Attractions
Discover Olympia's vibrant downtown shops, coffeehouses and restaurants, or stroll along the boardwalk to the Farmer's Market for music, crafts and local produce.
Wander one of the scenic trails in the city's many parks, or pack a lunch and head for a day hike in the Olympic National Park or on Mount Rainier. Whatever your interests (even solitude and a good book!) your Inn Keepers are sure to make your stay pleasant and memorable.
City of Olympia
Olympia is the Capital of Washington State, and is located at the tip of the Puget Sound about 60 miles south of Seattle, Washington and 110 miles north of Portland, Oregon
For more information visit: City of Olympia
State Capitol Campus
Visitors are invited year-round to enjoy the beauty of more than 30 landscaped acres with seasonal floral displays surrounding our state Capitol.
For more information visit: State Capitol Campus
Farmer's Market
The Olympia Farmer’s market features: Locally grown fresh fruits & vegetables harvested daily. Exquisite and one of a kind arts & crafts by local artisans. Top quality plants, hanging baskets, trees & shrubs. Jams, Jellies, Honey Breads & Pastries Fresh Seafood Locally processed specialty Cheeses Tasty prepared food that spans many ethnic cultures. Good friends & fun for the whole family.
For more information visit: Farmer's Market
Wolf Haven
A nonprofit organization whose mission is "working for wolf conservation" by: protecting our wild wolves; providing sanctuary for captive-born wolves; promoting wolf restoration in historic ranges; and educating the public on the value of all wildlife.
For more information visit: Wolf Haven
Monarch Sculpture Park
Monarch Contemporary Art Center is an 80 acre public sculpture park and a center for the visual arts. Classes, workshops, and international sculpting and ceramic symposia are held at the Center. When funds are available, scholarships and residency grants are offered to gifted young artists and professionals so that they may attend events or use the facilities at the Center.
The Park features over 100 contemporary sculptures, a Hedge Maze in shape of a butterfly, Fantasy Garden, Bird and Butterfly Garden, Japanese Garden, Sound Garden (Sculptural Musical Instruments), Nature Walk, Indoor gallery and is Handicapped accessible.
Art exhibit on the grounds open from dawn to dusk year round. Indoor Gallery open June 1st through September 4th or by appointment.
Park Hours: Dawn to dusk year round.
Entrance Fee: Free, but donations gratefully accepted.
For more information visit: Monarch Sculpture Park
Northwest Trek
This 615-acre park has a little bit of everything: lakes, trails, meadows and plenty of animals. Northwest Trek is home to more than 200 North American animals.
For more information visit: Northwest Trek
State Capitol Museum
The State Capital Museum is dedicated to preserving and interpreting the history and culture of Washington.
Learn about the establishment of Washington's state capital and the construction of the imposing capitol building in the exhibit Olympia: Her Present, Proud Position.
Featuring two floors of exhibits, the museum offers interpretations of regional Native American history and a series of interesting temporary exhibits. The gardens surrounding the museum mansion feature a sample of native Northwest plants in the ethnobotanical garden. The museum store features a nice selection of Northwest products and gifts
For more information visit: State Capitol Museum
Percival Landing Boardwalk
One of our rooms gets its name from this historic Olympian landmark. Today's public park and boardwalk stands on the site of Percival Dock and is well worth taking a stroll along during your visit.
For more information visit: Percival Landing Boardwalk
Olympic Flight Museum
"Dedicated to the preservation of the memory of those who gave so much"
The Olympic Flight Museum is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and flying of vintage aircraft. The museaum was founded with the goal of bringing people together to relive, recollect and learn about aviation history. Our mission is to deliver the sights, sounds, smells and excitement of flight to every museum visitor.
For more information visit: Olympic Flight Museum
Yashiro Japanese Garden
Culminating seven years of planning and work, the garden represents a joint effort of the Olympia-Yashiro Sister City Association and the City of Olympia. The garden is symbolic of the ties between Olympia and Yashiro, Japan. Dedication of the garden was May 6, 1990, following a two-year construction effort of 75 volunteers. Robert Murase's park design defines a true Japanese garden as "a visionary expression about our connectedness to nature and earth." The specific placement of plants, water and stone carries a message of land stewardship, nature, religious thought, friendship, compassion, cultural exchange and understanding.
Open daily dawn to dusk, free, 1010 Plum St. S.E.
For more information call 360-753-8380 or visit: Yashiro Japanese Garden
Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge
Some 3,000 acres of salt- and freshwater marshes, grasslands, riparian and mixed forest habitats that provide resting and nesting areas for migratory waterfowl, songbirds, raptors and wading birds.
Open daylight hours; $3 per family. 100 Brown Farm Road (Exit 114 off I-5).
For more information call 360-753-9467 or visit: Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge
Washington Center for the Performing Arts
The Washington Center takes great pride in our track record of presenting the artistic work of the world. We are committed to curiosity and inclusiveness... to trying to understand the world a little more through the performance traditions of many cultures. It is often the sound of an unusual instrument, the unexpected angle of a body, or the different treatment of time that can bring "the other" into focus.
Our curatorial responsibility is broad, including western and non-western work, contemporary and traditional forms, and work that speaks to a broad cross-section of our community. Very few will be moved by all of what we do, but everyone can be moved by some of what we do. Join us... and help bring the world into greater focus.
For more information visit: Washington Center for the Performing Arts
Harlequin Productions at the State Theatre
In 1991, a group of five people--James L. This, Scot Whitney, Linda Whitney, Phil Annis and Ronna Smith-- founded the non-profit theater company. Their goal was to produce a more challenging style of theater than was available locally. Together, they totaled three directors, one actor, one set designer, one technical wizard, and one business manager. They wrote their mission statement, pooled their startup capital--a whopping $400 cash--and began producing individual shows at the Washington Center Stage II, a "black box" venue that seated about 100.
For more information visit: Harlequin Productions at the State Theatre
Olympia Film Society
Marked by steady growth in members, volunteers, and regular film screenings, the history of the Olympia Film Society (OFS) describes our ascent from a handful of film lovers chipping in to rent films once a month to an organization with over 1500 members. OFS now shows independent, international and classic film year-round, offers special live performances, and produces a nationally recognized film festival
For more information visit: Olympia Film Society
VisitOlympia.com
For more information visit: VisitOlympia.com
Nearby Outdoor Recreation
Capitol Forest
Capitol State Forest, just 5 miles from Olympia, is popular for a wide variety of recreation opportunities. Open to the public since 1955, campers, hikers, hunters, horseback riders, mountain bikers, and motorcycle riders play here. Whether spending a week in a campsite, an hour picking mushrooms or taking an afternoon drive for the scenic views, more than 150,000 people visit each year.
For more information visit: Capitol Forest
Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park's true distinction lies in its stunning diversity. Few places on earth have so much of everything: human and natural history, unusual flora and fauna, utter wilderness and spots for every kind of outdoor recreation.
For more information visit: Olympic National Park
Mount Rainer
Established in 1899. 235,625 acres (97% is designated Wilderness). Includes Mount Rainier (14,410'), an active volcano encased in over 35 square miles of snow and ice. The park contains outstanding examples of old growth forests and subalpine meadows.
Designated a National Historic Landmark District in 1997 as a showcase for the "NPS Rustic" style architecture of the 1920s and 1930s.
For more information visit: Mount Rainer
Mount St. Helens
At 8:32 Sunday morning, May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens erupted.
Shaken by an earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale, the north face of this tall symmetrical mountain collapsed in a massive rock debris avalanche. Nearly 230 square miles of forest was blown over or left dead and standing. At the same time a mushroom-shaped column of ash rose thousands of feet skyward and drifted downwind, turning day into night as dark, gray ash fell over eastern Washington and beyond. The eruption lasted 9 hours, but Mount St. Helens and the surrounding landscape were dramatically changed within moments.
In 1982 the President and Congress created the 110,000-acre National Volcanic Monument for research, recreation, and education. Inside the Monument, the environment is left to respond naturally to the disturbance.
For more information visit: Mount St. Helens