The best way to get to Misawa is via JR or Airplane.
The best way to get around is by personal vehicle. However Taxi service is abundant.
There are many places in and around Misawa that are worth seeing.
For example: The Misawa Aviation & Science Museum, Miss Veedol Beach and Swan Lake.
There is a lot of small parks and such, and a small bar district, but not much to do if you don't like nature type stuff. It is close to the hakkodas and the ocean, but that is about it. In September, the joint USAF/JSDF air base opens to the public for its annual airshow.
Many local places here have English menus due to the large military population. Lots of food to eat, everything from Chinese to Japanese to Thai, all good.
Try the 'Sapporro Ramen Shop' across the street from the main post office, it's small, it's old school, it's cheap and delicious with great Shoyu Chashu and of course a side of Gyoza.
At the four way facing the McDonalds make a left down the four way road and on your right you'll come across the 'Ramen Gyoza Restaurant' this place is good for more than the ramen, a full on Shokudo the Katsu Curry is one of the best dishes.
In Misawa proper if you want Hamburger steak, Tonkatsu or both Tonki, two blocks from the budokan and down the same street as cheese roll will have you covered, it's run by 2 generations of the same family and they are some of the nicest people you will meet.
All in all, Misawa is full of good restaurants, the smaller the better and avoid ones specifically geared towards the large foreign population, they're predictable.
Where you can, just don't get 'X'ed out of the japanese bars, unless you are trying to.
There are lots of good Izakaya in Misawa, both chain and local, if you want a good place with cheap beer to start off the night and lots of good drinking food, try:
Drinking in Misawa is more fun that many think, you can karaoke Enka one minute and get down in Nitrous the next, what you want is out there, you just have to have an open mind and find it.