Your Name (if you would like it to appear):

Robin Doolan

Base Name:

Fort Lewis

Base Location:

WA

How long have you been here? (give years please, ex. 2003-present)

2005-2007 

What is housing like? On-post? (waiting list, conditions, etc.) Off-post? Any areas to stay away from? Average price to rent or buy?

On-post waiting list really vary and there are a ton of new homes/areas but there are also some not so nice homes/areas.  I lived in the Clarkdale area which was okay but not the best.  There are a LOT of small playgrounds throughout the housing areas.  Off-post stay away from Lakewood and Tacoma.  I lived in downtown Puyallup (30 min. from post) in a very nice 2 bedroom HOUSE with a fully fenced back yard and I paid $950 plus all utilities.  This was a really good deal.  We LOVED Puyallup!  Also Lacey and Olympia are south of the post and are nice areas.  Buying is EXPENSIVE around here so in my opinion, renting is better.

Rate the PX & Commissary.

The PX is really big and nice and the Commissary is good too.  I preferred going to McChord AFB because their PX was brand new and better selection and the Commissary was a lot less busy.

Activities on base?

Check out the Northwest Adventure Center!  It is soooo cool and offer classes, rentals, etc.  American Lake is on-post and there are a couple of recreation areas where you can rent canoes, paddle boats, etc. or swim.  The Raindrops & Rainbows Center is GREAT for infants - preschoolers.  The parent has to stay there with the kids but especially on a rainy day it's so nice to go and have a lot to do indoors.  There are lots of different things offered through CYS and MWR as well

Active Spouses Club?

no clue

Things to do in area?

I cannot say enough about the things to do in the area!!!  Northwest Trek (45 min drive from post) is a great place to experience the animals of the northwest up close.  Moose, elk, cariboo, buffalo, etc.  Olympia has a Children's Hands On Museum that is so much fun and very reasonably priced.  Tacoma has the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium that is very nice too.  Mt. Rainier is gorgeous and just going up there for a drive is nice.  The Pugent Sound is so fun.  Dig for crabs, clams, watch the seals, go on a boat ride or sailing, go parasailing, whatever!  Hiking, biking, parks, museums, COFFEE, you name, this area has it.  Seattle has great things too, Pike's Place Market is AMAZING and home of the first Starbucks.  There are so many great places to shop too.  Outlet shopping in Auburn, North Bend, Tulalip, etc.  In the spring we would also go up to Mt. Vernon for the tulips.  Fields upon fields of beautifully colored tulips.  Great for family photos.  Lots of great places to "get away" from the army life.  Leavenworth, Ocean Shores (you drive on the beach or rent scooters or go for a horse back ride), Victoria BC Canada.....there is so much to see and do in the area that I cannot cover it all!!!!

School System?

my children were not in school but I heard from others that Puyallup was the best.

Any colleges in area?

WSU, UW, Pacific Lutheran, Bates College, Pierce College, Clover Park College, etc.

Jobs? (on post and off)

I am a sahm and did a lot of part time babysitting

Favorite aspect of this base/surrounding city?

Mount Rainier is the most beautiful thing to see everyday no matter where you are!  I loved the weather too, never too cold and never too hot.

Least favorite aspect?

Nothing, I absolutely loved it here and miss it so bad!

Any other tips?

Most would say that the weather was horrible but I have to say that although it was sometimes rainy and a lot of the time cloudy, we almost always had some sun every day.  This area can be a lot of fun but it all depends on your attitude and what you make of it.

 
 

**Hundreds of t-shirt and gift designs available for the entire Army Family - Army Wives, Army Moms & Dads, Army Kids, Army Fiancées, Army Girlfriends & More!**