Music
There's an oddly storied history of bands that are made up of cartoon characters. Starting with Alvin and the Chipmunks, the notion of creating a virtual band gained a foothold on the fringes of pop music. Notably, Archie and his friends leapt off of the page to release the shamefully
Stage
Olympia is in for a show like no other. A feast for the senses. A treat for the peepers. A show that brings a number of world-class performers to the stage, and yet a show for which you might just want to leave your grandmother at home ... unless, of
Travel
If you aren't a proud alumnus of the University of Washington, an afternoon on its campus may seem an odd choice for a single-day Seattle getaway. Still, there's something so memorable about college life that graduates can find themselves recalling a more adventuresome era as they stroll along the Quad.
Reviews
Announcer: Can't afford a trip to Hawaii this year? Don't fret, you can still enjoy the tastes and sounds of island life by taking a short hop to the Lanai Café in downtown Olympia. You can get your Kalua on any Monday through Saturday, but you can also swing to
Attractions
The Puget Sound is a maritime region. Even if you're not a boater, you can still delve into the local maritime heritage in plenty of ways - some of the best of which are festivals, museums and actual water vessels. Get up close and personal with submarines, Navy destroyers or
Travel
Do you dream of warm, sunny days on a sandy beach? Then you won't want to miss out on Port Townsend. A short road trip away, this vibrant beach community is less than a two-hour drive from Joint Base Lewis-McChord. One of only three Victorian waterfronts in the U.S., Port
Attractions
The gorgeous example of turn-of-the-century architecture known as "Building 50" sits adjacent to the Bremerton ferry dock in the picturesque town of Bremerton. Inside its thoughtfully restored walls, it houses permanent and temporary collections of photos, documents, artifacts, scale models and interactive exhibits, all detailing the indispensible role of the
Travel
Nestled beyond the shorelines of Bainbridge Island sits 150 acres of meticulously cultivated land. The land began as the property of Prentice Bloedel, son of a prominent lumber company owner, and his wife Virginia. While Bloedel followed in his father's footsteps and took over the MacMillian Bloedel Timber Company in
Travel
If you can sing every word of Disney's Frozen, you're basically a Norway fan. Animators based the fictional kingdom of Arendelle on Akershus Fortress, Bryggen town, and the Norsk Folkemuseum in Oslo. You may have sung "Let It Go" in the shower, imagining yourself wailing away from an ice castle
Music
While I live in Tacoma, I love my time that I get to spend in Olympia, which doesn't happen frequently enough for my taste. Whereas Tacoma is relatively spread out, Olympia has most of its main attractions conveniently located in a dense cluster of downtown awesomeness. Olympia has been known
Travel
As I stood inside the Orr Wagon Shop in downtown Steilacoom, I could hear the rain drumming on the roof. Through a westward facing window framed by Nathaniel Orr in 1870, I could see Puget Sound and another gray wall of rain headed my way. Across from me, about a half dozen
Travel
Tacoma is surrounded by smaller towns of all shapes and sizes, and many make great day trips. Get out of the city and get to know the region by seeing it up close and personal. Case in point - the small town of Sumner, which is situated due east of
Outdoors
They say every dog has his day, and these days it seems every dog has his day out: More canines are hitting the road come vacation time. "The Northwest is really dog-friendly," said Holly Anderson of Mud Bay stores. "If you're just walking around sightseeing, everyone is very relaxed about it,
Outdoors
Whether you are an avid skier or trying snowboarding for the first time, early spring is a great time to strap on those boots and hit the slopes in Washington, with many of our local hills offering great discounts for military families. Spring Ski Conditions: Although the snowfall can be a bit
Travel
The road trip to eastern Washington is easily one of the most scenic and beautiful trips from Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Most people don't automatically think of Spokane and The Palouse region as vacation destinations, but the ever-changing scenery of mountains, forests, deserts and rolling hills, gives this area a distinct
Outdoors
According to anthropologists, our distant ancestors were arboreal primates who came down from the trees millions of years ago when the climate changed. According to parents, our children are arboreal apes who will happily climb any convenient tree to regard us from on high. Some things never change. If you'd
Outdoors
There's food all around us in the many forests in western Washington. It's free for the picking, and it is tasty and nutritional, organic, all-natural, and with no harmful hormones or chemicals. But you need to know what you're picking and eating, because while much of it is healthier than
Travel
Many people associate cruise vacations with the sparkling blue waters of the Caribbean, but the fact is that the world of cruising is so much more than beaches and Caribbean ports. Cruises go nearly anywhere in the world and allow those on board to explore a variety of ports of
Guides
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Online Interactive Guides
Welcome to the Pacific Northwest. In order to help you get the most out of your stay or visit, we present our bi-yearly guide on what to do and see. Click the link below and start your journey today. Click here to view our interactive 2016 Spring Welcome Guide.