What are some of the nicest air force bases in the U.S. and Europe (location, weather, housing)??

Question

Which bases offer the best quality housing and other facilities (gym, restaurants, etc.). Any insight is appreciated.

Answer 1

Patrick Afb is a stonethrow away from the atlantic ocean. There is a free public beach you can see Cocoa from there and Daytona and Orlando aint far away either. the commi is average and so is the BX. the standard golfcourse is there too. the housing looks nrewer from what i saw -id say 70's or 80's and newer onesbuild right now. You dont need a sticker as long as you have a military ID. Clost to where they launch the shuttles and other rockets

MacDill AFB slap dap in the middle of Tampa , located in the that little tongue in the Bay. The shopping is all located on the north of the installation, a new ID checking area was just build.
Housing of all ages , MacDill has its own rather crappy beach on the southern tip. Might be a good choice if you have a medical fragile special needs child as lots of big hospitals are near by. Since you kinda live in Tampa you have a huge selection of restaurants witin 2-3 miles. You also have less than 5 miles to Raymond James stadium and Legends field
Also Buschgardens is right there as well as many other amusment facilities.

Answer 2

LAKENHEATH. Lakenheath was a wonderful little base...VERY close atmosphere (we all knew each other, both in school and in offices). They're constantly building and improving their facilities (new BX, new teen center). Weather's super crap of course, but it's prime location to scoot off to France or Germany or wherever else for a day trip, plus night life is supposedly pretty good (I don't drink, but I know most people went into town on weekends).

I hear the German bases are VERY good too, especially Rammstein (sp?)

Answer 3

It all depends upon what you are looking for.

Langley, VA... awesome base, big city, close to DC, lots to do and see, good schools in the area, fantastic weather. BUT.... cost of living very high and it is a headquarters base.

Dyess, TX... Me, I hated it. Others loved it. West Texas, new housing was being built when we left 10 years ago. Middle of no where, 3 hours to DFW area. Great if you like rodeo, etc.

Spangdahlem... LOVED IT!! Second time in Germany, felt like going home to me. 1 hour from Lux, France, Bel, Netherlands. Area is beautiful. Housing was stairwell housing, but awesome size. Germans are great people, very helpful if you try to learn the language. Lots to do and see, castles, Mosel river, great shopping. Very high ops tempo, lots of deployments and TDYs. Lots of clouds and rain, cold wet winters, no sunlight.

Minot, ND.... great base. Slow ops tempo. Out in the country. Town isn't too bad. Bismarck only an hour away. Schools are fantastic. Base housing wonderful. Not too good if you are a city person, but if you are into hunting, fishing, boating, etc. it's great. Summers are moderate. winters are VERY cold, but it's really not that bad. It's not a wet cold that gets into your bones.

Mildenhall... slow ops tempo, (Lakenheath VERY high) Very much out in the country, good shopping within 45 minutes. London about 90 minutes. There are 3 bases all in close proximity. All 3 share most things. Housing in the UK is very small and very close together. To get anything of a decent size, you'll be about 20-30 minutes away, with no traffic, 45 with traffic. Not a lot to see and do in the local area, but England is so loaded with history and you can drive from here to about anywhere in the country in 5 or 6 hours max.