Olympia, WA Day Trip: What to do and See!
Hello, my adventurous friend! Welcome back to another day trip post, specially: WA Day Trip: What to do and See!
This trip was a very pleasant and unexpected surprise. I didn’t have a lot of exciting things planned for Olympia but it ended up being a great trip with a good friend. This really is just another great example of how beautiful Washington State can be, especially at the end of Summer, going into Fall.
We had just gotten hit with our second mask mandate for Washington State on this trip so the streets were pretty bare but we did luck out and get to go into some shops and explore. One of my biggest regrets was not hitting up the Saturday Market on the pier, especially because they had live music! We got the tail end of it and I’m very envious of all the people who were dancing on the side walks. It was so cute!
We had just missed it.
Alright, here’s Olympia, WA Day Trip: What to do and See!
Olympia, WA Day Trip: What to do and See!
We super lucked out on our day trip to Olympia. We had the most amazing and beautiful weather. I cannot even express how gorgeous the views were. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky, the sun was shining, it wasn’t too hot and the Capitol building from Heritage Park was… chef kiss!
I also ate like a Queen. Though a little unimaginative in my selection, I got what I wanted.
However, for the record: Olympia is right on the Puget Sound (specially near Budd Inlet) and therefore, it’s very very very well known for it’s seafood. Oyster Bars, Salmon, Fish Tacos, etc.
Okay, let’s get into what to do, where to lounge and where to browse!
The Best Things to Do in Olympia, WA
Mural Art Walk
The sheer amount of art work that’s painted across this city, is amazing. From Science Fiction Theater to Oceanic Microlife, there’s an instagram picture waiting to happen! They are not all marked, sometimes you have to go down little alleys to find them but there’s a map below to help guide you.
Site: https://www.arcgis.com/apps/MapTour/index.html?appid=30d525b90b4c40a2a1c59e2494ce710d
Washington State Capitol Campus
We hung out here for a long time. There were tons of photos to be taken (including the first one in this post)! The grounds of the Capitol are so well kept and it’s not at all cramped or intimidating. It’s really lovely and there’s also a flower garden called Sunken Garden on the property.
Site: https://olympiawa.gov/community/visiting-the-capitol.aspx | Location
Note: The Capitol building is open and you can also book a tour.
Washington Governor’s Mansion Grounds
Okay, we totally walked right next to the Governor’s Mansion and didn’t think anything of it. Haha! In fairness, I assumed it would be closed, as I was correct. You need to book a tour in order to view the house. I would definitely do this on my next day trip.
Site: https://wagovmansion.org/
Outdoor Yoga Trapeze
This might be an activity you plan well in advance for but I’m adding it because I love that this yoga studio created a way to continue their practice outside. It’s a super unique way to exercise that’s only offered in Olympia (trust me, I’ve checked Seattle)! Definitely not for the faint of heart but totally something up my alley!
Site: https://gravityyogaolympia.com/
Yoga in the Park
About once a month, Olympia Parks & Rec offers a yoga in the park session. It’s about $5 bucks and focuses on Mindfulness & Wellness. Two things I love to live by!
Site: https://apm.activecommunities.com/olyparksartsrec/Activity_Search
The Olympia Farmer’s Market
I’m still so upset that I missed the mark on this market! I hear nothing but incredible things about it. From super fresh produce and fish right out of the net, to crafts, pottery and gourmet ice pops… Next time, you guys. Next time.
Site: https://www.olympiafarmersmarket.com/ | Location
The Best Places to Lounge in Olympia, WA
Heritage Park
This place is magic. I mean, right out of Rome! That’s what it reminded me of but with way more trees and space. It’s the perfect park for an outdoor picnic or lounge with a book for the afternoon. It’s a super clean, picturesque, park with views of Capitol Lake! There’s plenty of room for kids to run free and also a trail, if you want to walk. (see above for photo!)
Site: https://des.wa.gov/services/facilities-leasing/capitol-campus/parks-and-attractions/heritage-park | Location
West Bay Park
Another terrific park with stunning views of the city. I loved this park because it’s interactive with Symphony Strolls. Just look for the signs around the park, scan the QR code on your phone’s camera and you can listen to the Olympia Symphony Orchestra while you walk! How clever is that!? If you go to their site, there are 12 parks in the city that have this perk. Definitely check it out.
Site: https://olympiawa.gov/city-services/parks/parks-and-trails/west-bay-park | Location
Port Plaza
This is right on the waterfront, on the opposite side of West Bay Park. It has an old watch tower that you can climb up for spectacular views of the Capitol and Puget Sound. We saw a lot of kids loving this climb up. There’s a beautiful pier you can stand on. Word to the wise, don’t touch the water. There are signs all over that they’ve been contaminated. If you do, rise/shower asap.
Site: https://swantown.portolympia.com/marina/moorage/ | View Tower Location
Swing Wine Bar
Not sure if this should be lounge or dining but sometimes I want a glass of wine in the middle of the day. Unfortunately, this place isn’t open on Sundays but they’re open every other day in the week (including Saturdays). This bar has indoor & outdoor seating on their patio. Complete with radiant views of downtown Olympia and a lovely selection of booze.
Site: https://swingwinebar.com/
Oly Taproom
An old autobody shop that has been converted into a taproom and located right across a waterpark pier. This place has indoor and covered outdoor seating and a great spot to grab a pint while on a day trip. If you follow their IG account, they show their menu every Monday!
Site: https://olytaproom.com/index.html
The Best Places to Browse in Olympia, WA
Browsers Bookshop
I’ve been to a lot of bookshops. From London, Paris, to my local Queen Anne bookstore… this shop stood out! It was so cleverly organized and well kept. I loved it here. My friend was in heaven and picked up a few things. I bought a few stickers and, honestly, regret not purchasing anything else. I will definitely do that next time.
Site: https://www.browsersolympia.com/
Encore Chocolates and Teas
Going to be honest, I bought quite a few items from these two neighboring shops. I love the ginger tea I picked up and died and went to heaven when I saw they had a wall of vegan/dairy-free chocolates on their shelves. Both shops are arranged as if you were at a bookstore. Perfectly lovely.
Site: https://www.facebook.com/encorechocolatesandteas/
Childhood’s End Gallery LLC
If you’re an art lover, like me, hop into this gallery. They have beautiful pieces from local artist and others from the PNW. It’s such a treat to see art on the walls. There are also a ton of little antique shops around this area to enjoy as well.
Site: https://www.childhoods-end-gallery.com/
Drees of Olympia
I loved this little shop in the Historic District. It has great home decor, if anything but for browsing. The esthetic is very clean and organized and definitely catches your eyes from the street.
Site: https://www.dreesofolympia.com/
You guys, this might be one of my longest posts yet. I had to remove a section on restaurants because … it’s a completely different post now! Not to worry, I’ll get that up sometime next week.
I’d like to note, Olympia is a fantastic city to do a solo trip to. I intend to go back for a weekend trip, actually. There are a few bike rental shops, etc. This could easily turn into a weekend excursion. Again though, this was such a fun and easy day trip out down south for Seattlites. In the future, I’ll plan to get an Olympia guide up so you can have my exact itinerary.
Thanks so much for coming along on this journey with me and I hope you enjoyed this post about Olympia, WA Day Trip: What to do and See!
Until then, my friends: Happy Adventures! 💕
Other posts you might enjoy:
- Hiking Lake 22 in Verlot, WA
- 10 Reasons to Travel in Your Own City
- Solo Traveling to Bellingham? Here’s what to do!
