Puget Sound Area

Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a land of contrasts. From the icy, deep waters of the Pacific Ocean and Puget Sound to the high-country desert of Central Washington, the area abounds in natural beauty. Towering mountain peaks, lush rain forests and flowing wheat fields are just some of the wonders that await newcomers to the area. Yet the Northwest has many major cities, too: Seattle; Tacoma; Vancouver, British Columbia; and Portland, Ore., to name just a few. Most Joint Base Lewis-McChord Airmen, Soldiers, civilian employees and their families live in the South Puget Sound region.

Tacoma
Tacoma is the largest city close to JBLM. The city was shaped by a series of booms and busts that began when the first business was started in the mid-1800s. Businessman Morton McCarver promoted settlement in the budding town and he named it Tacoma, a derivation of the Indian name for Mount Rainier.

The railroad and a growing port brought new businesses to the area. Today, Tacoma's port is one of the largest container ports in the world and a major employer in the area.

The Tacoma Narrows Bridge is one of the longest suspension bridges in the world. The center clear span measures 188 feet high and 2,800 feet long. The current bridge opened in 1950, replacing the first narrows bridge, which was nicknamed "Galloping Gertie" because of the way it swayed in the wind. It collapsed in 1940, after only four months and seven days.

In 1998, voters in several Washington counties approved a measure to create a second Narrows span. Construction of the new span, which carries eastbound traffic parallel to the current bridge, was completed July 2007.

With a population of approximately 200,000, Tacoma offers abundant cultural activities. The Pantages Centre of Performing Arts, the Museum of Glass and the Tacoma Dome attract nationally and internationally famous acts. The Tacoma Art Museum features a permanent collection of American and French paintings. University of Washington Tacoma is one of three campuses that make up UW, the other two are in Seattle and Bothell.

Sports also play an important role in Northwest life. Sailing, skiing, hiking and biking can all be done within an hour's drive from your doorstep. Cheney Stadium is the home of the Tacoma Rainiers, the AAA farm club of the Seattle Mariners.

The Pierce County and Metropolitan Park Districts offer numerous recreational activities and programs. Point Defiance Park is the largest in the city. A Pacific Rim-themed zoo and aquarium are in the midst of the 650- acre park. Visitors can watch Beluga whales splashing in their pool or ride on the back of an Asian elephant.

The park also features a beach, scenic drive, hiking trails, gardens, a logging camp with its own steam locomotive ride, and a replica of the Hudson's Bay Company's Fort Nisqually.

Another popular park is Northwest Trek, a 600-acre wild animal sanctuary in Eatonville. Visitors can view free-roaming animals from the comfort of a covered tram.

Tacoma also has numerous shopping centers, the largest being the Tacoma Mall, which is also one of the largest in the Pacific Northwest, and features Macy's, Nordstrom's, Sears, JC Penney and many other shops and restaurants.

Seattle
An hour north of JBLM lays Washington's largest city, Seattle. Straddling a narrow strip between freshwater Lake Washington and saltwater Puget Sound, the city is home to more than 602,000 people. It is named after Indian Chief Sealth.

Since its early days, people have been drawn to Seattle by its rugged scenery and mild climate. Although Puget Sound was heavily explored in the 18th and 19th centuries, the first families didn't permanently move into Seattle until 1851, when they settled at Alki Point.

The timber industry and maritime trade with Asia contributed to the city's phenomenal growth. The area is still a strong link in the trade chain with the Far East and the Pacific Rim.

The waterfront is not only a busy container port but a popular place for visitors. Numerous shops, restaurants and an aquarium line the piers, once used as warehouses and working docks. Washington State Ferries, one of the country's largest ferry systems, leaves from Pier 52 to various points around Puget Sound. Private companies also run ferries and cruise ships from Seattle to Victoria, British Columbia.

Seattle harbor tours also leave daily for water tours of the Port of Seattle and longer excursions to Blake Island, the birthplace of Chief Sealth. Tours include a salmon dinner cooked on an open fire and a performance of Native dances from various Indian cultures of the Northwest. Another popular attraction is Pike Place Market, an open-air market where you'll find fresh seafood and produce, arts and craft items, and clothes. The market first opened in 1907.

Pioneer Square is a 30-block area of shops, nightclubs, restaurants and galleries housed in historic buildings. Most of the buildings were built on the ashes of the original settlement destroyed in the Great Fire of 1889.

The 74-acre Seattle Center was the site of the 1962 World's Fair. Many of the fair buildings now serve cultural purposes such as the Pacific Science Center, the Art Museum Pavilion, the Children's Museum and the Center House. The crowning jewel is the 605-foot Space Needle. An observation deck at the 520-foot level offers a panoramic view of the city, the mountains and the sound. A monorail links the center with downtown's Westlake Center Shopping Mall.

Olympia
Washington's capital, Olympia, is an important commercial port in its own right. Located 12 miles southwest of JBLM, it's the gateway to the Pacific beaches and the Olympic Peninsula.

Together with the neighboring communities of Lacey and Tumwater, the metro area has a population of more than 88,000. Its major industries include lumber, furnituremaking and plastics.

There is a lot to see and do in the area, including touring the state capitol complex, the Mima Mounds (located south of the city), oyster beds and numerous city parks. Olympia also hosts several celebrations throughout the year. The largest event is the annual Capitol Lake Fair in early July.

Lacey
Situated on the southern tip of Puget Sound in the shadow of Mt. Rainier, Lacey lies in the center of a natural paradise. Lacey is a city in Thurston County. Established as a suburb of Olympia, Lacey's estimated population as of 2011 was 42,393, as compared to 43,900 for Olympia. Thurston County, which includes the cities of Lacey, Olympia, and Tumwater, has a population of 245,373 as of the 2011 census. Five freshwater lakes within the city of Lacey, miles of hiking and biking paths, several championship golf courses, nearly 700 acres of public parkland and the adjoining 3,700 acre Nisqually Wildlife Refuge provide residents with virtually unlimited opportunities for outdoor recreation. Clean air and water, outstanding schools, a low crime rate, a healthy economy and close proximity to major metropolitan areas make Lacey one of the most desirable places in the country in which to live and conduct business.

Steilacoom
Just outside of JBLM is the town of Steilacoom. Founded in 1854, it was the site of the state's first library, courthouse and territorial jail.

The town was also a leading contender for the territorial capital.

Many of the town's buildings are more than a century old, including the first Protestant church in the state. Immaculate Conception, a Roman Catholic Church, was built in 1856. It is one of the oldest churches still in continuous use in the state. Another historical building is the Bair Drug and Hardware Store. Along with the Nathanial Orr Home, the Bair is on the National Register of Historical Places. Besides the numerous historical buildings, Steilacoom has two public beaches and a public boat launch. A ferry leaves the town dock for Anderson Island and Ketron Island. Annual events include the Apple Squeeze in October and a Salmon Bake on the beach in the summer.

DuPont
If you are looking for the perfect place to walk, run, bike or hike for the day or plan a weekend getaway, DuPont is the place you can spend the day in the woods without having to drive to the woods. The quaint city just outside the JBLM-DuPont gate along I-5 also features two golf courses, walking and other recreation, year-round events, festivals, indoor and outdoor arts, entertainment, lodging to fit every budget and taste, and a variety of delicious dining options.

DuPont can trace its history back more than 5,000 years from the Nisqually Tribe that once populated the area. Several artifacts dating back this far, including Chief Sealth's fishing pole, are on display in the town's museum, which was once the town's butcher shop and later city hall.

DuPont is home to the original 1833 and 1843 Hudson's Bay Company trading posts, called Fort Nisqually. The 1843 buildings were moved in 1934 to Point Defiance Park in Tacoma. Some of the trees planted at the fort still bear fruit. In 1869, the U.S. government bought the Hudson's Bay Company property. Hudson's Bay Company moved north to British Columbia, and U.S. homesteaders moved in. In 1994, the site was donated to the Archaeological Conservancy, a national preservation organization.

In 1906, E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Co. acquired the property. DuPont started as a company town with more than 100 houses, a butcher shop and a hotel, built by explosives manufacturer E.I du Pont de Nemours Co. in 1906. The residents were allowed to purchase their homes in 1951, at which time the city was incorporated. The Historic District is listed in the National Register of Historic Places as the only former company town in the state in which most of the homes maintain historic integrity.

In 1976, the explosives plant was closed and DuPont sold its 3,200 acres to the Weyerhaeuser Company. Weyerhaeuser ended up focusing on developing the land by creating a new type of livable community often referred to as "New Urbanism." The objective is to sell its property and leave after completion of its planned community, Northwest Landing.

Lakewood
Many JBLM families call Lakewood home because of its proximity to base and excellent shopping facilities. McChord Field is also just outside of Lakewood.

Originally settled in 1849 by the United States Army, Lakewood matured over the twentieth century into a bustling urban area south of Tacoma and incorporated in 1996. Lakewood is the seventeenth largest city in Washington and the second largest in Pierce County with approximately 60,000 residents and eleven hundred businesses. Lakewood is surrounded by the beautiful lakes and scenery of northwest Washington including bountiful views of Mt. Rainier. Lakewood is home to sixty thousand residents and nearly eleven hundred businesses.

The Lakewood Towne Center is a vibrant, 99 acre shopping center with over 88 businesses. Stores include Target, Marshall's, Bed Bath and Beyond, Old Navy and a multiplex cinema.

Lakewood is just minutes away from Puget Sound and a short drive to Seattle, the Sea-Tac International Airport, and home to many popular tourist attractions, including the Grand Prix Raceway, Lakewold Gardens, Thornewood Castle, Fort Steilacoom Park, American Lake Park and Lakewood Game Refuge.

Yelm
The Yelm area, with a population of 3,280, represents a very special place in Washington state with a fascinating mix of small-town pride and history.

The Yelm Area Chamber of Commerce serves more than 450 business members. The area provides a wonderful climate for both local residents and the business community in a beautiful setting with safe communities, convenient services and outdoor recreation. One of the region's special treats is the breathtaking view of Mount Rainier.

The Chamber of Commerce's member businesses located in Yelm, Rainier, McKenna, Roy and the surrounding area are proud to work together with local city governments, school districts and other community-service organizations to maintain their small-town character.

Within an hour of the Yelm area, you can shop at Centralia's outlet stores and antique shops, visit the Pioneer Farm or Northwest Trek Wildlife Refuge near picturesque Eatonville, visit the Nisqually Wildlife Refuge, howl with the wolves at Wolf Haven, camp, swim and picnic at several lake resorts and explore Mt. Rainier and its wilderness area. Within the area you will find many unique shops and restaurants.

The Chamber is involved in many fun activities and events including the Spring Home and Garden Show, Prairie Days in July, Patriot Day celebration in September and Christmas in the Park during December.

Puyallup
In the heart of a fertile valley east of Tacoma is the town of Puyallup - the Daffodil Capital of the United States. Each spring the valley comes alive when millions of daffodils, irises and tulips burst into bloom. The valley is also known for its raspberry, strawberry, blueberry and blackberry crops. Spots of interest include the Van Lierop Bulb Farm and the Meeker Mansion, a 17-room Victorian Mansion that was the home of Ezra Meeker, hop grower and the first mayor of Puyallup.

The newly remodeled South Hill Mall features, Macy's, Sears, JC Penney, Target and Sephora, as well as a six-screen Regal Cinema.

Puyallup joins with other valley towns to host the annual Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival in early April. The town also plays hosts to Puyallup Fair at the Western Washington Fairgrounds every September. Top entertainers, exhibits, livestock shows, midway rides and a rodeo headline the fun.

The Puyallup Fair is a tradition in the Pacific Northwest, and consistently ranks as one of the top 10 highest-attended fairs in the world. Festivities kick off the Friday after Labor Day and run for 17 days. Don't miss star-studded entertainment, 4-H and FFA students competing in their state finals, animals, flowers, an international photo exhibition, home arts, hobby hall, grange displays, more than 950 vendors, rides, food and family fun. Call 841-5045 or visit www.thefair.com for more information.

Gig Harbor
Five miles northwest of Tacoma, across the Narrows Bridge, lies the quaint waterside town of Gig Harbor. Settled by Slavic immigrants, the town features dozens of shops, restaurants and galleries along Harborview Drive. Gig Harbor offers moorage for commercial fishing boats and private craft. The town is also the gateway to the Kitsap and Key peninsulas via Highway 16. Just a short drive north of Gig Harbor is Bremerton and its Naval Shipyard, home port of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz. A Trident Submarine base is located nearby in Silverdale.

Regional Areas
The Cascade Mountains run from the Canadian border south through Oregon, dividing Washington into distinct climates. Eastern Washington is often dry when Western Washington is wet. Thousands of acres of forest provide homes for bear, deer, mountain goats, eagles and many other species. The mountains also provide endless recreational opportunities. Skiing (downhill and crosscountry), hiking, camping, mountain biking and fishing are just some of the ways to get out and explore the great outdoors.

Two national parks, North Cascades and Mount Rainier, and a national volcanic monument, Mount St. Helens, are located in the Cascades.

Towering over all other Cascade peaks is Mount Rainier. Climbing 14,414 feet towards the sky, the mountain is covered year round by 35 square miles of ice in 27 named glaciers. It's the largest single mountain glacier system in the Lower 48 states.

Forests cover the mountainside up to 5,000 feet, alpine meadows contrast with ice and snow at higher elevations. Flowers in the high-country meadows usually bloom from late June to early August. Fall foliage colors are generally best in late September.

Mount Rainier National Park is open daily. However, only the Nisqually entrance is open year-round. Visitor services are available at Longmire, Paradise and Sunrise.

In summer, the park is ideal for hiking, camping and climbing. Each year, more than 2,500 climbers attempt the two-day summit. In winter, the deep snow pack makes it ideal for cross-country skiing and tubing. A snow play area is located at Paradise. The Sunshine Point Campground is open for snow camping.

OLYMPIC PENINSULA
The Olympic Peninsula, in Washington's extreme northwest corner, is a land of windswept beaches, rugged mountain terrain, lush rainforests and glacier-covered peaks. Deer, elk and bear are plentiful.

Camping and hiking trails are available in the Olympic National Forest and the Olympic National Park. Most areas are accessible from U.S. Hwy. 101, which forms an inverted "U" shape around the park and forest.

Olympic National Park is a scenic wilderness of 917,133 acres. More than 600 miles of trails cut through the park's varied terrain, including 57 miles of unspoiled ocean coastline.

Mount Olympus is the highest point on the peninsula at 7,965 feet. On the upper slopes, glaciers are found, unusual for forming at lower elevations. Stands of Sitka spruce, Douglas fir, hemlock and cedar cover the lower mountain slopes.

The western rainforests average 140 inches of rainfall. The most spectacular of the ancient forests are found in the Hoh, Quinault, Bogachiel and Queets River valleys. Besides rugged scenery, the peninsula has quaint seaside towns like Aberdeen-Hoquiam, Port Angeles, Westport and Port Townsend.

LONG BEACH PENINSULA
A popular vacation spot, Long Beach Peninsula is famous for its oyster and cranberry harvesting. The area claims to have the world's longest beach - 28 miles of hard sand - prime for surf fishing, beachcombing, deep-sea fishing and boating.

Points of interest on the peninsula include: Cape Disappointment, known as the "Graveyard of the Pacific" because of the great number of ships that have wrecked there; North Head Lighthouse near Ilwaco; and Oysterville, a boomtown created by the discovery of rich oyster beds in 1854. These oysters were considered a delicacy, and sold in San Francisco during the 1850s for $50-worth-of gold per plate.

Nearby is the Columbia River, a popular spot for board-sailers up and down the river on the Washington and Oregon sides. However, the most sailboard action can be found near Hood River, Ore., in The Gorge.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
Most JBLM Airmen and Soldiers see Central Washington as part of their training at the Yakima Training Center. Unlike Western Washington, much of the middle section of the state is semi-arid.

The Yakima Valley, east of Mount Adams, is one of the major agricultural areas in the state, especially the vineyards. The area's optimum weather conditions produce the finest grapes, making Washington state one of the top wine-producers in the country.

Thanks to irrigation, much of the state's mid-section is rich in agricultural crops. Rolling wheat fields, reminiscent of the Midwest, and fruit orchards dot the countryside.

Central Washington abounds in recreational opportunities, too. It's one of the best areas in the state for hiking, fishing and hunting. Downhill skiing is available in the nearby mountains at White Pass Ski Area. Whitewater rafting is popular on the Wenatchee River between Leavenworth and Cashmere during the summer months.

Ellensburg in the Kittitas Valley was once a neutral area in which the Wenatchee, Nez Perce and Yakima Indians hunted and fished together. Today, it's a bustling college town. The Ellensburg Rodeo occurs every Labor Day weekend.

Leavenworth, once a quiet railroad town, has been transformed into a Bavarian village. Visitors are attracted by its quaint shops and European-style restaurants. The Autumn Leaf Festival and Christmas Tree Lighting are popular annual events.

NORTHWEST AND SOUTHEAST WASHINGTON
Washington's northwest area offers some of the most scenic, relaxing and exciting recreational experiences in the state. Whether hiking in the North Cascade Range, skiing the slopes of Mount Baker, or rafting down the rivers on a relaxing eagle-sighting expedition or exciting whitewater adventure, you're sure to create memories that will last a lifetime. Few places have as much tranquil charm as the San Juan Islands. Scattered between U.S. and Canadian waters, the 176 islands offer idyllic getaways where coastal forest and calm saltwater come together in bays, inlets, coves and marine retreats.

Washington State Ferries cruise through the islands, making several round-trips a day from Anacortes, including a daily trip to Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Equipped with restaurants and comfortable lounges, the ferries are a convenient and inexpensive way to see the islands with or without a car. They stop at four islands where you can spend a few hours exploring, then take the next ferry to another island. Whale-watching and bicycle tours are popular island activities.

The southeastern corner of Washington offers striking contrasts in scenery and climate. The land has been shaped by wind and water, creating sculptured hills, gorges and sage desert.

EASTERN WASHINGTON
Eastern Washington has played an important role in U.S. history. Walla Walla was an important stop on the Oregon Trail. Along with Los Alamos, N.M., Oak Ridge, Tenn. and the Argonne Laboratory in Chicago, the Hanford site in Richland helped develop the first atomic bomb. High-technological industries still play an important role in the town's economy.

The northeast corner is dotted by numerous lakes - the largest is Lake Roosevelt. Stretching 130 miles from the Grand Coulee Dam to near the Canadian border, the lake affords water skiing, boating, swimming and fishing.

Spokane has grown from a small trading post to the state's second-largest city and site of Expo '74. Now the former fairgrounds have been transformed into a 50-acre city park with many of the original attractions from the world exposition still in use.

Coeur d'Alene Lake, located across the state line in Idaho, is just a short trip from Spokane. This natural body of water offers a number of recreational activities including boating, swimming and water skiing. A major resort hotel on the lakeshore attracts visitors year round for conferences and pleasure.

BRITISH COLUMBIA
British Columbia is just a three-hour drive north on Interstate 5. This western-most Canadian Province offers spectacular scenery and big-city fun. The rugged mountain peaks create a dramatic backdrop as they rise near the sea. British Columbia offers a chance to get away from civilization and journey into the untamed wilderness. Whitewater rivers run fast and wild through the countryside. Hiking, camping and skiing are some of the many other things to do in the backcountry.

World-class skiing can be found at the resorts of Whistler and Blackcomb year round. Blackcomb Mountain, with its mix of heart-stopping and easy cruising slopes, has the highest vertical drop of any ski mountain in North America. Whistler, Blackcomb's next-door neighbor, is the site of a major World Cup downhill race, the Molson Cup.

There are major cities in British Columbia, too. Vancouver is a world-class city in a spectacular natural setting. To the east rise the peaks of the Coastal Range and to the west lay the Straits of Georgia. The city is rimmed by lush forests and sandy beaches.

Major attractions include Gastown, Robson Street, Granville Island Market, Chinatown and Stanley Park.

Victoria, on the tip of Vancouver Island, is the capital of British Columbia with an air of European charm. From the double-decker buses to the elegance of the Empress Hotel, Victoria is like a trip to merry ol' England. Major attractions include the Royal British Columbia Museum and Butchart Gardens. Since the city is accessible only by boat, ferry service is available from Seattle, Port Angeles, and Tsawwassen, British Columbia. The Vancouver Island Princess and the Victoria Clipper, a high-speed catamaran, sail daily from Seattle.

OREGON
Oregon, like Washington state, is a land of climate and landscape contrasts. The Cascade Range divides the state into two distinct climates. Mount Hood, rising 11,239 feet above sea level, is the highest point. With nearly half of the land covered in forests, Oregon leads the nation in lumber industries. Agriculture also plays an important role. Recreational activities center on the mountains and the Pacific Ocean. Fishing, hunting, hiking, camping and whitewater rafting are just a few to be found. Oregon has one of the most extensive park systems in the west.

Vancouver, B.C. A statewide network of bicycle trails has been developed by the state department of transportation.

Snow skiing is popular at several areas on Mount Hood and at Mount Bachelor near Bend.

Portland is only a three-hour drive from JBLM and offers many cultural and recreational activities including museums, gardens, parks and a zoo.

Oregon's largest city is a popular place to shop because the state has no sales tax. Many major department and outlet stores, such as the Pendleton Woolen Mills, offer shoppers endless choices. The JBLM Leisure Travel Services also runs several day trips to Portland, especially during the Christmas shopping season.