Attractions

The Capitol Campus

At 14th Avenue and Capitol Way, the neoclassical Washington State Capitol building, constructed between 1911 and 1928, is set amid a large and attractively landscaped campus known for its flowering cherry trees and rose gardens. At 287 feet tall, this is the fourth tallest masonry dome in the world and bears a surprising resemblance to the Capitol in that other Washington. Around its campus, you'll see sculptures, the Tivoli fountain, and a conservatory (Mon-Fri 8am-3pm). The capitol is open daily with tours offered hourly between 10am and 3pm. For more information on tours of the grounds, contact the State Capitol Visitor Center (tel. 360/586-3460; www.ga.wa.gov/visitor).

Other Area Attractions

In downtown Olympia, you'll find the Olympia Farmers Market, 700 Capitol Way N. (tel. 360/352-9096; www.olympiafarmersmarket.com), on the waterfront adjacent to Percival Landing Park. This is the second-largest open-air produce market in the state; it also has numerous prepared-food vendors and live music on the weekends. Between April and October, it's open Thursday through Sunday from 10am to 3pm; from November to December, it's open Saturday and Sunday only.

If you'd like to learn more about the area's history, especially that of the Native Americans who have called this region home for thousands of years, stop by the small State Capital Museum & Outreach Center, 211 SW 21st Ave. (tel. 360/753-2580; www.wshs.org/wscm). However, the building itself, an Italian Renaissance mansion built in the 1920s for a former mayor of Olympia, is the most interesting part of a visit here. The museum is open Wednesday through Saturday from 11am to 3pm. Admission is $2 for adults, $1.75 for seniors, and $1 for children ages 6 to 18; it's free for children 5 and under.

Preserves, Park & Gardens

Lying at the edge of downtown Olympia, Capitol Lake and its surrounding parkland are favorites of area joggers, canoeists, and anglers. There is an excellent view of the Capitol from the west side of the lake. Also in downtown is the 1 1/2-mile-long Percival Landing boardwalk, which wanders along the shore of Budd Inlet past marinas, restaurants, public art, and interpretive panels. Between these two parks, you'll find Heritage Park and the Heritage Fountain, which has 47 choreographed water jets that are fun to watch. In summer, the fountain is a popular spot with local children who run through the fountains.

On the north side of Olympia, along the East Bay of Budd Inlet, are formal gardens, several miles of hiking trails, nice water-views, and a beach at Priest Point Park, on East Bay Drive. The 3-mile round-trip Ellis Cove Trail provides beach access.

Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge (tel. 360/753-9467; www.fws.gov/nisqually), located 8 miles north of Olympia at exit 114 off I-5, preserves the delta of the Nisqually River, which is a resting and wintering ground for large numbers of migratory birds. There are 7 miles of trails through the refuge. The visitor center is open Wednesday to Sunday from 9am to 4pm. A $3 vehicle admission fee is charged.

Land of the Giant Gophers? -- Some 13 miles south of Olympia, near the town of Littlerock, you'll find the Mima Mounds Natural Area Preserve, which is an area of hundreds of small hills, each around 7 feet high. No one is sure how the mounds were formed, but their curious topography has produced much speculation over the years. The preserve is open daily, and in spring the wildflower displays here are quite impressive. To reach the preserve, take the Littlerock exit off I-5 and drive west on Wash. 121 to Waddell Creek Road. Turn right and continue 1 1/2 miles.