Olympia, Washington Visitors Guide
and neighboring Lacey & Tumwater/Thurston County
Back dropped with Mt. Rainier and Mt. Olympus and having the Puget Sound at its doorstep, Olympia is a beautiful city set in all the natural splendor one could ask for. Whether you crave the peace and tranquility of nature, the inspiration of art, the rich aroma of delectable coffee at Batdorf & Bronson Coffee Tasting or fine dining at Budd Bay Café, Olympia has everything you could ask for.
Olympia Area Gardens
Capital Grounds - With its Japanese gardens and state conservatory, this a place sure to delight all your senses with its sweet smelling beauty.
Yashiro Japanese Gardens - The waterfalls, bamboo, oriental flowers and ponds are a relaxing and reviving way to enjoy nature.
Schmidt Mansion Centennial Rose Garden - Here you can see over 300 varieties of gorgeous roses—some of which are over 100 years old.
Olympia Area Museums
The State Capital Museum - Originally the Lord Mansion; be sure to spend some time here to learn about the state and its heritage from its earliest times to the present.
The Bigelow House - This is Olympia’s oldest residence (1860). Here you can see period pictures and pieces.
Olympic Flight Museum -To learn about the history of flight, see the vintage planes and discover more about aviation this is the place to go.
Other museums in Thurston County are the Library Building, the Hands-On Children’s Museum, the Henderson House Museum and the Lacey Museum.
Olympia Parks & Preserves
Olympia has several opportunities for hiking, swimming, picnicking, fishing and boating. From the 800 acre Millersylvania State Park to the playground and trails at Priest Point Park or Trumwater Falls Park, there is always something to enjoy.
Percival Landing Park -Here you can trek the ˝ mile path along the marina, see the surrounding sights at the Observation Tower, visit Heritage Fountain or view the statue of The Kiss.
The Oyster Beds - Rare oysters indigenous to the South Puget Sound areas of Big Shookum, Little Shookum, Mud and Oyster bays.
Mina Mounds Natural Are Preserve - Unusual mounds 8-10 feet high are found in the meadows west of town.
Wolf Haven International - To learn about area ecology as well as the many wolves that make this their home, spend some time here. The wolves who reside here are unable to survive in the wild. You will learn about their habits and natural habitats as you visit the interpretive center.
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