
5 Local Gems for Your Spring Staycation
Thursday, March 25, 2021 6:00 PM by Experience Olympia & Beyond

Thursday, March 25, 2021 6:00 PM by Experience Olympia & Beyond
Make the most of spring break and warmer days by rediscovering the gems in your hometown. A “staycation” means less stress and is often friendlier to your wallet. You can be more spontaneous and see places you’ve been meaning to visit.
We asked some of our locals to share some of their favorite Thurston County hidden gems. Continue to follow safe travel guidelines by wearing a face covering and keeping physically distant from others:
Cherry trees at the Capitol Campus should be bursting with blooms in the first half of April. Shina Wysocki of Chelsea Farms recommends visitors check out the trees on Cherry Lane, the street east of the Temple of Justice and the Legislative Building.
Yelm's graffiti wall greets walkers, runners and cyclists on the Yelm-Tenino Trail. A Yelm High School graduate—now a professional graffiti artist—regularly updates this longest free art wall in the Northwest with help from 20 of his friends. Line Critchfield, executive director, Yelm Chamber of Commerce, said the ever-changing graphics make every visit interesting.
Brewery Park at Tumwater Falls is a beautiful walk that includes views of the old brewery, says Thane Bryenton of Evergreen Valley Lavender Farm. The park is scheduled to reopen April 1 after construction projects and trail cleanup are completed. Two footbridges at each end of the gorge over the Deschutes River are highlights of the park’s paved trails.
Experience "main street" shopping in Tenino at The Iron Works Boutique, Aunt Kate's Chocolates and more. Residents and visitors can present $20 in cash at the Tenino Area Chamber of Commerce and receive a $21 Wooden Scrip. “During the Great Depression, the Tenino Chamber issued a similar wooden scrip to help support businesses. We’re taking a page from the history playbook to support our small businesses and give a benefit to our residents and visitors for their support of our community,” Chamber President Cheryl Pearce said.
Revival Motors & Coffee Co. is an unusual blend of motorcycle shop and coffee bar. Fuel up on coffee and PNW snacks (often fresh pastries) and check out the bike restorations in progress.
Even with COVID closures, there’s still plenty to see and do in Thurston County this spring break. More ideas:
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What are your spring break plans? Tag social posts #DecidedlyDifferent and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter (@Experience_Oly) and Instagram (@ExperienceOly).
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