Location: Olympia
Top Things to do in Olympia
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What to do and see in Olympia, Washington (WA): The Best Things to do Good for Kids
Birthplace of riot grrl music and home to an energetic independent art and music scene, Olympia is a hub of innovative cultural movements. The nontraditional Evergreen State College draws young pioneers and artists while the surrounding landscape of Puget Sound beckons the environmentally aware to its embrace. With 40 city parks incorporating 963 acres as well as a vast, municipally-funded public art collection, the city is a study in inventive and ecological civil design.
Restaurants in Olympia
1. Hands On Children's Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 483 reviews
Come Play with Us! The award-winning Hands On Children's Museum is the largest and most visited children's museum in the Pacific Northwest. We celebrate play and believe in its importance in early learning. With over 150 exciting exhibits in 10 beautiful galleries and a fabulous art studio, we encourage children and their parents to play and learn all about science, nature, and art in settings inspired by our beautiful Northwest. Our Outdoor Discovery Center, a half-acre of unique outdoor exhibits, expands opportunities for play and learning with a trike and hike loop, lighthouse lookout, Puget Sound beach replica, children's garden, and Megan D schooner where kids can climb a six-foot rope ladder to the top deck of a real 56-foot vintage schooner, cross the rickety bridge, explore the crow's nest, and captain the ship. Online Reservations Required
Reviewed By patannlinz
We visited this awesome place with a 4 year old and 22 month old and a great time was had by all. Market place, creative arts room, construction “zone”, water tables, science area, make believe section with props for different occupations including a police car, and a hospital nursery. If needed, there is a “4 and under” escape room. There is also an outdoor play area which must be pretty awesome in the warmer months. Something for everyone at this hands on kids place.
2. Mystic Journeys
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 62 reviews
Join Captain Scott and First Mate Connie on their beautiful sailboat for a cruise in south Puget Sound. S/V Traveler is the name of the ship. She's 42 foot long and 12 foot wide, the perfect size for a group of up to 6 people. We do short cruises of Budd Inlet and longer runs to more remote destinations.
3. Kayak Nisqually
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 36 reviews
An eco-tourism sea kayaking company with biologist guides! Visit the premiere biodiversity hotspot in Thurston County and the whole south Puget Sound.
4. Nisqually Reach Nature Center
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 53 reviews
Reviewed By Q503AXjohnl - Olympia, United States
Back when this was a boat rental place. Folks rested row boats to go out onto the Nisqually reach, generally to fish for salmon or to hunt ducks. Now it is a nature preserve. There is a boat ramp which is busy during salmon runs and a nature interpretive center. The center is very nice with many displays and things live and preserved that you can touch. It is a wonderful place for kids. There are volunteers who are knowledgeable and informative in the center. Lots of folks come here to watch birds, mostly waterfowl and bald eagles and herons. And there is some beach combing but watch the bottom as some areas are muddy. Tides can run over fifteen feet from high to low and this are is totally different at the flood than at the ebb. Flood tide is right up against the bulkhead and the ramp is pretty much covered. The lone tide mark is maybe a mile out. It is amazing. If you intend to launch a boat, watch the tide! Good view of Mt. Rainier. Always a fun place to visit. Stop by!
5. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 602 reviews
Located on the Nisqually River Delta in Southern Puget Sound, this refuge consists of three thousand acres of salt and freshwater marshes, grasslands and mixed forest habitats that provide a resting and nesting area for a wide variety of migratory birds.
Reviewed By finley-n-miley - Medford, United States
The paths take you into various ecosystems, each with some diversity of birds, vegetation, and other woodland creatures. Lots of enthusiastic bird watchers - all of whom were friendly and excited to show you what they have seen.
6. East Bay Public Plaza
7. Priest Point Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 201 reviews
This 314-acre park offers hiking and wildlife viewing opportunities only minutes from downtown Olympia.
Reviewed By HighPriestessSusan - Olympia, United States
Priest Point has many trails packed into a beautiful area. Lots of steps and bridges. A couple of trails lead to the inlet, which was still and glass-like on the day we visited. Good for walking, trail-running and dog-walking. Peaceful and not crowded on an autumn weekday.
8. Woodard Bay Natural Resources Conservation Area
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 44 reviews
Reviewed By Jotum - Knoxville, United States
Small parking area and then a paved walkway of about a mile through the woods to the end. Some uphill and downhill. This area is where rail lines used to end and logging trains drive out on the trussell where the logs were dumped in the sound to float 69 miles north to the mill. It is a pleasant walk with opportunity to see various birds, seals and other animals.
9. Monarch Sculpture Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 48 reviews
Monarch Sculpture Park is a contemporary outdoor sculpture park and center for the arts. The grounds are open to the public daily from dawn to dusk. Located in the heart of the Thurston County prairie lands just a few miles south of Olympia, near Tenino, Washington, the park is designated as a primitive park with walk in, bike in, access from the Chehalis Western Trail. The park will continue its legacy of fine art and sculpture in nature. Monarch is a part of the Thurston County Bountiful Byways project. Its neighbors include the internationally renowned Wolf Haven and the new Great Wolf Lodge. Pets are welcome but must be leashed at and cleaned up after.
Reviewed By SandraL68 - Maidstone, United Kingdom
I just love this quirky sculpture park and I would have loved to have visited with children because many of the sculptures are musical ... bells being predominant... and you are encouraged to ring them. What child (or adult!) could resist! The one I liked best was a series of pipes which were 'played' by an old flipflop sandal! Although here are many weird/quirky (even disturbing) sculptures, the park itself is very peaceful (at least it was when we visited) and even spiritual (The Sacred Grove). There is walk in /bike in access from the Chehalis Western Trail. It is amazing that this park is free entry (donations welcomed) and the sculptures are donated by their artists. I will return.
10. Farmers Market
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 398 reviews
Reviewed By michaeltR4512YN - Olympia, United States
From April through October opened Thur thru Sun Wonderful locally sourced purveyors Vegetables, fruit, meat, fish , bread, desserts The vendors understand take pride in the products A good selection of arts and crafts.
