Comment

Comment by Kac46047 on July 25, 2011 at 2:54pm

All my husband had to do was get a decal to bring his car on base. It was harder for him because he's in A school at ft. Meade and th eoffice that does decals was only open during school hours. Shouldnt be to hard for your son to get them

Comment by Angie (Dan's Mom) on July 25, 2011 at 1:38pm

My son graduates from CTR A School Friday, home for two weeks and then reports to Ft Meade Aug 4th    He plans on driving his truck back.to base.   What has to happen for him to be able to take his truck there?

Comment by Angie (Dan's Mom) on July 25, 2011 at 10:44am

@Jill   We are boaters too.  We are in upstate NY on Lake Ontario    Had the boat out this weekend and anchored out Sat nite.  What kind of boat do you have?

Comment by Angie (Dan's Mom) on July 22, 2011 at 10:58am

@Jill    My son is grad A School next Friday then moving to Ft Meade     How long has your son been at Ft Meade   How long will he be relocated and can you tell me his rate   My son is a CTR

Comment by Betsy, mom of Stennis sailor on July 21, 2011 at 3:50pm

momofflour, I'm so sorry that your first couple of hotels were not what you hoped they would be  :(.  I actually live about 20 minutes from Ft. Meade and know that the area of Ft. Meade is pretty old and there isn't much around there as far as restaurants and hotels.  For those who are going to see their sailors, I would also agree and suggest it's best to stay either in Hanover, MD, around Rt. 100 and close by the Arundel Mills Mall area or stay in Columbia, MD which is actually a few exits off Rt. 100.  

One of the really good things about Ft. Meade is that BWI airport is only about 5 or 10 minutes from there.  

Comment by momoffour(Ship 11 div 119) on June 27, 2011 at 7:36pm

Thanks for the details on your trip. We are hoping to get to visit in the fall and so the information will be very handy. I do have one question, does your son live on  the base itself? My son describes the place he lives as on the base and behind another fence that may make visiting more difficult? I thought I remember Clockard as saying she was able to get into both areas without trouble. I know there is numerous gates so I would say the main gate sounds like good advise!

Comment by Angie (Dan's Mom) on June 27, 2011 at 11:42am

Lyn   Thank you for that information  It sounds like you had a wonderful trip.  My son in still in Pensacola FL until July 29th and after 2 weeks home will be moving to FT Meade  I think I will plan a trip there for my birthday in October

Comment by MauiKumu on June 26, 2011 at 9:36pm

Aloha All from Ft. Meade, MD.  Well, we finally made it here after planning since March.  It's been a week of visiting our son.  We picked him up daily and dropped him off before curfew.   I grew up on Oahu and was surrounded by Wheeler and Schofield bases which we visited often; and every thing there was regulated by base police and MPs.  I was extremely surprised to find how loose restrictions are at Meade, once one gets on the base.  Our ID's were checked regularly upon entry and our car was inspected only once, but once on base there doesn't seem to be much restrictions.  We were able to put gas on base w/o the need of an id.  And, we were able to drive up to our son's barracks to pick up and drop him off.  Weekdays after school we had him from about 5-10 pm, and Sat/Sun we did really nice day trips to Potomac Falls and went kayaking on the Patuxet river at Jug Bay reserve.  It was just what my son needed to relax in a serene and natural enviornment.  We depart tomorrow for Long Beach Island, New Jersey and hope our son will be able to meet us there for the fourth of July and his birthday.

 

After hours of research and then finding out the reality of the lodging choices in and around Meade, I'd like to share what we've found out for other parents/wives/girlfriends.  We spent our first night at the Comfort Inn and Suites in Jessup.  Big mistake, the room smelled of musty carpet and the area was a bit scary to go out and eat in the evening.  Second night we were going to the Super 8 in Annapolis, big mistake, funky rooms and after confirming and reconfirming our reservations since March, they didn't have it when we checked in.  But, right next door is a newly renovated Comfort Inn.  It was awesome, clean, reasonably priced, and close to Annapolis; but not much else to do in the immediate area.  We visited the Annapolis Naval museum (a must see) and was about to walk all around the base w/o restrictions (take a bottle of water and good walking shoes).  Then we met our son for breakfast on Main Street Annapolis, where he was doing a photo shoot with his buddies.  You got to eat at Chick and Ruth's on Main Street.  We checked out other places in and around Jessup and Laurel and were disappointed in either their accommodations or sketchy areas around the hotel.

 

After two days in Annapolis we returned to Hanover to stay at the Element and Aloft; boy was it a treat to sleep in and stay in one place for four days.  The shopping mall is about 5 minutes away and has lots of places to eat.  

The Element and Aloft are sister hotels.  Both provide unique, Scandinavian accommodations at  a moderate price, but it is well worth it.  Research these Hanover hotels online and you will find their amenities are fabulous for the price (breakfast, swimming pool, exercise room, a bar, wonderful lounging areas to visit).  They have all kinds of specials: we got the Birth date special:  $139 the first night and $47 the next two nights based on hubby's birth year of 1947.

 

Anyway, these two hotels are about 20 minutes away from Meade's main gate, and we found it so convenient.  There are several gates to enter by, but I suggest to enter the main gate.  The base is big and easy to get lost on and one wrong turn and you are in a high security area.  

 

I hope our experience will help someone's visit with their loved one a special time.  I'll be off line for awhile, but will check back at some point.

Aloha,

Lyn

Comment by momoffour(Ship 11 div 119) on June 25, 2011 at 5:52pm

I know right now they have two to a room. My Sailor is not happy lol! At first they had a room to themselves and just shared a bathroom but now they have moved in an extra bed and dresser in each room and they have to share. Needless to say, he cannot wait to get E5 and move off base.

Comment by northchannel on June 23, 2011 at 1:57pm

I just thought I would post that Southwest is having a great fare sale which ends tonight. They fly into BWI so if you want to go visit or you Sailor wants to come home for the weekend this fall, now is probably a good time to buy.

I just booked two RT from Detroit and the total for both tickets, taxes, etc. was just $202.

 

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