Fort Riley, KS or Fort Lewis,WA

Armywife

Armywife

Cathlete
Hi, my husband is in the Army and he is coming up for orders for us to move and two of his choices are Fort Riley, Kansas and Fort Lewis, Washington. I was wondering if anyone knows anything about either of these places or have lived near them. I know some about Fort Lewis because my husband used to live near there when he was a kid but neither of us know anything about Kansas or the Fort Riley area. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Happy holidays everyone!

Toni
 
I don't know anything about these places. I just wanted to wish your family all my best for a wonderful Christmas and I hope you end up in the best possible place! I really appreciate your DH's service--and your's too. I know it can't be easy.

Michele
 
Hi Toni,

We were actually stationed at both of these posts during my husband's career. Fort Lewis in the mid 80's and Fort Riley from 96-02.

We weren't at Fort Lewis for very long, just over a year. I had never been out west before that time and the geography of the Pacific Northwest was just awesome. It looked like a post card to me. There was a lot to see and do there. The post is big and is near an AFB in Tacoma. It has probably changed quite a bit since we were there but they probably have a website if you need further info.

As for Fort Riley...we opted to extend there at one point and we actually bought a home in an outlying area. We liked that the area was so open spaced, lots and lots of land. This is a big post too, about an hour or so from Topeka and it is near Manhattan Kansas, home of Kansas State University. We never lived on post, so I don't know much about the housing, but they too have a website. Sorry I don't know it, but if you do a search, you will find it.

Good luck.

Jamie
 
Hi Toni
We are not in the service, but I have lived in both states. Jamie is right - the NW is AWESOME. I spent the first 24 years of my life in Missouri and Kansas and I was really ready for a change. You will get more land for your money in Kansas, 'cause they have plenty - but if you want mountains and lots of different landscapes, the NW can't be beat. It is more expensive for everything out here, however. You will also be near enough to Canada and the Pacific Coast to hop out there without much fuss.

Hope this helps.

Melissa
 
Thank you Michele, Jamie, and Melissa for your input. I really am happy to get any responses. I just really want to know which has more family type activities and isn't too far from cities. Thanks again for your input and for anyone else who has any info, please share.

Thanks,

Toni
 
I lived in the north part of Tacoma for a year & 4+ years in the Seattle area. I would move back in a flash. Lots of outdoors activities along with plenty of sophisticated options in Seattle. It is quite family friendly. As others have said, it is truly gorgous. Mt. Rainier is in Tacoma's backyard, the Puget Sound & the Olympic Peninsula provide lots of other excursions.

The Tacoma/Seattle area do not get any more rain than most of the U.S., but there are a lot of grey days. Winter days are short because it's so far north. The weather is actually mild. The summer's have spoiled me for life; I suffer through the heat now.

Debra
 
Thanks Debra. It seems like everyone has so many good comments about Washington. My husband said he loved it there when he was there before we met in the Army. Still, no one has really said much about Fort Riley, KS. I hope we get Ft. Lewis since it sounds so beautiful and family friendly. The only reason I would want Ft. Riley is because it is closer to Ohio where my family is. We have been stationed here in Fort Hood, TX for over five years now so it is time for a change. I have to get away from this heat and from what everyone says, Washington is mild and beautiful. Well, hopefully we get it and I will keep everyone updated what place we actually get and then update again after we get there. It probably won't be until sometime in the spring or summer that we will get to move. Thanks everyone!

Toni
 
Toni,

Speaking as a lifelong resident of Ohio, I'm sure your family will appreciate having such a lovely place to come to when they visit you (if you are sent to Washington, that is)! Whereabouts you from in Ohio? I was born and raised near Toledo but live in the general vicintiy of Dayton and Cincinnati now.

Michele
 
Michele,

I know what you mean about them having somewhere nice to visit. I have to realize that being closer to them would be nice but they would only we only see them twice a year and that isn't enough to give up going to Washington since I have heard so many good comments about it.

As for Ohio, I was born in Cleveland and then my dad joined the Army. We moved to New Mexico, then Germany, then back to Ohio when he was a recruiter, then to Kentucky, and then to North Carolina. Then I went back to Ohio for college and joined the Army. I went to basic in Missouri, then sent to Texas for AIT. I met my husband in Texas and we have been here ever since. After my dad retired a few years ago from the Army, they moved back to Ohio so we go back and visit once a year and they come here once a year to see my kids. They live in Cleveland.

When I did live in Ohio we lived in Cleveland, Elyria, and Lakewood.

Toni
 
There is not much to do in Manhattan, Kansas. Its a college town with a lot of bars-and that's it. It is 3 hours away from the Kansas City metro area, which is the only decent city even close. If you want to live on a farm and do hunting and fishing and enjoy freezing blizzards in the winter and hot buggy humid summers than move to Ft. Riley.
Beth
 
Well, I guess that from these responses, Ft. Riley is totally out of the question. I just hope that when my husband calls his branch manager again, she still has Fort Lewis available because I definately don't want to go to Kansas now. Thank you for all the responses and I'll keep everyone updated as to where we are going in a few months.

Thanks,

Toni
 
I think you'll love the Seattle area. I live in Renton and work in Seattle so I'm biased, but it's a beautiful area, with tons to do and see. Good luck with your move, wherever you end up :)
 
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