Attractions
The Puget Sound is a maritime region. Even if you're not a boater, you can still delve into the local maritime heritage in plenty of ways - some of the best of which are festivals, museums and actual water vessels. Get up close and personal with submarines, Navy destroyers or
Travel
Do you dream of warm, sunny days on a sandy beach? Then you won't want to miss out on Port Townsend. A short road trip away, this vibrant beach community is less than a two-hour drive from Joint Base Lewis-McChord. One of only three Victorian waterfronts in the U.S., Port
Military Life
When we say Olympia Meet-ups, we're not necessarily talking about groups organized around a topic or discipline like a booklovers' meet-up or skateboarders' meet-up. We're talking about places where people in Olympia get together to talk about stuff. And since it's Olympia, we're talking about hippies, artists and writers -
Attractions
The gorgeous example of turn-of-the-century architecture known as "Building 50" sits adjacent to the Bremerton ferry dock in the picturesque town of Bremerton. Inside its thoughtfully restored walls, it houses permanent and temporary collections of photos, documents, artifacts, scale models and interactive exhibits, all detailing the indispensible role of the
Travel
Nestled beyond the shorelines of Bainbridge Island sits 150 acres of meticulously cultivated land. The land began as the property of Prentice Bloedel, son of a prominent lumber company owner, and his wife Virginia. While Bloedel followed in his father's footsteps and took over the MacMillian Bloedel Timber Company in
Travel
If you can sing every word of Disney's Frozen, you're basically a Norway fan. Animators based the fictional kingdom of Arendelle on Akershus Fortress, Bryggen town, and the Norsk Folkemuseum in Oslo. You may have sung "Let It Go" in the shower, imagining yourself wailing away from an ice castle
Military Life
Someone once said, "A house is not a home without a pet," and I tend to agree. Throughout my childhood, my family owned several different dogs and the occasional cat, and over the years we cared for more than our share of rescues and strays. It was almost as if
Music
While I live in Tacoma, I love my time that I get to spend in Olympia, which doesn't happen frequently enough for my taste. Whereas Tacoma is relatively spread out, Olympia has most of its main attractions conveniently located in a dense cluster of downtown awesomeness. Olympia has been known
Military Life
Furniture is essential in transforming a house into a home, and finding ideal pieces suited to individual tastes requires a balance of both aesthetic appeal and functionality. Fortunately, The Old Cannery Furniture and Mattress Warehouse in Sumner offers a vast selection of furniture options with something for everyone. Established in 1984,
Travel
As I stood inside the Orr Wagon Shop in downtown Steilacoom, I could hear the rain drumming on the roof. Through a westward facing window framed by Nathaniel Orr in 1870, I could see Puget Sound and another gray wall of rain headed my way. Across from me, about a half dozen
Travel
Tacoma is surrounded by smaller towns of all shapes and sizes, and many make great day trips. Get out of the city and get to know the region by seeing it up close and personal. Case in point - the small town of Sumner, which is situated due east of
Military Life
It's easy being a kid in the South Sound. There's plenty of fun places for a child to stretch their legs and enjoy some unique experiences. Jozee Rooz Indoor Petting Zoo Jozee Rooz Indoor Petting Zoo is a hands-on petting zoo experience. At Jozee Rooz, their specialty is baby and miniature pets.
Outdoors
They say every dog has his day, and these days it seems every dog has his day out: More canines are hitting the road come vacation time. "The Northwest is really dog-friendly," said Holly Anderson of Mud Bay stores. "If you're just walking around sightseeing, everyone is very relaxed about it,
Outdoors
Whether you are an avid skier or trying snowboarding for the first time, early spring is a great time to strap on those boots and hit the slopes in Washington, with many of our local hills offering great discounts for military families. Spring Ski Conditions: Although the snowfall can be a bit
Travel
The road trip to eastern Washington is easily one of the most scenic and beautiful trips from Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Most people don't automatically think of Spokane and The Palouse region as vacation destinations, but the ever-changing scenery of mountains, forests, deserts and rolling hills, gives this area a distinct
Outdoors
According to anthropologists, our distant ancestors were arboreal primates who came down from the trees millions of years ago when the climate changed. According to parents, our children are arboreal apes who will happily climb any convenient tree to regard us from on high. Some things never change. If you'd
Outdoors
There's food all around us in the many forests in western Washington. It's free for the picking, and it is tasty and nutritional, organic, all-natural, and with no harmful hormones or chemicals. But you need to know what you're picking and eating, because while much of it is healthier than
Travel
Many people associate cruise vacations with the sparkling blue waters of the Caribbean, but the fact is that the world of cruising is so much more than beaches and Caribbean ports. Cruises go nearly anywhere in the world and allow those on board to explore a variety of ports of