Marine Corps Air Station, San Diego CA (MCAS) - Polaroids on Post
This Polaroid on Post feature about Marine Corps Air Station Miramar is from Cheyanne! She and her Marine hubby have been married since 2015. Their first duty station was Marine Corps Air Station Miramar and they were lucky to have been stationed there for 5 years! Since then, they’ve PCS’d twice! If you want to follow along with Chayanne at MCAS and beyond, feel free to pop over to her instagram: @ck.morris
Is there anything you wish you knew before heading to Miramar?
I wish I knew how expensive California was. I always heard that it was expensive to live there, but it was a bit of a shock getting groceries for the first time. Be prepared for that and also utilize your resources! The commissary is a great place to shop to save money.
What is your favorite & least favorite thing about MCAS?
Favorite - too many to choose! Miramar is a small base but it is a close-knit community with everything you need.
Least favorite - traffic and housing waitlists. Also was not prepared for all the jet noise, but you get used to it quickly.
What is the weather like in Miramar?
San Diego weather is perfect! Often very sunny and warm, with the exception of "May Gray" and "June Gloom". You may need a light jacket most evenings after the sun sets.
Did you live on or off post?
We lived off base in apartments when we first got married. The housing waitlist was very long and we needed somewhere to live once we arrived. We lived there while we waited for base housing. Once there was availability, we were able to live in base housing that was located eight miles from MCAS Miramar. Military housing can be harder to obtain during peak PCS times. I highly recommend applying for housing as soon as you have orders. There are a lot of housing options with Liberty Military Housing. Traffic in San Diego can be crazy so it is important to keep that in mind when selecting housing.
What should a newcomer know about the installation itself?
San Diego is huge! There are lots of great communities and neighborhoods in and around the base. You don't neccessarily have to live super close to base. You can save some money by living a little more inland. Traffic can be hectic in the mornings and in the afternoon commute. Cost of living is a little pricey but its worth it!
What bloggers or Facebook pages should people follow?
FB Group: San Diego Military Spouses
FB Page: Naval Base San Diego
Food & Drinks
Do you have any date night recommendations for other milsos?
Nothing beats San Diego Mexican Food! It is seriously the best! There are so many places! We love heading down to the ocean and walking the beaches or having dinner at one of the water front restaurants.
Where is your go-to spot for brunch?
Sea Port Village has a lot of great restaurants that over look San Diego Bay and are great for brunch.
Add it to the Bucket List
What should a milso add to their MCAS bucket list?
Sea Port Village (waterfront, shops, restaurants)
Balboa Park (museums)
Beaches
Sea World
San Diego Zoo
Are there any surrounding big cities you took weekend trips to?
DisneyLand and Knott's Berry Farm are only a couple hours away so you could go for the day or make a weekend out of it. Big Bear is amazing little getaway up in the mountains. Its a great place to rent a cabin and get away. You could also go to Palm Springs for a weekend. Las Vegas isn't too far away either.
What are some ideas for people with kiddos or families?
We have some amazing kid friendly beaches as well as some amazing parks in all of the communities. We are lucky to live near Sea World and the San Diego Zoo so getting annual passes are great.
