The Most Instagrammed Spots in Olympia & Beyond

The people have spoken and 2018 was the year of Instagram! From snapping selfies at the state capitol, capturing wildlife at the Billy Frank Jr Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge to documenting a jaunt through picturesque Tumwater Falls. The data has spoken and here are the MOST Instagrammed spots of 2018 from Olympia and Beyond:

Downtown Olympia:

Soak in the views of the Capitol Lake viewing area, snap selfies on the Capitol Campus, utilize the backdrops at The Olympia-Rafah Solidarity Mural and natural beauty of Percival Landing. All destinations make for a picture-perfect backdrop with plenty of options for exploration.

Tumwater

Get a walk in while snapping photos along the trail to Tumwater Falls at Tumwater Falls Park. It houses a one-half mile scenic loop trail along the Deschutes River and three cascading waterfalls, with interpretive signs featuring pictures that illustrate the history of the area. Glimpse the old Olympia Brewery from the lower falls. Built in 1906, it housed the works that made what was unqualifiably the best beer made on the West Coast, according to a local newspaper. What made it so great? Olympia owner Leopold Schmidt discovered an Artesian well and used that water to make his beer. People said it was of unparalleled quality, hence its motto "It's the water!". Many local breweries still carry on the tradition of the old Olympia Brewery by brewing beer made with water from that same Artesian well used by Leopold Schmidt.

Tenino

Framed by moss-flecked sandstone blocks and fronting a picturesque forest waterfall, the Tenino Quarry Pool looks like a lush resort escape. The Tenino Depot Museum (next to the quarry pool) is a former working train depot full of local history, including an authentic period washing machine, clothing and accessories from the 1930s and '40s, and a press used to make wooden currency during the Great Depression. Also, not to be missed is Wolf Haven International. Wolf Haven International is a nationally recognized wolf sanctuary that has rescued and provided a lifetime home for 250 displaced, captive-born animals since 1982. Guided 50-minute walking visits offer guests a rare, close-up view of wolves. Wolf Haven provides a variety of educational programs, participates in multi-agency Species Survival Plan programs for critically endangered wolves and advocates for wolves in the wild.

Lacey

It's a photographers playground here, where pristine natural landscapes welcome critters of all kinds. The Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge is a protected estuary where the fresh water of the Nisqually River meets the salt water of the Puget Sound to create a natural habitat that provides a home for a diverse variety of birds, animals and sea life. Here there are lot's of photo opportunities and a photogenic boardwalk that provides an up close view of the action. Not far away is Tolmie State Park and its beautiful beaches that provide the perfect location for a picturesque sunrise or sunset.