones, and exciting slides for teens. These pics were taken late on the day of the air show, so not as many people were still there.
 
Travel to and from
There doesn't seem to be any simple, straight-forward way to get to the Museum (or at least Google doesn't know it), so unless you are familiar with the area (country roads that can take you far from home, or wherever you hope to go), it's best to let Google navigate you there and back.  It is beautiful country . . . a reminder of why the Oregon Pioneers settled in the fertile Willamette valley:  lots of huge nurseries, orchards, farms, fields, wineries, interspersed with hill & dale, and trees.
 
Accommodating a stay
If you want to make it a weekend:

• RV park next to the Aviation & Space Museum complex        https://www.oldestonevillage.com/
• Best Western McMinnville Inn 
• McMenamins Hotel Oregon (McMinnville)
• and camping somewhat further afield . . . Google “camping near Evergreen Aviation & Space museum”