You Belong Here

Olympia is a welcoming and passionate community – full of independent thinkers, hard workers, local craftsmen, and artists inspired by the region’s diverse natural beauty. Come be a part of our diverse, eclectic, and free-spirited community!

One of the Friendliest Towns on the West Coast

For a small city, Olympia is considerably hip, animated, progressive, and we have a lot going on. Spend a little time with us and you'll quickly uncover there are a variety of quirky and cultural places worth exploring, and that we're brimming with beautiful sights just waiting to be discovered. From our great arts and music scene (we're home to some of the best reviewed drag shows), to our abundance of outdoor activities, happening night life, and a thriving, active LGBTQ community where all can feel welcome and celebrated, we think you'll agree that you belong here.

Getting to Olympia couldn't be easier from SeaTac (Seattle-Tacoma International Airport). We're accessible in under two hours by car or shuttle - just head south along the I-5 corridor (it's kind of hard to miss us). If you’re feeling nostalgic for train travel, Amtrak stops daily at the Olympia/Lacey station. Need to rent a car while you're here? We've got you covered.

Got Two Days? Here's What to Do!

DAY ONE - EXPLORE OLYMPIA

Start your day off with a freshly-roasted cup of joe at Olympia Coffee Roasters (be sure to pick up a bag or two for your home kitchen) and stretch those legs out with a morning hike to the waterfront at the picturesque Squaxin Park. If you've got kids in tow, a stop at the Hands On Children’s Museum is mandatory where young ones (and adults alike) can enjoy learning about science, technology, engineering, art and math in a fun and whimsical atmosphere. Enjoy a delightful fusion of South Indian, Hawaiian and PNW cuisine at the Akashic Food Trailer on Water Street, or stock up on fresh picnic food to go at the Olympia Seafood Company (as in fresh off the boat) or Delmonico’s Heritage Butcher Shop (we're thinking wine and charcuterie). Now that you're re-fueled, it's time for some serious art gallery crawling. There's Splash Gallery along the boardwalk, featuring artists who call South Puget Sound Home, and Childhood's End Gallery featuring contemporary Pacific Northwest fine art work by regional & national artists. You'll also find Van Tuinen Art on 4th Street and Art House Designs on Franklin. When it's time for a break, head to the West Side for a craft brew at Headless Mumby, or stay downtown and sip regional wines at Happy Hour Olympia. End the evening with dinner at Nicole's Bar and look to Capitol Theater or the Washington Center for Performing Arts for evening entertainment.

Day Two - Hit the Road on the Thurston Bountiful Byway

The Thurston Bountiful Byway is a 60-mile loop tour covering rural Thurston County, promoting the agricultural aspects of our region including farms, farmers markets selling product produced locally and businesses sourcing from local farms. The route starts in the Nisqually Valley, stretches south to the city of Yelm and west to the Capital Forest before ending at the intersection of Mud Bay Road and Delphi Road SW. Hit up Ember Goods coffee shop in downtown Olympia before gassing up the car and hitting road. Head southwest along Highway 510 through the Nisqually Indian Community (we won't tell anyone if you try your hand at poker at the Red Wind Casino) toward Yelm. Spend the morning boutique and antique shopping at favorites like the Shiplap Shop and Coffee House, DC's Treasures, and InGenius! Local Artisan Gallery and Boutique. If you're more into enjoying the great outdoors, take a walk or bike along the Yelm-Rainier-Tenino trail that stretches from, you guessed it, Yelm to Tenino along Highway 507. After enjoying lunch (we dare you not to drool on their pastry displays) at the Masonry Café, take a stroll through the Monarch Sculpture Park filled with unique art pieces, an interactive sound garden and quiet picnic areas. It's on to the historical city of Tenino where you can find more antique shops like the Tenino Antique Mall along Sussex Avenue (Highway 507). If the mood strikes, stop in at Sandstone Distillery's new Tasting Room and sample a flight of their award-wining spirits (grab a bottle of Wildheart Sipping Vinegar for your designated driver to enjoy). Continue to make your way west along the byway and stop in the small farming community of Rochester to enjoy a variety of u-pour honeys at The Pacific Northwest Honey Company. Follow the byway signs and head north through farmland and Capitol State Forest as you make your way back to Olympia. End the day with dinner and drinks at the McMenamins Spar Café in downtown, followed by late night sips (and maybe some karaoke?) at a local favorite, The Clipper.

Got Four Days? Here's What to Do!

DAY ONE - THE CAPITAL CITY TOUR

Start your day at Burial Grounds Coffee Collective, a worker-owned cooperative shop in the heart of Olympia's downtown, before heading up the hill to the State Capitol. Tour the impressive grounds before heading inside for a guided or self-guided tour. If you're on foot, take the winding dirt path that leads you down to Marathon Park and stroll along Capitol Lake before stopping for lunch or a snack at one of the West Side food trucks or Cascadia Grill. Spend the afternoon shopping downtown at shops like Browsers Bookshop (the women-owned, independent bookstore has been around since 1935), pick up a gift for your green-thumbed friends at Underhill Plants, or add to your epic vinyl collection with a new addition from Rainy Day Records. Enjoy beautifully crafted cocktails and pristine seafood at the Chelsea Farms Oyster Bar (be sure to sample the Chelsea Gem, their namesake oyster) before heading over to take in some historic murals and meet the locals at The Brotherhood Lounge.

DAY TWO - ENJOY THE GREAT OUTDOORS

Before heading northeast to Lacey, stop off on Olympia's East Side and enjoy some of the best French pastries in the region at Left Bank Pastry. Hop on I-5 and get ready to spend the morning bird watching and breathing in fresh air along the boardwalks at the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, a biologically-rich and diverse area that supports a variety of habitats including the estuary, freshwater wetlands and riparian woodlands. That croissant should be long gone by now, which makes it the perfect time to stop for lunch at State and Central as you make your way back to Olympia, an East Side established neighborhood eatery home to the "Juicy Lucy" burger and 12 craft beers. Spend the afternoon vintage and antique shopping at shops like Courtyard Antiques & Home Decor, Unseen Articles, Peacock Vintage, and The Wiggle Room (there are so many more ...) before heading to drinks and dinner at Octapas - a welcoming café with a diverse menu and quality ingredients. Not ready to call it quits? We feel you. Head over to Cryptatropa Bar with its rotating seasonal cocktails counter-culture vibe.

DAY THREE - FARMERS MARKET BOUNTY

You've got a long day ahead of you - better start the day of right at Stellar Juices where you can score high quality organic and plant-based, juices, smoothies, food, and hot beverages. Then head to the Port and explore the Olympia Farmers Market, the second largest market in Washington State, overflowing with fresh produce, baked goods, meat, and seafood, as well as local craftsmen and makers. Enjoy the live music and grab a sweet treat or lunch item for later at one of the many food stalls on site. After you stash your haul, take a walk along the 0.9-mile boardwalk at Percival Landing that extends along the eastern shoreline of West Bay from the Fourth Avenue Bridge to Thurston Avenue featuring local shops, art galleries and restaurants. If you're a coffee connoisseur and need an afternoon pick-me-up, circle back to the Dancing Goats Coffee Tasting Room and take an intimate behind-the-scenes look at coffee roasting while also sampling their brew. For a taste of the Pacific Northwest influenced by the traditions and techniques of the American South, look no further than Chicory. This woman-owned casual fine-dining restaurant celebrates local and regional farmers, fishers, ranchers, foragers and winemakers (they have an amazing vinyl collection as well). Looking for some entertainment? Head a few blocks over to the Washington Center for the Performing Arts which has become a community gathering place, providing a focus for the performing arts unique to the region.

DAY FOUR - HIKE TO THE SHORE

Start the day at a West Side local favorite, Hash. Fuel up on oversized burritos, the spam loco moco, or the blueberry-pistachio pancake that's served on a pizza pan (you're welcome) before lacing up your hiking boots and heading to a far-left parking lot at Evergreen State College to hike the Evergreen Goeduck Trail. You'll be at the water's edge in an hour or less and ready to head back to town for lunch or a snack at the Park Side Café. Situated in a Victorian-era styled building in West Olympia, you'll find a fresh take on plant-based foods and a dedication to expanding awareness of the connections between people and their community. Get ready to walk off that lunch and enjoy views of the bay at West Bay Park. Be sure to update your Insta with selfies at the Rainbow Rails. When you're ready to put your feet up, head to TOSS Taps and enjoy their 40-tap taproom featuring only Washington produced beers, ciders, seltzer, and soda. If you're feeling competitive, there's an arcade area featuring classic pinball, darts, arcade games and pool. Unwind with dinner at Le Voyeur - the quintessential Olympia lounge and restaurant featuring vegan comfort food, an ample beer selection and live music. If you just can't call it quits, finish the day at the Cheeky Martini downtown where you'll find old classics and inventive new offerings in stylish digs.

LGBTQ+ Event Calendar

Explore Indigenous Peoples Experiences

Talking Cedar Brewery & Distillery

Talking Cedar is a new 35,000 sq. ft. Distillery-Brewery-Restaurant in Grand Mound, WA. They are owned by the Chehalis Tribe and partner with Heritage Distilling Company (HDC). Their facility includes a 15,000 sq. ft. tribally-owned tasting room and distillery, with 8 fermentation tanks for the production of licensed HDC Spirits and Hand sanitizer. They also have a 6 barrel production floor for Talking Cedar Brewing, creating craft brews on site.

At their restaurant you will be able to enjoy not only craft spirits and beer, but our upscale pub food with locally sourced ingredients. For an extra-special treat, be sure to pop in on the weekends for their special Brunch menu!

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Squaxin Island Tribe

The Squaxin Island Tribe has a unique relationship with natural resources and a deep understanding of the sciences, such as precise knowledge of ocean currents and tides, weather patterns and changes, natural medicines, marine biology and even engineering, as evidenced by complex fishing structures and equipment. Many tribal members continue to make their livelihood through salmon, geoduck and clam fisheries.

The strong connection between the seven inlets of South Puget Sound and the Squaxin Island Tribe - People of the Water - is the core theme that is presented in all exhibits and galleries throughout the Museum Library and Research Center. As a living eco-museum, the Museum Library Research Center shows how nature and Squaxin Island Tribal culture relate. Key topics, such as our prehistoric and present day aquatics-centered lifestyles, timber/wild game harvest and management techniques, oral history and legends, the Treaty of Medicine Creek, religious practices and arts, all highlight this link with nature and the inland sea.

The Squaxin Island Museum Library and Research Center (MLRC) tells the story of the People of the Water through a series of exhibits and displays depicting the relationship between Squaxin Island Tribal members and the seven inlets of South Puget Sound. You may also experience the rich culture by participating in cultural activities and special events.

The Museum Library and Research Center also features a public library and a specialty gift shop specializing in Squaxin Island and other Native American art and literature.

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