Olympia, Washington’s state capital, is located at the southern tip of Puget Sound. It is the largest of several cities that make up a metro area of just under 100,000 people. Visitors to Olympia will find some very good restaurants, a nice downtown area filled with local shops and eateries, and easy access to scenic areas like the Olympic Peninsula and Olympic National Park, the Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, and Mt. Rainier National Park. Outdoor activities like hiking, climbing, fishing, and sailing can all be found in Olympia or within a short drive. There are also several casinos, operated by local Native American groups, in the area. Visitors will also find a variety of shopping options at Capital Mall.

I have visited the Pacific Northwest several times before and have always loved the area since my first visit in 1986. The three weeks I spent in Olympia in May 2005 were my first chance to really explore this small city. I found the slower pace of life refreshing and a change from the larger cities of Seattle, Tacoma, and Portland, all located nearby. There is not as much nightlife in Olympia, other than a few bars and clubs downtown. Much of the city does close up by 9pm, as my coworkers and I found one evening when we waited until later to go out for dinner.

There is an Olympia/Tumwater Visitors Guide published by the Olympia Thurston County Visitors and Convention Bureau available at most hotels in the area. The Bureau’s website also has information on area attractions, hotels, and restaurants, as well as an online request for information.

You’ll likely want to rent a car to visit Olympia. There is a local transit system, Intercity Transit, which provides local service within Olympia, Tumwater, Lacey, and Yelm and express service to downtown Tacoma and the Tacoma Dome Station intermodal transit facility, where riders can transfer services to Sea-Tac Airport and Seattle. For information on routes, schedules, and fares, visit the Intercity Transit website.

The closest major airports to Olympia are the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, located just south of Seattle (approximately 50 miles) and the Portland International Airport in Portland, OR (approximately 115 miles).

Access to Olympia from points north and south is easy via Interstate 5, although traffic from just south of Tacoma heading north to Seattle can be bad during rush hour. Olympia is also the northern endpoint of US 101, the scenic Pacific Coast highway that starts in Southern California. US 101 is the main route from Olympia to the Olympic National Park, and communities along the west bank of Hood Canal.