Everett, WA

[Bugsmasher]

Good luck getting a SWO billet up there. Everett just doesn't house that many ships. At least three classes went by without an Everett billet when I was at OCS so you should plan on having some backup plans.

 

[Pugs]

Last time I checked, winter's were cold, damp, and quite often dark , and it ain't 8-9 months that's for sure. Well I think if you grew up with it and are used to it, its just another day up there. Now if you grew up in Miami, selected prowlers and went to whidbey, then yes it would be depressing!

/J

Winters are great! Baker, Stevens, Whistler or head over to Mission Ridge on the sunny side of the Cascades. You stay on the sound it'll get dreary but get out and see the mountains in the winter and ski in the sun it's great. I miss it every day.

 

[Godspeed]

Winters are great! Baker, Stevens, Whistler or head over to Mission Ridge on the sunny side of the Cascades. You stay on the sound it'll get dreary but get out and see the mountains in the winter and ski in the sun it's great. I miss it every day.

Whistler... boy oh boy... That place ROCKS. Just the drive up there is unbelievable..... Best snowboarding i've ever experienced, the nightlife is great too, (for you single guys... Never have I seen a more concentrated population of gorgeous snow bunnies.. Blows Aspen/Vail/Lake Tahoe out of the water).

It's quite the drive from Seattle, but like I said, very scenic... Whistler used to be a hidden gem... a place you could truly 'get away'. Now it's going to be huge with the 2010 Winter Olympics being held there. I hope it doesn't ruin the atmosphere too much..


GS

P.S. Don't forget about Crystal Pass!

 

[Pugs]

GS

P.S. Don't forget about Crystal Pass!

Being at Whidbey, Crystal was a 4+30 drive and being at Whidbey Whistler/Blackcomb was 4+00 with a decent border crossing so two mountains with 6000 feet of vertical and, when I was there an incredible exchange rate, made it the obvious choice so I never made it to Crystal.

 

[xj220]

Everett itself is an ok town, but the surrounding area is awesome. I'm from about a half hour south or so. There's a great Cajun restaurant called Alligator Soul which you have to eat at. You are very close to the mountains and Seattle is a quick drive down I-5. I'm surprised no one has mentioned this yet, but the beer is AMAZING. Wine is good, too but I'm not a drinker. And +1 for the summers on the Sound or even Lake Washington.

 

[Flash]

You can't beat the summertime at NUW Flash.

I have few complaints about the summer, it is the other 8-9 months I had a problem with.

 

[usunkmybship]

I am from the Chicagoland area so I am used to the cold rainy weather. Also there are few slots for destroyers, the rest are frigates. Many have recommended to not be on a frigate. Considering the billets for destroyers get taken, would staying in Washington be worth being stationed on a frigate?

 

[Godspeed]

I am from the Chicagoland area so I am used to the cold rainy weather. Also there are few slots for destroyers, the rest are frigates. Many have recommended to not be on a frigate. Considering the billets for destroyers get taken, would staying in Washington be worth being stationed on a frigate?

Everett isn't the only WA port ya know... What about Bremerton? It's only a 30 minute ferry ride away from Seattle.

 

[MattWSU]

There's a great Cajun restaurant called Alligator Soul which you have to eat at.

I second that one. I would not have expected there to be good Cajun food in the NW until eating there.

 

[xj220]

There used to be an awesome Chinese restaurant call New Peking right off the main drag near the stadium but I don't think it's there anymore. If you wanted the duck, you had to order it at least 24h in advance but it was worth the wait. Their crispy beef couldn't be beat either.

 

[usunkmybship]

Everett isn't the only WA port ya know... What about Bremerton? It's only a 30 minute ferry ride away from Seattle.

It's the only WA base that is available for USNA mids.

 

[Godspeed]

It's the only WA base that is available for USNA mids.

Pardon my lack of knowledges about academy policy, but why aren't academy folks allowed to go to Bremerton?

 

[swerdna]

I am from the Chicagoland area so I am used to the cold rainy weather. Also there are few slots for destroyers, the rest are frigates. Many have recommended to not be on a frigate. Considering the billets for destroyers get taken, would staying in Washington be worth being stationed on a frigate?

I'd say no.

 

[cfam]

Pardon my lack of knowledges about academy policy, but why aren't academy folks allowed to go to Bremerton?

I think it's because the only surface ships stationed in Bremerton are the Stennis and a sub tender, and we can't select either out of the Academy going SWO. From what I remember, there were only 5-10 Everett slots on the board the past couple of years, and they go fast, usually right after Pearl Harbor.

 

[2sr2worry]

The base is fairly new (i think it was built in 1994 or so)...OK the base facilities are new. It has two piers (A and B), and a uniform NEX. other than that, there's not much to do there. The commisary and main NEX is pretty far north in Smokey Point, and I think that's where the housing is also located. It's a strange layout.

It's also a long trip to get to the ocean, I think about an eight hour sea and anchor detail.

NAVSTA to Smokey Point is about 10 miles. Also an awesome outdoor rec center at Smokey Point.

Much shorter trip to the open ocean than Bremerton since no transit through Rich Passage. Carrier is berthed so that all you do is have the tugs pull you away from the pier, engage shafts, hang a 180 at the tip of Whidbey Island, and 4 hours later you're in open ocean, IIRC.

Also, concur on Alligator Soul. Plus you'll have to hit the Flying Pig micro-brewery. And there's good seafood at the pier at Anthony's and Confetti's.