Joint Base Lewis-McChord is a military installation located in Washington state near Tacoma. It is home to Army and Air Force commands. 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?
