Joint Base Lewis-McChord is a military installation located in Washington state near Tacoma. It is home to Army and Air Force commands (and a small Navy and Marine Corps presence). JBLM consists of four geographical areas, Lewis Main, Lewis North, McChord Field, and Yakima Training Center. JBLM is directly situated between two cities – Tacoma and Olympia – and is only an hour away from Seattle.
Check out this list of the most popular things to do when you’re visiting Lewis-McChord or you’re stationed there because of the military.
- Parks on JBLM
- A large park system on JBLM, there are many baseball and soccer fields, a football and track stadium, a large playground with foam padding that is entirely wheelchair-accessible, an adjacent splash park for warmer days and even a skate park for the bigger kids, as well as an enclosed dog park
- Check out some sports
- There’s the Seahawks (NFL), Mariners (MLB), Sounders (soccer), Storm (WNBA) and college teams
- Pike Place Market
- One of the oldest Farmers Markets in the country. Across the street from the market is the location of the original Starbucks
- Ferry Boat Rides
- Drops you (and your car) off right in Seattle
- Puget Sound Naval Shipyard
- There are tours and visitors may be able to walk aboard ships. It’s located in Bremerton, WA.
- Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
- Two birds with one stone, this attraction is a combined zoo and aquarium. See sharks and seahorses, polar bears and peacocks, walruses and wolves
- Children’s Museum of Tacoma
- Great interactive activities and structured play for kids
- Hands On Children’s Museum
- Located in Olympia, a new museum for children ages 3-10, lot of interactive activities
- LeMay – America’s Car Museum
- A huge museum celebrating automobiles and transportation
- Museum of Glass
- A contemporary museum with impressive glass and art exhibits
- 5 Mile Drive & Trails
- A great park with trails, dog parks, gardens, and more!
- Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge
- This refuge consists of acres of salt and freshwater marshes, grasslands and mixed forest habitats. Great place for walking, and bring your camera!
- Mount St. Helens
- An active volcano!
- Mount Rainier National Park
- Great for hiking trails, RV and tent campsites, rock climbing and historical locations. The park is open year round to the public. If you are Active Duty or a dependent, you can get a free annual pass by showing your DoD ID to the front gate.
- Olympic National Park
- There are campgrounds and hundreds of trails to hike, a rainforest, mountain, or along the coast.
- Seattle Space Needle
- A staple in Seattle’s skyline, this observation tower located in the Seattle Center reaches a staggering 605 ft. tall. Visitors can take the elevator to reach the observation deck, where you can dine at a restaurant while the deck does a full 360° rotation every hour.
What do you recommending doing at Joint Base Lewis-McChord?
