I live there. I don't think you'll want to limit yourself by shopping on base. Other than the commissary, you will find much better deals and selection outside of the gates. So much is changing in this area and it's really expanding. There are tons of chain restaurants and lots of shops. Harker Heights is in the midst of building a huge shopping center with a lot of new-to-the-area stores like Barnes & Noble, PetCo, etc. As far as supermarkets, HEB is about the only choice in the area besides Super Wal-Mart. I try to go to the commissary when I can though because you will save some by going there instead. The PX though is overpriced and under-supplied. If you feel the need to buy Coach purses and Tommy Hilfiger clothing it's a pretty good deal compared to offpost but if you tend to go towards the less expensive brands or really, if you like any wide selection of choice at all, you will go off post. If you have anything else you would like to know about or need specific info, just ask!

Hi, No help here, but thought I'd add this picture of my son at the Fort Hood Organizion Day in 1972, shortly after his first birthday. A photographer took this photo for the Armored Sentinel newspaper and they printed it very large in the paper.
I believe we lived on Gilmore St. in an apartment for about a year. Killeen and Harker Heights were pretty small towns back then. Hope you or armywife can post some modern pics for me. Linda

Thanks Armywife! I did notice thier were a lot of HEB markets listed on the net when looking in that area. I have never heard of them before.
I live here in a rural town of North Carolina and am trying to get use to (again) what I call "culture shock".
I got out of the Army life in 1993 and have lived out in the country ever since.
When I am used to the same Supermarkets/ restaurants etc. I have the one track thinking of I fear change. LOL

Linda, that pic of your son is precious!

Thanks, The picture is a real treasure to us, and now I have pics of his kids in that uniform. Hope your stay at Fort Hood is nice. I remember it being slightly colder there than here in SoCal and slightly warmer in the summer. The stars were much more visible in the sky there than here. We went to visit the Texas Ranger's Museum. I think it was on the Pecos River. Don't remember where it was exactly. We didn't have a car and a nice neighbor took us there. Linda

Hi Sue,
Sorry, no advice, but just wanted to say I was born in Fort Hood! My dad was stationed there when I was born.
Also, I'm happy for you that your husband didn't end up getting sent overseas.
Hugs,
Tammy

You will not be that for away from the Texas Hill Country. Austin is a must do. Hopefully, gas prices will go down and you can take a couple of day trips.

I recommend you go to the Pecan Street Festival, which is in September in Austin. Here is a link.

Gayle

Here is a link that might be useful: Pecan Street Festival

I don't live near there...I live near Galveston, on the coast, but was going to suggest HEB. It is a chain that originated in south Texas, in the Rio Grande Valley, I believe. Their meat is a lot better than Walmart's.

Linda--That picture is adorable! You wouldn't even recognize the place I bet. Sorry I don't have any pics of the area to share right now though. We were here in 97 the first time and we came back again in 04 and the chage was crazy! The entire highway 190 from the main gate of Hood to Harker Heights is all developed with chain restaurants and shopping areas now. Copperas Cove has really expanded too but is much less developed than Killeen still.
Sue-- if you are coming from a rural area it will be a bit of shock.. the traffic here is absolutely horrendous and darn near every young soldier out there drives like a lunatic running late to his own insanity hearing! There are some quiet places but it's definately city living here in Killeen.
That being said, it's not really a bad place to live. It's HOT though.

We live in Harker Heights. (Retired 3 months ago)
We love it.
Everything is right there. No need to go all the way to Post.
Traffic is crazy.
Other then that.. it's great.

Thanks everyone for the insight!
Armywife/Texasgirl the traffic sounds as if it will have me in a tizzy!!
My Dh has no problems driving anywhere so he will have the honor of taxi driver for a little while. LOL
I will have to take it one step at a time, like getting used to being on Post versus out in the middle of nowhere before tackling traffic.
Susan