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Installations
USCG Station Fairport, Ohio
Fairport Harbor, Ohio exudes Hallmark movie vibes. Nestled on a bluff above the shores of Lake Erie, this town of about 3,000 people includes charming shops downtown, overflowing flower pots along the sidewalks and light poles with banners that honor home town heroes. To add to the charm, Fairport Harbor has not one but two lighthouses and an outstanding ice cream shop. The Grand River also winds its way along side the town to empty into Lake Erie.
USCG Station Ashtabula, Ohio
It looked like a normal bridge. Then all at once lights began flashing, a gate lowered and we heard bells. Slowly the entire road lifted straight into the sky right before our eyes. The Ashtabula Lift Bridge kinda blew our minds. In fact, you need to see to believe it. It wasn’t a normal draw bridge.
3 Mini Road Trips from Ft. Hood, Texas
Texas overflows with all kinds of adventures that range from visiting stunning waterfalls, soaking up small Texas towns ambiance and jumping back in time to the Lone Star State’s Wild West history.
During our two times stationed at Ft. Hood, my husband and I explored as much as we could. Going on adventures makes a huge difference in how you feel about a duty station. So I present three small towns packed with fun activities. Bonus, they’re all 40 minutes or less from Ft. Hood.
Ft. Hood, TX
They call Ft. Hood, Texas “The Great Place”. Whether you agree or disagree, this duty station offers plenty of adventures both near and far—especially if you’re willing to try something new. Ft. Hood sprawls over two counties, Bell and Coryell, along the northern stretch of the Hill Country region of Texas. It’s the largest active-duty armored installation in the United States. Comprised of 340 acres, it hosts almost 40,000 soldiers plus their family members.
United States Military Academy, NY (Part 2)
For Christmas Eve, there were Lessons and Carols candlelight services that mimicked what I imagined Renaissance-era services may have been like: stone walls that disappear into the dark night and the glow of the worshippers’ faces reflecting the candlelight and narrative of the Christ Child’s birth. Both events were incredibly moving in such a magnificent space.
United States Military Academy, NY (Part 1)
The United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, New York was a unique duty station for us, unlike any place we had been before or since. Tradition and discipline oozed from all corners of the Academy. It was a refreshing assignment for our family, since it was both non-deployable and regularly allowed for family involvement. Time here was all about “The Corps!”. Rather than a mission focused on deployment readiness, the mission was about developing the Army leaders of tomorrow.
Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, HI
I first visited Hawaii on my honeymoon. I loved it and hoped one day we’d be stationed on Oahu. Six years later, I got my wish when my husband received a joint assignment at what was then Naval Base Pearl Harbor, now called Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (JBPHH). The Army was paying us to live in paradise. Mind blown!
Ft. Gordon, GA
Ft. Gordon hit the jacketpot of locations in Georgia. Augusta, the largest nearby city, provides plenty of fun activities for folks stationed at Ft. Gordon. You can go south to the…
Ft. Huachuca, AZ
The Army sent us to Ft. Huachuca not once, but twice.
When people asked where we were headed, I’d excitedly say “Ft. Huachuca, Arizona”.
Washington, D.C.
My husband moved from northern Indiana to “Northern” Virginia (the area outside of Washington, D.C.) when he was in the sixth grade. His memories from his middle school and …
U.S. Naval Academy, MD
We are a military family. My dad served in the Navy. My husband is in the Army. My sister is retired reserve. My nephew and niece (and their spouses) are military. I have two uncles. …
Ft. Meade, MD
I didn’t take a single photo at Ft. Meade, Maryland. Ft. Meade houses the super secret National Security Agency. I imagined accidentally taking pictures of something verboten and …
Ft. Leonard Wood, MO
Have you ever longed to live in the middle of nowhere yet have all the accommodations you need right at your fingertips? Then go get lost in the woods!
Fort Leonard Wood …
Ft. Riley, KS
“If you want me to say that we love it here, we do. If you want me to tell you to move here, you should!” my friend Alexis exclaimed about how much she loved being stationed at Ft. Riley.
9 Road Trips from Ft. Benning, GA
If you are up to going 45 to 90 minutes away you will be able to expand your horizons a little. Providence Canyon State Park (45 minutes south of Ft. Benning), Tuskegee Airman National Historic Site…
Ft. Benning, GA
It seems like ages ago since we were stationed at Ft. Benning, now, Ft. Benning. It was our first duty station after Basic Officer Leader Course (BOLC). The post’s name change was almost two years ago…
Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA (Pt. 4)
The Pacific Northwest offers so many different I couldn’t fit them all in to one article. Last week I shared our favorite forest hikes and indoor activities, this week we’re…
Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA (Pt. 3)
So, what areas make up the Pacific Northwest, you ask? According to Britannica and World Atlas, the PNW consists of Washington, Oregon and Idaho.
Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA (Pt. 2)
Last week, I shared some of my experiences in the Pacific Northwest. But as our time at Joint Base Lewis-McChord marched on, I discovered a few things about climate …
Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA (Pt. 1)
It was a first for us—a chance to choose our next duty station. As a lieutenant, Tim was told where he would be stationed the first time.
Southern Living, Pt 3
The South provides a whole host of fun activities, even if those activities are different than what you’re used to enjoying. But what states make up the “South”? Well that depends on who you ask.
Southern Living, Pt 2
Like I said in the first part of my story, when I moved to New Orleans as a tween I expected Southern accents and heat. I didn’t expect exotic foods. I quickly learned that the South is full of different cultures which means different kinds of food. If you like to
Southern Living, Pt 1
I was not quite 12 when we moved from the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania suburbs to New Orleans, Louisiana. My Naval officer Dad was transferred with 2.5 years left in his career. I was bitter, but I was 11. Eleven-year-olds are bitter.
Department of Defense Installation Name Changes
A number of Army installations will be changing names by January 1, 2024. When looking for information on our website or social media platforms, be sure to search for both names from the chart below to locate all of our relevant content.