To decide what the best Air Force base is in the world is completely subjective. The smart answer is that every base or assignment is what you make of it. You could be at a far-away remote with no civilization in site but make the best friends in the world with the small group you have. Or you could be smack-dab in the middle of paradise but hate your coworkers or be restricted to how far you can travel. That being said, there are a number of Air Force bases that lend themselves to making for great vacations or travel because of their location, weather and ease of access to some wonderful sites and destinations. These bases also offer a variety of missions and access to Space-A travel, meaning getting stationed there is a high possibility of getting an assignment for most career fields. Except for Eglin, of course, since no one ever seems to leave the base. During my 10 years of service, I was stationed at two of these bases, TDY at two others, and visited another.
Travis Air Force Base, Northern California. One hour away from San Francisco, where you can ski and parasail. Less than an hour from Sacramento or Oakland, where you can catch professional sports team games and national concerts. 20 minutes from Wine Country in Napa. Skiing is three hours away, Yosemite is four hours away. If you have a hobby or a passion for sight-seeing, you can’t get much better than Travis. NorCal weather is excellent at Travis, with little cold or humidity. Just high winds and an extra dose of sun.
Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina. Charleston can be a very high ops-tempo base since it is a major C-17 base. Yet Charleston’s culture and port location can offer a lot to do during the off days. Downtown Charleston is full of history and shopping. For single men looking for that special someone, The College of Charleston has a 12 to 1 girl-to-guy ratio. For the ladies, the Citadel is home to a nearly all-male class of college- educated, future military leaders. For families, Charleston has a festival nearly every month as well as several beaches like Folly Beach or the Isle of Palms. For the party people, Myrtle Beach, home to a Hard Rock Cafe and Planet Hollywood, is only an hour away.
Ramstein Air Base, Germany. Ramstein sometimes gets a reputation for being almost “too” American. Located in Germany, Ramstein Air Base is so popular that many Americans who retire or separate decide to stick around. Probably why the nearby town of Kaiserslautern has thousands of Americans living in it. That, and that Germany is great for Oktoberfests, giant castles, great desserts and one heckuva highway system. If you want to get away even further, France is only an hour away and the Czech Republic, known for cheap crystals, is a couple of hours east. If you like winter sports or Euro culture, Ramstein is the best thing going in Europe for Air Force members.
Eglin/Tyndall Air Force Bases, Florida. Both bases are located in Florida’s panhandle. While many might consider bases closer to Disney World and Universal Studios, those places should be left a healthy distance away, considering the business and constant tourism there. Instead, Eglin (if you can get there) has its own white, sandy beaches along the clearest of waters. Hurlburt Field is right next to Eglin, but they are special operations, so you might not be on base long enough to enjoy the scenery. Tyndall is near Panama City, another popular-yet-contained Spring Break destination. If you feel like the people are crowding you, take a deep-sea fishing trip and hopefully you’ll land some big catches like the ones that Team Mariner tend to get.
Hickam Air Force Base. Hickam is in Hawaii. Not much else you need to say besides that.
Hidden Gem: Rota Naval Air Station, Spain. There is a little-known Air Force detachment at Rota Naval Air Station. They are responsible for gassing up cargo planes that make frequent European stops. That being said, the Rota detachment is right along the sun coast of Spain. It is not too far from Morocco in Africa and a nice, scenic ride to Portugal. Bullfights, fresh sangria, and historic Spanish culture are all within your grasp.
