Olympia: an Overlooked Travel Treasure

Sometimes we are slow to discover the travel treasures we have within a couple hours' drive from home.  Such was the case with Washington's capital city, Olympia.

Olympia, State Capitol in Background

It was a friend's wedding reception that drew us to this city on the banks of Budd Bay at the southern end of Puget Sound. And it was the clear-headed approach of 'don't drink and drive' that kept us there for an overnight stay.  As a result  we've added another travel treasure to our list.

Olympia, a city of 40,000+, swells when our Legislature is in session but shrinks to a delightful small-town size after the sine die gavel cracks.  It was so small town, in fact, that our search for a place near our motel to have a glass of wine at 9:30 p.m. on a Saturday night was futile. Olympia goes to bed early.

Our quick trip didn't give us enough time to explore all that Olympia has to offer:  there are guided tours of the Capital Campus, and other guided tours of the town and campus offered by Oly WAlks; there's the Olympic Flight Museum, the State Capital Museum and the Hands-on Children's Museum.

Old State Capitol Building

We did have time to take a late afternoon stroll through the downtown and sip coffee at Batdorf and Bronson, 516 Capital Way, coffee purveyors since 1986.  We paused to admire the Old State Capitol, 600 Washington St.  This stately 1892 building - now home to the State Superintendent of Public Instruction's offices - was our state capitol from 1903 - 1927 while our current state capitol was being built.

Washington State Capitol and campus

En route to the reception we made a stop at The Oyster House, 320 4th Ave. W., the oldest - they say -seafood restaurant in the State of Washington. It's on the shores of Puget Sound next to Percival Landing with public docking available.  Our breakfast at Cicada Restaurant, 700 4th Ave. E., is a reason unto itself for returning to Olympia. 

One of the many Farmer's Market flower vendors

Olympia's Farmers Market, 700 N. Capitol Way, has got to be one of the best in the Pacific Northwest, to our way of thinking.  Following a stop there on Sunday morning, we were back in Kirkland less than an hour and a half later.