Phoenix Inn Suites Olympia

Avoid the punkers downtown. If...

by dimbulbz

Avoid the punkers downtown. If you aren't gay or tatooed, the downtown can be skipped altogether without missing a thing! Wallupt lake camping(105 miles SE) -it is not overrun by yuppie snobs with trendy northwest wine breath from the burbs of Seattle.

Packing List

by artydude

Olympia is extremely wet and moderately cold in the months of Novmeber through March. Make sure to bring wet weather gear and pack for temp in the 40's.

The summer months of June, July and August are for the most part dry and warm with temperatures in the upper 70's but some days may get into the mid to upper 80's. Shorts are good to bring but make sure to pack a pair of slacks or jeans. There are several Photo/camera shops downtown that will be able to answer questions or be able to suit your needs as far as equipment. Many people take to the Olympic mountain range for dayhikes and camping. If you are on an extended stay, there are several outdoor gear stores downtown with friendly people to help you out with any questions you have about trails and camp sites.

Monuments at the Capitol Building

by Ewingjr98

What would a state capitol be without a bunch of cool historic monuments? Some of the cool memorials at the Washington State Capitol building include:

The Winged Victory Monument, one of the centerpieces of the capitol grounds, consists of a statue of the Greek goddess Nike alongside an American soldier, sailor, and marine from WWI. It was dedicated in 1938, on the eve of WWII.

The WW II Memorial was dedicated in 1999 for the approximately 6,000 Washington residents who gave their lives in the war.

The Medal of Honor Memorial commemorates the Washington residents who earned the Congressional Medal of Honor for heroic wartime accomplishments.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is a smaller version of the national Vietnam War Memorial in Washington DC, honoring the 1,116 Washingtonians killed or missing in the war.

The Korean Memorial War honors the 122,000 Washingtonian who served in Korea, along with the 532 who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

Olympia Farmer's Market

by olyrunner

The Olympia Farmer's Market is a great place to get your fresh produce, plants and flowers as well as other crafts, clothing and food items all while supporting local vendors. During the summer, it's a popular place to spend your Friday lunch hour with a wide variety of fresh food and great music performances. Check their website to get seasonal hours.

It's the capital of Washington. (What is Olympia?)

by Confucius

"Score -5 if you said Seattle, -20 if you said "DC""

Why go to Olympia? If you are Chinese, then your purpose is to catch a glimpse of Gary Locke. He became the first Chinese-American governor in USA history and then suddenly Olympia became a mandatory stop on the Chinese delegation North American tour circuit.
See that dome atop the capitol? It became cracked in 2001after an earthquake which was centered 17 miles north of the building. It reopened for business in January 2005 after nearly 4 years of restoration.

"The governor's mansion; Olympia's haunted house"

Soon after Governor Locke moved into this mansion in 1996 he discovered that it was already inhabited by bats. He and his wife and baby daughter had to move out of the mansion and also get rabies shots.
The free capital grounds tour does not include the interior of the mansion, but don't forget to ask the tour guide to retell the bats tale for the ten thousandth time.

"The view from the Capitol Conservatory"

Here is the view of Capitol Lake from the conservatory. This greenhouse has rare plants and also uses biological controls such as praying mantis munchers that eat aphids.
Across from the conservatory is the Sunken Garden, which used to be the source of roses for governor's functions until hungry deer came and munched on them in a case of uncontrollable biology.