It’s hard to underestimate the impact of Hill Air Force Base (HAFB) www.hill.af.mil on Utah. Best estimates are it pumps $2 billion-plus per year into the state’s economy.

If Hill powers this part of Utah, the F-16 powers Hill. It’s home to the largest fleet of Fighting Falcons on the planet. The 88 th Fighter Wing is based there. So is the 419 th Air Force Reserve Fighter Wing. But the reason for being of HFAB is the Air Force Materiel Command, which supports the ubiquitous fighter/bomber.

Ogden Air Logistics Center (OO-ALC) does the heavy lifting, providing worldwide engineering and logistics for the F-16—as well as the A-10 (a mainstay close-support craft). OO-LC keeps other craft mission-ready too, specifically the Minuteman III and Peacekeeper intercontinental ballistic missiles.

While casting a worldwide net to support these weapons systems, Hill also overhauls the F-16, A-10 and C-130, providing depot level maintenance for the aircraft.

No wonder official travelers beat a path to Ogden.

How to Get There
Unless you’re flying in via military transport, you’ll be using Salt Lake City International, Delta’s fastest-growing hub, to access HAFB. SLC is readily reachable from virtually anywhere in the country—nonstop. Southwest Airlines is also a major player at Salt Lake.

Once you land at SLC your best bet is to rent a car. Then, take I-80 East to I-215, which merges with I-15. Go north on I-15. Take Exit 331. That’s North Hill Field Road. Go to the top of the hill and enter through the South Gate.

Where to Stay
Because of the frequent comings and goings, HFAB sports 222 temporary lodging units (801-777-4681). The Ogden area has a full host of name-brand hotels. Among the better-known, per diem-friendly are:

• The 75-room Holiday Inn Express (801-392-5000) at 2245 South 1200 West. The place features an indoor pool, a whirlpool and a sandpit/volleyball court.
• The 292-room Marriott Ogden (801-627-1190) at 247 24 th Street. This hotel is located in the center of downtown Ogden, adjacent to Historic 25 th Street. That puts a number of casual and upscale restaurants within walking distance.
• The Hampton Inn & Suites (801-394-9400) at 2401 Washington Boulevard. Hamptons have a reputation for some of the best bedding in the mid-priced arena, and really decent free breakfasts.
• The Comfort Suites (801-621-2545) at 2250 South 1200 West. This is a first-rate, modern property. A good per diem value.

Where to Eat
When it comes to food, Ogden is no hardship tour. Far from it. Because this is also a resort area, with ski lodges nearby, the region’s cuisine is first-rate. There is a legion of good places to dine and kick back along Historic 25 th Street downtown. Consider Roosters 25 th Street Brewing Company (801-627-6171). It’s at 253 25 th. The brewmaster has created over 26 beers. Try Mom’s Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Ale. The fresh seafood, steaks and pasta are also good.

Not far away, at 172 25 th Street is one of Ogden’s best restaurants: Artisan Grille (801-395-0166). It may not fit your per diem, but the food is worth a contribution on your part. This is a white linen establishment, specializing in fine dining.

Something edgier? Try Bistro 258 (801-394-1595), at 258 25 th Street. One of the best entrees is the seafood linguini.

Outside of town, in the Ogden Valley, East of Eden (801-745-8618) is worth driving to. You’ll find it at 2529 North Highway 162. Close to golfing, hiking and boating venues, East of Eden serves up salads, sandwiches, burgers, pizza, pasta and appetizers.

What to Do
If you like the outdoors, this swath of Utah is sublime. Nestled against the Wasatch Front, on the western flank of the Rockies, the Ogden area boasts superb skiing and hiking.

Powder Mountain (801-745-3772) is located in Eden, Utah—19 miles north of Ogden. The 5,500-acre affair is blessed with abundant snow, an average of 500 inches per year. Wolf Mountain (801-745-3511) is also near Eden. Skiing goes on there from December through March. If you’re on TDY and have the family with you, know that Wolf Mountain offers a learning package that fits parents and kids alike. The entire mountain is lighted so you can take in a run or two after duty.

Looking for something less strenuous, a shade more artistic? Take in Peery's Egyptian Theater (801-395-3227) at 2415 Washington Boulevard. Built back in 1924, it’s on the National Register of Historic Sites. Each January, the Egyptian makes a bit of history of its own as a satellite site to the world-renowned Sundance Film Festival. It hosts five or six screenings per season.

If you’re stuck on or near base, and unable to break away for a half day, a quick trip to one of this planet’s premier aerospace collections is still doable. Hill Aerospace Museum (801-777-6868) houses more than 80 flying machines. Each year, some 180,000 people home in on this jewel. You’ll find a B-29 out on the grounds, a gargantuan C-124 Globemaster II too. You don’t need a gate pass into Hill to get to the museum. Just take Exit 338 off I-15 in Roy, and enter the museum grounds that way. It’s located at 7961 Wardleigh Road.

Air Force and civilian personnel assigned to Hill Air Force Base or Ogden Air Logistics Center have known for years this is one of the best duty or TDY stations in the military. Now, others are catching onto the fact—fast.

Jerome Greer Chandler is the winner of 16 Associated Press broadcast journalism awards. He's been recognized by the Royal Aeronautical Society for journalistic excellence in the field of aviation reporting. The 16-year contributor to Frequent Flyer has written about commercial aviation for Popular Science, Travel & Leisure, The New York Times Syndicate and others. His book Fire & Rain - the story of the wind shear crash of Delta Flight 191 - was a bestseller, and was subsequently made into a highly rated television movie. Drawing on his insights on commercial aviation, Chandler has appeared on Good Morning America, CNN and the PBS science series Nova. Jerome can be reached at JerryC1410@aol.com