As you're looking for fun things to do while summer rolls on, remember that military installations offer affordable options, including recreation areas and campgrounds, rented recreation equipment, and discounts for events, attractions, hotels and vacation packages.

A number of bases have recreation areas and campgrounds with various types of facilities — cabins, cottages, trailers, and trailer or RV parks with hook-ups.

At Fort Hood's Belton Lake Recreation Area, for example, the facilities range from 10 cottages to 60 tent sites. Or check out the cottages, RV sites and tent sites at Cheatham Annex around Cheatham Lake near Williamsburg, Virginia. Visit this Army website with information about all military recreation areas and campgrounds. Make sure you call to see if you need reservations.

Check out the tickets and tours office at your installation (or one in an area where you'll be traveling) for what's available locally. For example, at Naval Air Station Key West, you can get information and discounted tickets to local attractions, Florida theme parks, and bus tours for shopping, attractions and sporting events. For office locations, visit the Army, Marine Corps and Air Force websites. You can also search for MWR and the installation in the MilitaryOneSource installation directory.

Among the national discounts:

1. The Blue Star Museums program, through Sept. 7, with more than 2,000 museums offering free admission to active-duty, National Guard and reserve members and their families. Military ID cardholders and up to five family members can visit participating museums for free. Here's a list of museums.

2. Annual free passes at national parks that charge entrance fees or standard amenity fees. Passes are good for a year, and admit the holders and any accompanying passengers in a private, noncommercial vehicle in areas that charge per vehicle; or the pass holder and up to three additional adults at sites that charge per person.

Get the pass in person at federal recreation sites that charge entrance or standard amenity fees, and show your military ID. Dependents of deployed military members with a DoD Form 1173 also can get a pass. If the service member hasn't been deployed, the dependent may be the second signer on his or her sponsor's pass. More information is available here.

Got an opinion on AAFES?

Here's your chance to sound off on customer service at Army and Air Force Exchange Service stores. And through Aug. 31, shoppers who fill out a satisfaction survey from either their cash register receipt or their e-receipt will be registered in a sweepstakes for a $250 AAFES gift card.

One winner will be randomly chosen each week from authorized shoppers who complete the survey that week. To be eligible, you must complete the survey and provide your name and contact information. Anyone eligible to shop at exchanges — from any branch of service — is eligible.

2015 "is the year of the customer" at AAFES, said Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Sean Applegate, AAFES' senior enlisted adviser, in an announcement about the sweepstakes and survey. "We want to hear from all of the customers so we can offer them the best service possible."

Karen has covered military families, quality of life and consumer issues for Military Times for more than 30 years, and is co-author of a chapter on media coverage of military families in the book "A Battle Plan for Supporting Military Families." She previously worked for newspapers in Guam, Norfolk, Jacksonville, Fla., and Athens, Ga.

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