Olympia, Washington

Olympia, the capital of Washington state, is at the southern end of Puget Sound. The sprawling Washington State Capitol Campus, beside Capitol Lake, includes the stately Legislative Building and the 1909 Governor’s Mansion. On the downtown waterfront, Percival Landing Park has a boardwalk and public art. More than 200 bird species visit the estuary habitat of the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge.

With an economic engine fueled to a great extent by state government, Olympia enjoys the benefits of a stable work force, engaged and educated community and well-supported school system.

Historic downtown Olympia offers a variety of eclectic shopping and dining experiences, while Olympia's westside is a regional shopping destination at numerous national brand stores and the auto mall.

Mild winters and pleasantly warm summers make the Olympia area an ideal place for outdoor recreation. In Olympia, you can "get out of town" without even leaving the city. Olympia maintains 40 public parks for your recreation enjoyment. Public trails lead to saltwater beaches where native tribes once met for potlatches through woods thick with big-leaf maples and towering Douglas firs. Salmon return to Budd Inlet each fall and run the ladder under the 5th Avenue Bridge.

Olympia's strategic geographic location along Interstate 5 at the gateway to the Olympic Peninsula, puts one within two hours or less of regional recreational attractions - from hiking and skiing in the mountains to beachcombing along ocean shores.