Boat In, Stay for the Week in the Heart of the South Sound

Planning to do a bit of exploration on the waters of the South Puget Sound? Olympia is the perfect place to boat in and spend a week exploring the incredible experiences that Thurston County has to offer.

Spend time experiencing the downtown’s eclectic vibe full of boutique shops and farm/tide-to-table eateries, then head out into our region’s idyllic farmland or tackle the many trails and hiking opportunities our great outdoors has to offer. Whether you’re just staying the night or making it a week-long adventure, there are endless opportunities to create amazing memories just minutes from where you’re moored.

Swantown Marina

Greeting all vessels at the southern-most tip of the Sound is Swantown Marina. The seventh largest marina in Washington, Swantown is the center of recreational boating activities and is home to a diverse boating community. Amenities include 70 guest slips, a 100 foot state-of-the-art fueling and pump-out station, around the clock security, and an environmentally friendly haul-out, maintenance, and storage yard called the “Boatworks”.

*Don’t miss this event! Summer Nights at the Port – July 30th

It’s about a one-mile hike from Swantown Marina to the downtown boardwalk area but you can accomplish that in a leisurely 15-20 minutes. Wanting to save your strength for exploring and walking downtown Olympia? Uber and Lyft are quicker options, and you can always rent a car. There’s no wrong way to experience Olympia!

Car Rental Resources

Make getting around Thurston County super easy with one of these car rental services:

OUT ON THE BOARDWALK

Once your boat is secure, it’s time to stretch your legs and explore downtown Olympia’s boardwalk. Located in the heart of downtown Olympia, Percival Landing is a three-acre waterfront park and popular hub for gatherings and public events. The Landing boasts a nearly one-mile boardwalk, meandering along the eastern shoreline of West Bay with water views, additional boat moorage and public artwork. Popular waterfront restaurants to consider are Anthony’s Hearthfire Grill, Anthony’s Homeport Olympia, the Budd Bay Café, Dockside Bistro and Wine Bar, Row, and the city’s oldest restaurant, the Olympia Oyster House.

STOCK UP THE COOLER

If you’re looking for fresh, local vegetables to take back to the boat, be sure to pop into the second largest farmers market in Washington, the Olympia Farmers Market (open Thursday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April through October). If you’re looking for insanely fresh seafood to take back to cook on the boat, Olympia Seafood Company on the boardwalk can’t be missed (link). Stop by Bittersweet Chocolates for dessert, and The Cider Barrel for a selection of over 300+ different varietals of hard cider. Delmonico’s is Olympia’s artisan butcher shop offering fresh, locally sourced beef, pork, lamb, chicken and more, house made deli items and cold cuts, hot and cold sandwiches, local beer and rare wines, as well as high-end European and local, artisanal grocery items. Rounding out your grocery list should be Buck’s Spices and Herbal Apothecary. One of America’s oldest spice stores, Buck’s has been offering an interesting and dynamic assortment of exotic herbs and spices, local small-batch organic and sustainably produced gourmet herb and spice blends, bulk herbs, and gourmet specialties, for almost 50 years now. Don’t miss this tiny gem while you’re roaming downtown.

EXPERIENCE DOWNTOWN OLY

If it’s shopping you’re after, look no further than downtown’s amazing boutique shops, antique stores, bookshops and thrifting opportunities:

DOWNTOWN DINING

From the pristine seafood you’d expect from South Puget Sound to food trucks and a substantial international cuisine scene, our culinary artists in downtown Olympia are waiting to amaze you. You might try:

A FINE CUP O’ JOE PLUS BREAKFAST DELIGHTS

We see you Portland and Seattle, and we’re raising the bar on a mean cup of joe. Besides an incredibly good cup of coffee, our downtown spots are a mash-up of retail spaces with outdoor goods and gear, spaces for local artists to display, and coffee artisans whose missions started in the heart of Olympia and now reach worldwide. Come for the coffee, leave inspired to make the world a better place. But what’s a good cup of coffee without a stellar baked good alongside (plus a few stowed away in your backpack for later)? Handcrafted, made from scratch baked goods abound in the downtown area and there is no shortage of croissants, kougin-amann, danish, and fresh loaves hot out of the oven. Here are a few of our favorite downtown breakfast spots:

JUST OUTSIDE THE CITY – THURSTON BOUNTIFUL BYWAY

If you love getting to know the local history, culture, and characters in the areas you explore, then a little road trip on the Thurston Bountiful Byway is in order. This 60-mile loop offers endless authentic, cultural, and culinary experiences. Plan your getaway, load up a rental car and hit the open road!

Some of our favorite spots:

More Marinas

How to Pack: Tips To Help You Pack Like A Pro

There’s a bit of a long-standing joke among Pacific Northwesterners that we’re always dressed for a potential hike and/or rain. And if we’re being honest, it’s true. Thurston County is full of amazing hiking and outdoor opportunities just minutes from Olympia proper, and unless you’re visiting in July and August, you’re probably going to experience some rainy weather.

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