Located about an hour and 15 minutes from Joint Base Lewis-McChord is the quaint little town of Edmonds, WA. Here visitors can explore local art galleries and boutiques, dine in local restaurants and sit on the rocky shores watching ferries cross from the Edmonds landing to Kingston.

Edmonds has a strong commitment to art, and has what is considered Washington's first designated Creative District. Multiple art galleries line the streets and welcome visitors to explore the scene. Edmonds is also home to Cascadia Art Museum, open Thursday to Sunday.  Even if you choose to skip the art galleries and museums the art scene will become abundantly clear as you stroll the streets, thanks to the outdoor murals, courtesy of the Edmonds mural project.

Not only do galleries line the streets, but an abundance of top quality restaurants also share Edmonds' city center.

Located in the heart of downtown, Salt & Iron is a great choice for delicious American Northwest Cuisine. Local oysters and steaks are just two of the delicious indulgences here. The Loft Cafe + Courtyard is a great option to grab a class of local wine and listen to live music. If you're interested in waterfront dining, Anthony's HomePort Edmonds offers sweeping views of the Olympic Mountains and diners have the opportunity to watch ferry boats sail across the Puget Sound.

If you're wanting to grab a light snack or coffee on your trip, plenty of options are available as well. Edmonds Bakery on Main Street, has cookies, donuts and other baked goods that make the perfect snack. Of course, nothing goes better with pastries than coffee. Stop by Walnut Coffee located less than half a mile from the bakery. Here you will discover coffee roasted by Espresso Vivace accompanied by fresh organic dairy.

Small boutiques selling jewelry, clothing and home goods always make for a fun day of browsing. And making a stop in the Edmonds bookstore is always a must.

Once you've eaten at one of the fine restaurants, grabbed a cup of coffee and browsed through local boutiques, you'll definitely want to spend time at the beach. Edmonds has four different beach parks to be explored. All beaches are considered sanctuaries, so while you're unable to fish, clam or collect anything, plenty of fun is still possible. Kids will love playing along the shores and watching the continuous crossing of ferries at Brackett's Landing.

Marina Beach Park on Admiral Way offers waterfront pathways, a playground, picnic area, sand volleyball pit, and located just slightly south, an off leash dog-friendly area. 

For more water exploration you can book a whale watching tour with Puget Sound Express with tours running through October 27. These half-day tours take you through the Salish Sea with opportunities to see orcas and humpback whales.

Whatever your itinerary ends up being in Edmonds, we think it's well worth a day trip from JBLM.