Olympia, United States

Olympia Travel Guide

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Facts and practical information

Alternative names: Population: 50.3 thous. (2019)Area: 20.07 mi²Elevation: 13 ft a.s.l.Coordinates: 47°2'42"N, 122°54'0"W
Location

WashingtonUnited States

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Olympia Top Attractions

Olympia Attractions - What to See and Explore

Olympia offers many attractions and places to visit. Here are the most important ones: Hands On Children's Museum, Simmons Lake, Tivoli Fountain, Indian Shaker Church. Below you will find a complete list of places worth visiting.

  • hands on childrens museum olympia
    Museum • Downtown Olympia

    Hands On Children's Museum

    Hands On Children's Museum is a children's museum in Olympia, Washington, USA. It was founded in 1987 and received over 150,000 visitors a year at its old location near the Washington State Capitol.

  • simmons lake olympia
    Lake

    Simmons Lake

    Simmons Lake is a lake in the U.S. state of Washington. The lake has a surface area of 24.5 acres and reaches a depth of 12 feet. Simmons Lake was named after Michael T. Simmons, a pioneer citizen. A variant name was "Ken Lake".

  • tivoli fountain olympia
    Fountain • South Capitol

    Tivoli Fountain

    The Tivoli Fountain is installed on the Washington State Capitol campus in Olympia, Washington, United States. Dedicated on April 15, 1953, the copper and cement fountain is a replica of the Roman-style fountain in Copenhagen's Tivoli Park.

  • indian shaker church olympia
    Church

    Indian Shaker Church

    Mud Bay Indian Shaker Church is the first church built by the Indian Shaker Church. The first Shaker Indian church, also called the "mother church", was built c. 1885 near Olympia, then the capital of Washington Territory.

  • winged victory statue olympia
    Sculpture • Monuments and statues

    Winged Victory Statue

    Winged Victory is a World War I memorial in the U.S. state of Washington, which consists of four figures of uniformed persons atop a granite pedestal eclipsed by a fifth figure depicting the Winged Victory of Samothrace.

  • capitol lake olympia
    Nature • Lake

    Capitol Lake

    Capitol Lake is a 3 kilometer long, 260-acre artificial lake at the mouth of Deschutes River in Tumwater/Olympia, Washington. The Olympia Brewery sits on Capitol Lake in Tumwater, just downstream from where the Tumwater Falls meet the artificial lake.

  • vietnam veterans memorial olympia
    Memorial • South Capitol

    Vietnam Veterans Memorial

    The Vietnam Veterans Memorial by Kris Snider is installed on the Washington State Capitol campus in Olympia, Washington, United States. The granite memorial was dedicated on May 25, 1987.

  • korean war memorial olympia
    Memorial • South Capitol

    Korean War Memorial

    The Korean War Memorial by artist Deborah Copenhaver Fellows is installed on the Washington State Capitol campus in Olympia, Washington, United States. Dedicated on July 24, 1993, the memorial features bronze figures.

  • world war ii memorial olympia
    Memorial • South Capitol

    World War II Memorial

    The World War II Memorial by artist Simon Kogan is installed on the Washington State Capitol campus in Olympia, Washington, United States. The memorial, dedicated on May 28, 1999, is made of bronze, melted torpedo railings, granite, and stone.

  • mima mounds olympia
    Park

    Mima mounds

    Mima mounds are low, flattened, circular to oval, domelike, natural mounds that are composed of loose, unstratified, often gravelly sediment that is an overthickened A horizon.

  • ward lake olympia
    Lake

    Ward Lake

    Ward Lake is a lake in the U.S. state of Washington. The lake has a surface area of 66.8 acres and reaches a depth of 67 feet. Ward Lake was named after Ira Ward, a pioneer citizen.

  • heritage park olympia
    Park • Downtown Olympia

    Heritage Park

    Heritage Park is a 24-acre state-owned park adjacent to the campus of the Washington State Capitol, Capitol Lake and downtown Olympia, Washington.

  • artesian commons olympia
    Park • Downtown Olympia

    Artesian Commons

    Artesian Commons is a 0.2-acre park in downtown Olympia, Washington built in May 2014 around an artesian spring. It is described by the city as Olympia's first urban park.

  • monarch contemporary art center and sculpture park olympia
    Park

    Monarch Contemporary Art Center and Sculpture Park

    Monarch Contemporary Art Center and Sculpture Park is an outdoor art gallery located along the Chehalis Western Trail near Tenino, in southern Thurston County, Washington. Opened in 1998 by sculptor Myrna Orsini as "a gift to the community," the 80-acre park features sculpture gardens.

  • bigelow house museum olympia
    Museum • History museum • Gothic Revival architecture

    Bigelow House Museum

    The Bigelow House, also known as the Bigelow House Museum, is a historic house museum located at 918 Glass Avenue Northeast in the Bigelow Neighborhood of Olympia, Washington. Built by Daniel Bigelow in the 1850s, the house was designed in the Carpenter Gothic style. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

  • percival landing park olympia
    Park • Downtown Olympia

    Percival Landing Park

    Percival Landing Park is a public park located in Olympia, Washington.

  • capitol theater olympia
    Concerts and shows • Theater

    Capitol Theater

    The Capitol Theater, at 206 East Fifth Avenue in downtown Olympia, Washington, was built in 1924. It was designed by architect Joseph Wohleb and has a capacity of 1,500. Since 1986, the Olympia Film Society operates the theater.

  • hands on childrens museum olympia
    47°2'53"N • 122°53'49"W

    Hands On Children's Museum

    Museum • Children's museum

  • du pen fountain olympia
    Monuments and statues • South Capitol

    Du Pen Fountain

    The Du Pen Fountain is a water fountain at the former Washington State Library building on the Washington State Capitol campus in Olympia, Washington, in the United States.

Things to See and Do in Olympia by Category

Sights, interesting and unusual places and attractions valued by most tourists. See the list of places to visit in Olympia.

Culture

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Day trips

Olympia – popular in the area (distance from the center)

In the vicinity of Olympia, it's worth seeing attractions such as: Seattle Center (Seattle), Space Needle (Seattle), Museum of Flight (Seattle).

  • seattle center47 milesNE
    Park

    Seattle Center, Seattle

    Seattle Center is a vibrant cultural hub located in the heart of Seattle, Washington. This 74-acre park-like campus is home to some of the city's most prominent landmarks, including the iconic Space Needle and the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP).

  • space needle seattle47 milesNE
    Landmark modern spire with city vistas

    Space Needle, Seattle

    The Space Needle is an iconic landmark towering over Seattle, Washington, epitomizing the city's innovative spirit and futuristic outlook. Standing at a height of 605 feet, this observation tower was constructed in 1962 for the Century 21 Exposition, a World's Fair...

  • museum of flight seattle43 milesNE
    Exhibits with airplanes and space vehicles

    Museum of Flight, Seattle

    Nestled in the heart of Seattle, the Museum of Flight is a soaring tribute to the human spirit's quest for flight. This comprehensive air and space museum, one of the largest of its kind in the world, offers visitors an unparalleled journey through the history of...

  • seattle art museum47 milesNE
    Spacious home for modern and historic work

    Seattle Art Museum, Seattle

    Nestled in the heart of downtown Seattle, the Seattle Art Museum, colloquially known as SAM, stands as a beacon of cultural sophistication and artistic exploration. This esteemed museum, which opened its doors to the public in 1933, has since become a pivotal...

  • lemay americas car museum tacoma26 milesNE
    Museum

    LeMay - America's Car Museum, Tacoma

    LeMay - America's Car Museum, a gleaming tribute to automotive culture, is a must-visit destination in Tacoma, Washington. This expansive museum showcases an extraordinary collection of over 350 classic and contemporary vehicles, illustrating the rich tapestry of...

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Best Time To Visit Olympia

Learn when is the best time to travel to Olympia weather-wise and what to expect in each season.

Popularity among visitors

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July is the most popular and therefore the most crowded month to visit this location. Many people also choose to visit in May and June.

Average temperatures in °F

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The highest air temperature is in June, July, August and September. While the coldest is in January and February.

Monthly rainfall in inches

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The lowest rainfall is recorded in July. Most of it rains in January, November and December.

Length of day in hours

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We can expect the longest days in June, while the shortest in December.

Sunrise

Best Ways to Experience Olympia

cuisine

Food & drink

Cuisine

A guide to some of the best local dishes and drinks that you will meet in the region.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What are the top attractions to visit in Olympia?

The top attractions to visit in Olympia are:

What is the best time to visit Olympia?

July is the most popular and therefore the most crowded month to visit this location. Many people also choose to visit in May and June. The highest air temperature is in June, July, August and September. While the coldest is in January and February.

Where to next? Visit washington Washington region page or discover the top tourist attractions in United States.

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