Military Life
Jennifer, age 17; Jessica, age 16; and Jason Niemi, age 13, all attend Harrison Preparatory School in Lakewood. The three find that Harrison Prep is extremely dedicated to their students. The principal and teachers exhibit a sincere devotion toward not only educating their students, but also helping them become the
Travel
Storm watching by its very nature involves bad weather, and the more dramatic the storm the better. When choosing a place to stay, a full-service resort makes the most sense because while you may want to watch the storm, you don't want to drive in it. The Semiahmoo Resort fits
Travel
Do you have champagne wishes and caviar dreams, as Robin Leach used to say at the end of his Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous TV show? Whistler, British Columbia, is one of the top ski resorts in North America -- and has the price tag to go with it.
Outdoors
Since the Hurricane Ridge ski area opened in 1958, the words, "I have skied in the Olympics" have been printed on Hurricane Ridge lift tickets. The ski area is located in Olympic National Park on Hurricane Ridge. It is the furthest west ski area in the contiguous United States. It
Outdoors
If you are looking for epic snow for snowboarding and skiing, then Mount Baker should be your destination. Mount Baker holds the world record for the most snowfall in a season at an unbelievable 1,140 inches during the 1998-99 season -- that's 95 feet of snow! Mount Baker is consistently
Military Life
Kelbie Pogoncheff is not your typical 17-year-old military kid. The Lakes High School senior goes the extra mile to give back to her community by volunteering with Special Olympics Washington (SOWA). She became involved with the program when her brother AJ, now 11 years old, began participating. "One day at
Travel
The Chuckanut Drive Scenic Byway stretches from I-5 exit 231 at Burlington to Bellingham's Fairhaven Historic District, a total of 21 miles. Traveling through scenic farmlands until reaching the coast and hugging the shoreline, the drive offers artisan crafts and foods, challenging hikes, great views and a rich history. The first
Military Life
A selfie tour is an enjoyable way to see an area, hit all the highlights and have a fun road trip with friends. For my tour, I invited two fellow military spouses: Jennifer Bowen, a photographer, and Gwyn Nielsen, a lifestyle blogger (sparklingcharm.com) and photographer, who both provided great tips
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Tired of the same old gifts? Having trouble being creative with your presents? Museum shops are filled with distinctive items at all price points that you won't find anywhere else. Rather than spend a whole day shopping, enjoy an afternoon at a local museum and finish up your shopping on
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Less than a 45-minute drive from Joint Base Lewis-McChord is The Outlet Collection Seattle, which is a great stop for all your holiday shopping. It is the largest fully enclosed outlet mall in the Pacific Northwest and home to more than 130 stores. The mall features top-brand outlet stores such
Travel
Even with busy military schedules, sometimes you have an unexpected free weekend. Grab your sweetie and head across the Tacoma Narrows Bridge to the maritime village of Gig Harbor. The Best Western Wesley Inn & Suites is your base for the weekend. The hotel has a lovely garden setting and is
News Front
The Lewis Army Museum will host the Great War Christmas Event Saturday, Dec. 2, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will be held in the museum lobby. "During this centennial year we are looking back at how the U.S. Army shaped our local and national culture. We hope
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There is something about crossing the Tacoma Narrows Bridge into Gig Harbor. You can feel the stress melt away with the scenic views as the traffic lightens up. For a change of pace, holiday shop in Gig Harbor at two very distinct locations, Uptown and Downtown. Downtown Gig Harbor is the
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There is one gift you can never go wrong giving, because just about everyone loves chocolate. For a more personal touch, shop local. Brown & Haley is a more than 100-year-old Tacoma icon with its well-loved Roca brand of candies. The Seattle Chocolate Factory is becoming well-known for its small-batch
Travel
Fall is a busy time for most families, with soccer games, school activities, meetings and military field exercises with long hours. Whidbey Island is a great destination to reconnect for a retro family weekend. The Fort Casey Inn will be your base for the weekend. This circa 1909 inn is the
Military Life
The Pacific Northwest (PNW) Explorers is a subclub of the Lewis Community Spouses' Club (LCSC) on Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM). Subclubs are a membership perk of joining LCSC. The PNW Explorers typically meet on the third Thursday of the month to get out and explore the local area. The group schedules
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The holiday season will soon be here, and gift giving (which can be a source of stress to many) is a big part of it. This year, consider the gift of experiences. It is a fun way to give something new. Rather than a fruit or dessert-of-the-month club, purchase a Tacoma
Travel
The Twilight Saga of books and movies captivated the world especially teenage girls. Its setting is the town of Forks on the Olympic Peninsula. Author Stephanie Meyers googled the rainiest place in the United States and the Olympic Peninsula was the winner. She then searched for a small town that
Attractions
Northwest Trek makes a great day trip from Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM). Located near Eatonville, the park is nestled in a natural setting with a tree-lined drive that makes you feel like you are out in the woods exploring. The park is easy to navigate, and the large paved trails wind
News
One of the most unique war memorials in the United States is the Stonehenge Memorial in Goldendale, Washington. This full-scale replica of the ancient Neolithic structure in Wiltshire County, England, honors 13 young Klickitat County men who lost their lives in World War I. Samuel Hill, a Quaker pacifist and patron
