From June 2015 to December 2016 I had the opportunity to work with the State Department of Health in Olympia, WA. This was an area I hadn’t explored much so each week I looked for a new place to visit and go for a walk.
The campus around the State Capitol is filled with beautiful gardens, a walking path around Capitol Lake and excellent vista points.
Capitol building
Dahlia garden
Capitol
The Mima Mounds are right outside of Olympia. They are low dome-like mounds with uncertain provenance. There are walking paths and a tower for a wide vista.
Mima Mounds
Mima Mounds
Priest Point park has walking paths, a rose garden and a saltwater trail.
Trails
Millersylvania Park has boating, great walking trails and lots of camping opportunities.
Millersylvania Park
On the road to Millersylvania from Olympia.
Woodard Bay is a great place to kayak or walk the trails. It’s a nice place to watch the moon rise or the sun set.
Woodard Bay
Canoeing on Woodard Bay
Tolmie State Park has shoreline and amazing walking trails that lead deep into a deciduous forest.
Tolmie Park
The waterfront in Olympia has great walking paths, excellent restaurants and is another good place to watch sunsets.
Olympia waterfront
St. Martin’s Benedictine University is just north of Olympia and filled with walking trails and lovely historic buildings.
Saint Martin’s University cemetery
My all time favorite place to go walking is the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually Nature Preserve just 20 minutes north of Olympia. I talk about this in another post.
Happy walking and I’d love to hear about your favorite trails!
