Reconnect with Outdoor Art & Creative Culture
Small communities are the backbone of our region with so many stories to share. Bring your sense of adventure and immerse yourself in all the region has to offer. Remember to plan ahead and practice safe travel.
Pack the car with friends and family and reconnect with your creative side along the Thurston Bountiful Byway.
Throughout the summer, and beyond, our team will concoct monthly daycation itineraries. Let us take away the indecision and pressure of making plans and give you an easy option to enjoy ALL our region has to offer.
Morning of History in Tiny Town Tenino
Allow an hour to explore historic downtown Tenino, WA. Tenino is famous for its sandstone; not only was it used in many buildings throughout Tenino, but it was also shipped to many sites around the Northwest for use in buildings, including the old Thurston County Courthouse and the Theodore Jacobson Observatory at the University of Washington. Plan for an additional hour to visit the Tenino Depot Museum and learn more about Tenino’s wooden-money foray during the Great Depression. If you have time, pick up a sweet treat at Aunt Kate’s Chocolates along the way.
For Lunch, Meet the Makers
Before leaving Tenino, stop in at Don Juan’s Mexican Kitchen and pick up some Wet Burritos to go. Just minutes down the road, enjoy a picnic lunch at Sandstone Distillery, the first of its kind in Thurston County since the Prohibition. Owner, John Bourdon, takes great pride in each hand-crafted batch of spirits using locally-sourced grains. Ask him about the tools he displays on his wall!
Afternoon of Outdoor Art
Enjoy an afternoon adventure to the Monarch Sculpture Park, upholding the legacy of fine art and sculpture in nature. The park connects to the historic Chehalis Western Trail, formerly a railroad owned by the Weyerhaeuser Chehalis Western Railroad until the mid-1980’s. Take in the many different ecosystems, wetlands, forests, farmlands, prairies, rivers and lakes along the way.
Dinner Outdoors
If you are looking for a dinner spot, check out Ricardo’s Kitchen and Bar in Lacey, WA. If you enjoy your art in the form of food and beverage, this is the restaurant for you. Enjoy a dry-aged steak and a hand-crafted cocktail fireside on the open-air patio.
Don’t forget to share
Spend the weekend and find dining, lodging, events, festivals and entertainment ideas at www.experienceolympia.com. Make sure to share your best shots with us by tagging social posts #ExperienceOlympia and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter (@Experience_Oly) and Instagram (@ExperienceOly).
