Hi My son graduated on 9/14. We stayed at the Atlas Inn, it was clean and convient. About 5 minutes from Tracen. Our rooms were eff. they had 2 rooms one with 2 double beds the other with a pull out couch, it also had alittle kitchen.It faced the ocean. The hotel is old and worn, but clean.Our rate was about $100. The room included breakfast downstairs,it was fast and pretty good.By the time we left the base it was close to 2:00. With the Friday traffic and slow security at the Phil. airport, I would think you should not book your flight until at least 6:30 or 7:00. We stayed the night about 20 minutes from the airport and left Saturday morning. Also,our son had 3 big bags,plus the one he brought with him. We had not anticapated that when renting our car. Don't use Budget rental they were so slow.They weren't reliable with their pickup & drop off times. Good Luck, Ellen

Thank you for the response, I looked up Atlas Inn on trip visor.com and they said the hotel was as you stated. I will have to wait until we can talk with our son about staying Friday night, I am assuming he would want to flyout and be home on Saturday. I think the last non stop out of Philly is around 5:45, so you're saying that would be pushin it?

you can alway make a nice little weekend trip out of it and stay in atlantic city (if your the gamblin' type) and drive down to c.m. about a half hour to the south.

cape may is a quaint seaside town loaded with bed and breakfast places. atlantic city also has an airport to fly into. im not sure if it would be cheaper to fly into that one.

Milo
I could be wrong , but I don't think you would make that early of a flight. Even without hitting Friday traffic it is almost a 2 hour drive, and the rental cars are not in the airport you have to take a shuttle To get and return them. We went to Atlantic City Thursday night, it was just ok, We stayed in Cape May after the Grad. for lunch. There is a lot of nice little places to eat and the local shops in Washington Mall were fun. They all put there stuff out on the sidewalks. My son liked seeing a little of Cape May, he said they didn't get to see any of it while at BC. If there is not a later fight maybe you can stay by the airport and take an early morning flight out Saturday. Also after the Ceremony your Coastie has to go and get all their things,and if they want they can introduce you to their CCs and give you a tour of Tracen. They have an area set up to buy Coast Guard merchandise, there is a lot to choose from and it was very reasonably priced. They only take checks or cash. Good Luck you will really enjoy every minute of it. The USCG makes you feel very welcomed. Ellen

Milo - Here is an old post that I wrote of our graduation experience. It was from Jan. 2007.

Hi,

This post is really for Roxanne whose kid is in the early part of boot camp.

I went 'commando' - leaving my house @ 10AM Thursday to catch a 12:40 flight from Los Angeles to Philadelphia. Having not flown since 911 - the security was a pain. Make sure any liquids are 3 ounces or less per bottle and in a clear zip lock bag that's easy to get a hold of, and be prepared to take off your shoes and coat. Line wasn't to bad at LAX - maybe 5 minutes total wait.

Rented a car from Dollar. I got lucky and they had a GPS unit available for an extra $10.00. Since I arrived at night - it really came in handy. Getting out of Philly was a tad confusing with 4 or 5 jukes and jives having to be made within a few miles of each other. Have them show you how to use the dang thing (my first time) and make sure the sound volume works. (It'll tell you to keep right or keep left and that the turn is coming up in X miles.)

New Jersey at night isn't like LA. It's dark. Really dark, and the GPS shows you what the road is like up ahead for a mile or so.

It was lightly raining and you might expect some snow when you go.

I stayed at a hotel / B&B called the Virginia in Cape May. Pulled in just before midnight and everything, and I mean just about everything is closed. They had a lady at the front desk and I asked if there was anyplace open to get a bite to eat. She directed me to a 7-11 type store called the Wawa. Yes, Wawa, and told me how to get there. If you've never been to a Wawa - you're in for a treat. There must have been 20 coffee pots of assorted flavors and a deli with a 'touch screen' build your own sandwich kiosk - they'll show you how to use it. I also got a chicken soup that was great.

While you're sandwich is being made, you can shop around for a salad (great variety) and something to drink. Al-in all, a great find - wish we had them here.

Anyway, the Wawa is on Pittsburgh (Ave / Street?), which is also the street you'll be turning off of to get to the base. There are flashing yellow lights at the intersection of Pittsburgh and whatever the street is that takes you to the base.

The manager at the Wawa asked where I was staying and I told him and he said the dining room at the Virginia was a great place to eat. Unfortunately it wasn't open when I got there.

On the way back to the hotel, I drove up to the base, just to see where I'd be headed in the morning.

The Graduation proceedings started at 9:30 on Friday so I gave myself an extra 15 minutes to arrive. Wrong... should have made it 45 minutes early. There was a line of cars getting onto the base (for both graduation and other) and it took at least 20 minutes waiting just to get on base.

Once there, they direct you where to park and you walk about a quarter mile to an auditorium where they're going to give you a little talk and show you a couple of movies. At the back of the auditorium they have a couple of tables and glass cases set up with a bunch of Coast Guard stuff (sweatshirts, hats, key chains, and stuff). They don't take checks, - cash or credit card. You'll also get the opportunity of going into the base Exchange where more of the same can be purchased after the ceremony, and I'd suggest if going, that you drive over. It's a hike away from the gym where the ceremony takes place. And, you have to have your son with you to go in.

Okay, after they show you the movie, then they direct (herd) you to the gym for the ceremony.

I was very surprised at how many families showed up for this event - way more than were in the auditorium. The place was packed.

Here's a tip I wished I'd have known prior to actually going into the gym.

Once the movies were shown - we all headed for the gym - all unaware that the graduating companies were going to be marching around just outside of th gym singing cadence and doing all the neat stuff they've been taught to do for the past 8 weeks.

My son was surprised that hardly anyone was out to watch them in their pride and joy moment. (Apparently only those showing up late or stragglers from the auditorium got to see them.) So the vast majority of us missed this event - which is a shame - because beside your kids name being called out and watching him go up and get his certificate - the rest of the the ceremony was - well like any graduation - a little band music - a few speeches - and little rifle tossing (pretty neat) and some hootin' and hollerin' from the families, and watching your kid stand at attention for an hour.

Watching them march in step while singin' out cadence - now that would have been something to see. Those of us inside didn't even know it was going on.

Oh well...

After the ceremony ended we walked back to his barracks to collect his stuff. He had one duffle bag - which weighed around 100 pounds, one carry on bag that he had taken with him and a suit bag for his uniforms. One heck of a lot of stuff and very heavy.

We took his bags back to the car and then he was supposed to give me a tour of the base. The base itself is pretty spread out and there a a few good 'photo op' places (artillery pieces, brass bells, statues, and a smattering of boats used for training on the lawns) but I gotta tell ya, my son wasn't really wanting to hang around.

I felt like I was rescuing someone from the gates of hell. It was like, "Okay Dad, there's the pool, there's the mess hall, way over there is the Exchange, you saw the barracks - can we go now?..."

We had a little time before we had to head back for the airport, so we went to lunch down the street at the Lobster House.

Oh, I almost forgot, these are toll roads both ways. I think I had to stop and pay about 2 or 3 time both ways - so have some one dollar bills handy when driving.

We flew back on United Airlines and once you've turned in the car and are shuttled over and check the bags - the USO is right there at United (You're son will probably know - he probably stopped there on his way in.)

So we went in and got a bite to eat and changed into traveling clothes - (actually my son changed in the car right after lunch.)

Here's the hot tip - the person in charge of the desk at the USO can take you to a special security entrance and bypass a ton of people. You still have to take off your shoes and coats and metal and everything - but you don't have to wait in line. (The line was huge - probably a 40 minute wait.) Well worth stopping by the USO. - Hopefully you'll be flying United too.)

Once on the airplane - your son will most likely fall asleep and stay that way all the way back to California. Then expect him to sleep a lot for the next few days - and really look forward to home cooked meals. (Even though he said the food at the base was pretty good - too much fried food - but still okay.)

And he'll probably retain some of the "Military Bearing" they drill into them - which is kind of neat - except the pointing thing is weird - instead of pointing with a finger they point with their hand fully extended - I thought he was going to 'high five' me a couple of times when he pointing something out.

Anyway, Roxanne - I'm going to private message you with my contact information in case you'd like to know anything else.

It was a 36 hour, couple thousand miles, airport, rental car, hotel, military, journey - well worth the effort. Proud as heck of my kid, and got to eat at a Wawa. What more could you ask for?...

Geezerdude thank you for taking the time to repost your information, I'm glad you did not have to retype all that. What BB did you stay at and how did you like the place? I see they BB are alot of them in Cape May, I'm not sure I am the BB type.
Shamrock I am looking at Atlantic City, and would like to fly in there but the flights are more limited.
Ellen that is what I needed to know...2hr ride, rental return..security check in..etc does a flight out at say 7pm sound about right?

Milo - I think we did take a 7pm flight. I stayed at the Virginian. It is a B&B - in fact Cape May is know as the B&B Capital of the US. The Virginia was really nice - old but nice - clean, update (flat screen TV, mini-bar, well decorated. Cape May is really a small place - you could drive around it in 15-20 minutes or so. Really aren't any "big box" hotels there, however there are a couple of large ones. Google 'Cape May B&B's' and you should find all the info you need.

If we had it to do over again, I'd have liked to spend another 6 hours just walking around the place a little more. Lots of Victorian architecture to look at.

Would have been nice to spend the night there after graduation, but my son was chompin' at the bit to get away from there as fast as humanly possible.

We tried to fly into Atlantic City - but couldn't make any connections that #1 made sense time wise (layovers), and #2 actually cost more. All in all, it would have been a hassle.

Not sure if your kid will be graduating inside (gym) or outside - depends on the weather, but do think about seeing him march around just prior to the ceremony if possible - it's the one thing we missed and there'll never be another opportunity.

Good luck with the travel, and congrats to your son.

Geezerdude - aka Mike

MILO
I think you will be fine with a 7pm flight. When we got to the airport I dropped my husband off with the luggage and he got in line at the security check,my son and I returned the rental car. That might help if your really crunched for time. Also I mapquested the airport to the hotel[in case there is no GPS]. The only tricky part is leaving the rental car and heading over the bridge out of Philly. Once on the Garden State Parkway it's easy. Heading back to the airport was not a problem.Again try an avoid Budget rental. They are not reliable with their pickup times in either direction. We ended up walking and running from their building[which is not attached to the airport]through most of the airport to SW Airlines terminal. All though it was fun having my son show me how they did things in BC I thought I was going to die.Good luck., you will enjoy every minute of it.The anticapation waiting to see your child and then seing them and not actually believing it is them. Best Wishes, Ellen

Thank you for all the responses, I am starting to put a plan together. Sounds like coming in Wednesday or staying over Friday night to enjoy Cape May and its offerings is preffered.
Cruiselover you mentioned t-shirts.......I ordered some shirts for the family from ...teamlogo.com....I can not give a recommendation on the quality yet because they haven't arrived but they look like the same shirt my son received from his recruiter.
Anyone know when or how the decision to have an inside or outside graduation is made? I would also like to watch the marching and drills outside than watch the film inside.

Wow too cold in May, I guess I shouldn't get my hopes up for an outside graduation..Oct 26.
The t-shirts I ordered came today from teamlogo.com, the shirt looks like good quality but the graphics are just iron on, not silk screen. I'm not sure what difference that makes until I wash them.

I'm curious now....The video that is played before graduation: is it the same video that they attach to the graduation video that's available to buy?? I'm glad it was mentioned that if you leave and watch the video that you'll miss seeing the companies march around, because now I won't miss it, but now I'm wondering if the video is something i won't want to miss either. If it's the same one as on the purchased copy, then great.

Hey Michelle, We watched the video when we went to Bren's graduation in June. Its a generic one that they just show features on the missions of the CG and what the recruits go through for 8 wks. I would gladly miss the video to watch the company's doing cadence outside. The one for purchase is the actual graduation that involves our guys ini it. Plus they set up a mini store that you can purchase shirts, hats, bumper stickers, coins, you name it. I picked up a really nice hoody sweatshirt..and of course I'll probably pick up more next time around.

Awesome, thank you! I'm getting so excited to go to graduation. I get goosebumps thinking about Mike and Derek marching around in their dress uniforms to cadences lol. I'm glad they have stuff you can purchase because I've been looking at the military store on base and they have hardly any Coast Guard stuff. I managed to find a sticker that says "Coast Guard Wife Toughest Job In The Guard" for my car, but that's about it. A hoody would be perfect....Anyway, thanks! See you in a few weeks!

I am scheduled to stay at the Montreal Inn for J178 graduation. Does anybody have any experience with this place?

We are also staying at the Montreal for J178's graduation. I only know what I read on the internet. Hopefully it's okay!

Thank you all for posting this information! I'm making a packet for my parents (they are not too internet savy) for when I'm shipped out. This information will be so helpful!

I will post a graduation recap once I catch my breath...but I can say the Virginia BB is a top notch place to stay..close to everything....valet parking...great staff...and with a AAA discount only a $109 a night.