There are many advantages to living in this part of the country. For example it seldom gets too hot or too cold here yet we have all four seasons of weather and fashion. The moisture in the air is very good for the complexion. We have lush green plants and trees, coffee shops on every corner, more musicians than you can possibly make time to see, restaurants featuring cuisine from all parts of the world, friendly people and a boat-load of jaw dropping vacation destinations in every direction. 

The following is but a miniscule example of what the Pacific Northwest has to offer when it comes to vacation get-aways.

GO NORTH

The San Juan Islands are 152 miles from Fort Lewis if you travel by car to Anacortes to ride the ferry. If you’d like to get there faster, airplane charters are available locally.

There are four islands, San Juan, Orcas, Shaw and Lopez. These islands are known for beautiful scenery, hiking trails and close encounters of the aquatic kind. There are several great hiking trails full of wildlife and plenty of look-outs, sandy cliffs and other views of the surrounding waters that are rich with whales and commercial fishing boats netting salmon. On San Juan Island there is a popular place to see orca whales called the Lime Kiln Lighthouse. It’s a 38-foot octagonal tower that overlooks Haro Strait which also happens to be a major shipping route to Vancouver, British Columbia. British Columbia is another great place to see while you’re visiting the San Juans. It’s less than an hour away by charter boat.

Friday Harbor on San Juan Island offers several shopping options including thrift shops, antique stores, art galleries and restaurants. A charming vintage resort called Roche Harbor has a marina for yacht mooring and a restaurant with scenic deck seating perfect for relaxing with a tall beverage and a nice dinner. Other attractions include kayak tours, mopeds rentals, boat rides, alpaca farms, a winery, fishing, crabbing, scuba diving, biking and lake swimming. Locals like to tell tourists that the San Juan Islands were named by Jack Cousteau’s as one of his top ten favorite scuba diving sites in the world. The Puget Sound waters are known also as home to the giant pacific octopus.

As far as accommodations go, there are upscale vacation rentals in beautiful waterfront homes, little bed and breakfasts, a selection of hotels and even some camp grounds including some right on the beach.

For more information, visit www.guidetosanjuans.com">http://www.visitsanjuans.com/ or www.guidetosanjuans.com

Get there fast by charter: http://www.sanjuanairlines.com/pax_info.cfm

GO SOUTH

Great Wolf Lodge is 34 miles and 37 minutes from Fort Lewis. This wolf-themed hotel and indoor water park was aimed at the “people who love-kids and love-chaos” demographic. It also appeals to pretty much anyone under the age of 14. 
  
People there experience all manner of splashing (in the waterslides and wave pools) crashing (in the video arcade) and balderdashing (at the costume-themed wizard game MagiQuest). There are several restaurant choices inside the resort (including a Starbucks and a Pizza Hut) and quite a few more down the road about four miles in Centralia.

If you love major sensory overload this is a great vacation and its much closer than Disneyland. It has soundproof hotel rooms so there is a quiet respite from all the kid-noise. Hotel keys are wrist bands (a nice touch since most bathing suits don’t have pockets). They can also be used to buy things (it charges to your room) so there’s no need to carry money either.

Weekdays are less expensive and crowded than weekends. The themed hotel rooms book up fast so it’s recommended that you book those in advance. 

For more information visit: http://www.greatwolf.com/

GO EAST 

Mount Rainier National Park is 76 miles and 2 hours from Fort Lewis. Mount Rainier is the perfect place to relax, sight see, commune with nature, go hiking, mountain biking, go cross country skiing, go fishing, go mountain climbing and/or just spend time with loved ones in a beautiful setting.

The park is accessible year round via SR 706 to the Nisqually entrance by the southwest corner of the park. The Longmire entrance is open throughout winter except during extreme weather.

Attractions include Sunrise Visitor Center, several hiking trails, Mowich Lake, Paradise Valley, a grove of red cedar and douglas fir trees (some over 1,000 years old) called Grove of the Patriarchs and Ohanapecosh Visitor Center featuring trout and fly-fishing information.
 
Hotels and other accommodations nearby include Alexander's Country Inn
Bed and Breakfast, Crystal Mountain Resort, Crystal Carriage House and many more. There are also six campgrounds. In the winter you can downhill ski and snowboard at Crystal Mountain.

Campgrounds: http://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm
More hotels:  http://www.visitrainier.com/index.php?&gigpag=lodging&gclid=CLTBuqbA_pwCFRQpawodcjjcbg

GO WEST 

Ocean Shores is 89 miles and 2 hours from Fort Lewis. Every once in a while it’s good for a person to gaze out at the open sea. At Ocean Shores there are miles and miles of beaches to drive or walk upon. Kids love the gulls, the shells, the driftwood and the dunes. It also makes a great photo opportunity. 

There are nine restaurants along the downtown strip and several shops to peruse. Other things to do include: kite flying, beachcombing, go-karts, horseback riding, miniature golf, boating, fishing and razor clam digging. Quinault Beach Resort has live entertainment, gambling and a luxury spa.

Another attraction at Ocean Shores is the North Jetty where giant rocks spar with powerful ocean waves and people gather around to enjoy the spew. 

Accommodations available include homes and cabins for rent, hotels, motels, bed & breakfasts, condos and campgrounds.

For more information, go to: http://www.oceanshores.com/