Our team of writers shared their list of their favorite military bases and now it’s your turn. So many of you commented on that article and shared with us your favorite places that you’ve been stationed at that we wanted to write a second article about the best military bases around the world.
We’ve collected the highlights and would love to get even more feedback from our readers on this topic.
Your 7 Favorite Military Bases
Joint Base Lewis-McChord
With Army base Fort Lewis and McChord Air Base located so close together, consolidating was a great choice. By joining forces, both services are better able to serve everyone. Roberta Castile loved living there!
“You have a choice where to shop,” she commented.
Joint Base Lewis-McChord is located in Lakewood, Wash., on the Puget Sound and near Mount Rainier. With easy access to Olympia and Tacoma, military families stationed here have access to both the great outdoors and city life!
Travis Air Force Base
If you enjoy being in the center of the action, this might be the military base for you! Travis AFB is located in the greater San Francisco Bay area and close to Napa and Sonoma valleys.
Residents can experience the culture of San Francisco close at hand. Napa and Sonoma are some of the premier wine destinations in the United States and the world.
In addition, Travis is a passenger travel hub with Space-A transit available to many other locations around the world.
“(The) food is awesome and the sights are too numerous to mention,” commented reader Eric. “If you ride motorcycles like I do, they have some of the best backroads anywhere in the world!”
MacDill Air Force Base
Located near Tampa, Fla., MacDill is a beautiful place to spend a few years, or to retire! The base itself is located on land right in the middle of Tampa Bay, with access to the water.
This is also a center for Cuban culture and cuisine. If you like a little more adventure, theme parks are also close by. Outdoorsy types can play on the water and land, with almost endless options to stretch their muscles.
MacDill is also close to St. Petersburg, which is a top tourist destination. The sub-tropical climate means that you will never be too chilly. With an average of 361 sunny days per year, this is the perfect place to soak up some rays.
Yokota Air Force Base
Traveling overseas is a great opportunity for military families and Yokota AFB is the perfect military base to explore Asia. Starting close to home, military members can visit Tokyo and mainland Japan, including Tokyo Disney. There is so much to see, do and taste here! From eating traditional sushi and ramen noodles to learning about the culture of geisha to visiting ancient castles, your duty station bucket list will always be full.
If you want to go farther afield, it’s fairly easy to visit South Korea, Hong Kong and other Asian countries.
Fort Bliss
Fort Bliss, located in El Paso, Texas, is a hub of military activity on the edge of the United States. The US-Mexico border is only a hop, skip and a jump away! That means that you have access to amazing Mexican and Tex-Mex cuisine and culture.
Ciudad Juarez is right across the border in Chihuahua, Mexico and offers lots of great places to eat and places to explore. El Paso also has its own exciting locations to visit, like outstanding regional wineries and a world-class zoo.
Plus, the base has undergone renovations in recent years.
“The Freedom Village and the expansion of the base has made a big impact with the military and civilian community, offering a variety not found on other major installations,” commented Celio Quinones.
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson
For those that like it chilly, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson should be on your short list. Located in Anchorage, Alaska, this is a great place to connect with your adventurous roots.
Mount Denali is within traveling distance, as is Chugach National Forest. JBER is also located close to the water, although this bay will definitely be chillier than Tampa!
As an added bonus, living in Alaska counts as being stationed OCONUS, which means you get all the OCONUS perks, without really leaving the United States!
Patrick Air Force Base
Do you have a thing for space travel? Patrick Air Force Base south of Orlando, Fla., is perfect! This base operates Cape Canaveral, which supports space launches from the Kennedy Space Center.
As a bonus, Patrick AFB is located in southeastern Florida, within easy reach of the theme park center of Orlando. Plus, there are all the beaches and vacation destinations that will be super close to your new home!
It should also be an option to list bases that might now be closed but hold fond memories, since there are a lot fewer bases now than there used to be. Navy and Marine Corps families need to weigh in!!
My favorite base was MacDill AFB. We lived on base with the bay in front of the house & the golf course behind the house. It rained about every afternoon for a few weeks during the summer but I could put on my bathing suit & mow the lawn because it was warm enough.
Fleet Activities Joint Forces Sasebo Japan, close knit community, so much to do and see
Our little base at NAS Whiting Field, cannot be left off the short list. (In my humble opinion) The climate is great, the folks are friendly, the activities are varied. (I can even remember it snowed here once or twice.) A lot of retirees here about with NAS Pensacola, Air Force bases at Hurlburt & Eglin, Coast Guard at Mobile & Panama City, (I think), good services, etc. If you’ve ever been stationed here, you’ll appreciate it, I’m sure.
We are at NAS Pensacola and love it!
As above
Moody AF Base,Valdosa, Georgia.
Great weather and great neighbors.
Yes, you missed Hickam AFB, HI. If you have to ask for a reason, you’ve been in a sensory deprivation chamber for at least 75 years.
I so agree! What can be better!?
Amen to that! I still remember the beautiful sunsets, cool breeze and year round swimming! Did I mention good food also?
Camp Smith, Hi. Amen to that! I still remember the beautiful sunsets, cool breeze and year round swimming! Did I mention good food also?
As military widow and remarried to career officer, have had experience with a number of bases. In terms of friendliness, quick service, and convenience, must say that Warren AFB is tops with me. No, not the fanciest or offering the most services, but the aforementioned perks are worth the over 100 miles we drive to frequent this base!!
Had many great military bases but the best was FWC/JTWC GUAM. In the states it had to be RTC ORLANDO.
Right On!!!! Patrick AFB
Ramstien AB, Germany, was my absolute favorite base. There was always something to do and somewhere to go. Germany has wonderful festivals all year long. You are close to France, Italy, Austria, flying to England and Turkey is really easy. We met some wonderful people that we still communicate with.
Kadena AFB. Would go back in a heartbeat!
Even though I was Air Force, Camp Zama, Japan was one of my favorites, along with Yokota AB, Fuchu Air Station, and long since inactivated, Johnson Ab, Japan. In the States, Carswell AFB and Hamilton AFB.
Norfolk Naval base
This base has it all and more, we live about 110 miles and could go to another base but we just love Norfolk.
March Air Reserve Base in Southern California! Close to beaches, mountains, deserts. ITT does a great job planning trips and activities and you can fly Space A from there too! All four services plus reg af have a presence there. Outstanding community support. Join them for their centennial celebration in April 2018! http://Www.facebook.com/TeamMarch.
My favorite is Joint Base McGuire -Dix-Lakehurst so far the best!
Rota Spain!!! What a wonderful place when we were there ’74-78. Did not find anything we did not like and the girls loved it too. Really miss it all