Vacation value

National Guard, Jun 2000 by Crawford, Ann

Are you missing out on the fun and savings of vacationing with Uncle Sam?

There is an entire network of military lodging, recreational vehicle and camping areas and other opportunities available to National Guardsmen and their families. And many Guardsmen may not even know these perk exist.

For instance, Guardsmen may use all military recreation facilities, including those run by the Coast Guard, which has converted many lighthouses into recreational lodging.

Here is an overview of what is available.

MILITARY RV/CAMPING AREAS and MILITARY LODGING: These areas offer substantial savings, camaraderie, and more safety when they are located on a military installation. They can be like staying with a family Guard families can stay in familiar facilities as they travel around the United States and its territories. No matter where you go, the installations offer similar arrangements and amenities.

Military Living's book, Military RV, Camping and Outdoor Recreation Around the World, lists 215 places available for camping or parking your RV These range from a simple campground like Camp Yocomico at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., to full recreational resorts like Solomons Navy Recreation Center near Washington, D.C., or the Seward Resort in Alaska.

In addition, facilities located on military bases often feature golf courses and marinas as well as swimming pools, bowling alleys and other recreational facilities. In the current book, 149 military golf courses and 70 marinas are listed.

A great example of a small Air Force recreational opportunity that offers fun and savings to all military LD. cardholders is located near Yellowstone National Park. Brand new travel trailers are available for summer rental through the 366th Services Squadron Outdoor Adventure Program at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho.

The 26-foot trailers are available for $55 a night with a minimum of two nights and a maximum stay of 10 nights. There are 13 trailers. Each sleeps six people and has a bathroom with shower.

Cooking utensils and dinnerware are also available, as well as modem double sinks in the kitchen. For more information, call (208) 828-6333, Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mountain time.

CAMP OUT EN ROUTE: Do you know you that can rent a pop-up camper or other camping gear at most military Outdoor Recreation Offices? This is a great option if you stop at an installation that has a family campground.

This is a fun option that also gives kids a chance to work off bottled-up energy from traveling so long in a car. And there's nothing like Mother Nature and a good camping meal to soothe the body and mind.

We recently checked out a military camping ground at Andrews, just a short distance from all the Washington, D.C., tourist attractions. Camp Yocomico is located in the woods between two of the golf courses on base. It has a few tent camping spaces in addition to RV parking. The bathhouse, located in a building with a television lounge, has a laundry and other features. Each of the RV sites has a table and grill. All of this is available for tent campers at $6 a night or $16 for a site with RV hookups.

Where else can you stay and see the nation's capital for so little money?

SPACE-AVAILABLE LODGING: Military Living's book Temporary Military Lodging Around the World, lists 445 locations where lodging may be used on a Space-A basis.

At least 107 Space-A locations are near a beach. Another 48 are located near ski resorts.

There are toll-free numbers available to check lodging at a specific installation. For Army posts, call (800) 4627691; for a Navy Lodge, (800) 6289466; and for the Air Force, (888) 2356343. Plan to arrive early on the days you intend to stay in military facilities.

One of the more luxurious examples of Space-A lodging is the Navy Lodge located in North Island, Coronado, Calif It is one of the most beautiful military, lodging facilities in the world. Located on the beach, it has a Spanish design with private porches and balconies overlooking the waterfront.

Some of the 190 rooms have a full kitchenette with a two-burner stove, refrigerator, microwave and necessary accessories to prepare and serve meals. Each unit sleeps five on two double beds, a pullout couch or rollaway bed. The daily rate is $57 per unit. Try to match that for a place on the ocean in high-cost Coronado!

In addition to having a great place to stay on the ocean, there are many things to do without even leaving North Island. The golf course is about a half mile away It has a very good restaurant with a view of the course and offers daily specials and ethnic cuisine.

Perhaps the military's most popular group of recreational facilities is in Hawaii. There are 13 different facilities operated by the Army Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps to choose from on three different islands-Oahu, Hawaii and Kauai. They range from the 800room plus Hale Koa beachfront resort hotel on Waikiki to the rustic Army run Kiluaea Military Camp on the Island of Hawaii. Located in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, the camp has apartments and cottages with fireplaces, which are often needed because of the high altitude.