McChord - Dupont, WA

McChord Air Force Base has seen consistent growth since it was officially opened in 1930. McChord AFB played a significant part in the U.S. military action during World War II and the Cold War, and was combined with Fort Lewis in February 2010. The McChord Air Museum offers visitors a look at restored military aircraft, though you will need to be sponsored by a U.S. Department of Defense cardholder to be admitted. Nearby Tacoma offers a historical downtown theater district, as well as several museums. The Museum of Glass and Tacoma Art Museum are local museum district favorites.

Though finding restaurants in McChord can be challenging, the base itself is home to multiple chain restaurants and a few local specialties. The Bistro at Russell Landing serves American food in a waterfront setting, on the shores of American Lake. Locals know to ask about the daily specials: always different and consistently delicious. On sunny afternoons be sure to grab a patio spot early and watch the lake fill up with Jet Skis, motor boats and kayaks.

If you have a craving for something a little spicier, drive 4 miles to nearby Lakewood for authentic Puerto Rican food at OSJ International. OSJ is a family-run restaurant, and locals rave about the seafood-packed paella (filled with shrimp, mussels and chorizo) and authentically prepared plantains. Rumor has it the owner will often come out to greet his guests and ensure their experience was top-notch. You'll be hard pressed to find a bar on base, but locals can travel to neighboring areas like Lakewood, Lacey and Puyallup for a casual drink, or can drive north to downtown Tacoma for a more exciting evening out. Tacoma offers several entertainment options: a theater district, a walkable downtown for bars and eateries and the Tacoma Dome for conventions and concerts.

McChord is conveniently located between several larger cities and towns, and is close to I-5. Public transportation options within McChord and the immediately outlying areas are limited. McChord lies 35 miles south of SeaTac International Airport; there is shuttle service from McChord to SeaTac. Pierce County offers transit service from McChord AFB to South Tacoma and the Tacoma Mall transit center, where you can connect to a bus to Seattle and other areas north of Tacoma. Though highway access is easy, traffic around Joint Base Lewis-McChord is generally terrible. Locals suggest going south toward Olympia and Lacey for errands during peak hours rather than trying to battle traffic to Tacoma. Since McChord is a military base, there are specific base-related traffic laws that you should familiarize yourself with. Locals generally drive to surrounding cities and towns to run errands.

McChord offers impressive access to the wonders of Washington state. Mount Rainier National Park is about 40 miles east, and Olympic National Park is 65 miles west of McChord. Both parks offer hiking, camping, kayaking and winter sports. National Park passes and fees are required at both parks.

There is fun to be had outside without leaving McChord as well: Summer Cove offers family-friendly access to American Lake, with a shallow wading area and huge playground. The trails in this park are stroller-friendly. Shoreline Park also offers lake access and a deeper swimming area, with lifeguards on duty during the busy summer months. Both parks are free to the public. McChord Field dog park offers a large, grassy off-leash dog park; many locals use the paved jogging trails that run between the dog park and Holiday Park.

Residents living in outlying McChord will pay less in rent than they would in the cities of Tacoma and Olympia, but will generally need to travel to run most of their errands. The average rental rate for a one-bedroom apartment is $833. The cost of living in McChord is slightly higher than the national average, but if you are a service member, many local bars and restaurants offer military discounts. A beer at a local pub will run you about $5. McChord residents pay about 9 percent more for gas than the national average.

You'll find the Fort Lewis commissary and a Safeway close by outlying McChord, but most locals travel to a nearby city or town for groceries. The closest cities provide chain stores: Fred Meyer, Trader Joes and WinCo. A drive to Tacoma grants shoppers the upscale grocery shopping experience of Metropolitan Market, or an in-store option at Terra Organics (rather than just the delivery service). If you travel south into Olympia, you'll find seasonal produce and other fresh items at the popular Olympia Farmers Market.

H&L Produce offers a fine selection of local craft beers, wine and, more recently, local and fresh meat and produce. H&L has a Lakewood location, a short 4-mile drive from McChord. As well as stocking beers from around the world, H&L offers homemade fudge, gourmet cheeses and other specialty groceries.

Various chain stores are available for shopping at McChord, but a short drive south to Olympia gets you to the historical downtown core and shopping district of the state Capitol. Olympia's downtown features upscale gift shops; home cooks will drool over the selection of cooking supplies at Compass Rose. Archibald Sisters is home to unique gifts and toys--you can create your own uniquely scented lotions in-store and find local crafts and books.

Locals from around the Seattle suburbs do much of their shopping at the Tacoma Mall, the largest shopping mall in the Tacoma area. A large number of chain and speciality stores can be found here, including the upscale Seattle favorite, Nordstrom. The mall is right off the bus routes and is easily accessible from I-5.