The Capitol building has that rustic charm you've likely come to expect when visiting state…read morecapitols. It's big, with a big dome, and big columns, and a big atrium. There is certainly lots of granite and marble. There is a quaint little propaganda gift shop just inside the East entrance with all things WA State, if you're into that kind of stuff. WA has seasonal Legislature, so half the year, it's pretty quiet around here. There is a nice fountain near Capitol Blvd. Enjoy!

I visited over the weekend in December, and unsurprisingly not many people were enjoying the…read moregrounds during the drizzly, blustery weather. I came here for the guided tour, which I thought was well done. The tour starts right at the entrance, with the mention of the heavy exterior doors and Tiffany lamps. Inside, the docent goes over the origin of the materials used in constructing the building. Since the rotunda lobby was decorated for the Christmas holiday, there were three evergreen trees adorned with stuffed animals and snowflakes. The guide said that the holiday tree used to be one very tall tree, but the change was made during Covid to swap out one tree for three smaller ones for the ease of decorating. The tour takes you into the gallery overlooking the House of Representatives chamber. This area is normally accessible when they're in session, but otherwise if you're hoping to get in when they're not, this tour is the only way to visit. The House chamber walls are lined with French marble and the perimeter of the ceiling is decorated with the names of Washington State's forty-nine counties (each section has paired names, and Walla Walla gets its own section). Be warned though, this area is kind of dusty so if you have allergies you might want to sit this part out. Overall, this was a great tour. I liked how they didn't have visitors walk through metal detectors unlike in other Capitol buildings in other states.

A fun, historic place to walk by. Beautiful architecture. There was not much information posted…read moreabout the history, but still enjoyable.

This is also called OSPI: Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. Directly…read moreacross the street from Sylvester Park. If you still can't find this place because the GPS told you I that you arrived in the middle of the street near the farmer's market, look for Hotel Olympian Barber and Styling Shop and then you will see it. Ring the doorbell on the castle and they will let you in. Friendly folks.

The rose garden and decor are wonderful. The victorian saloon is gorgeous! It's worth it to go…read moresee it! The wine is just average - we did like the white reisling and the malbec, and the port was also good. We ordered the trail mix which is actually a small charcuterie plate. The crackers were stale. The music was KZOK radio (Seattle). Rock and roll did not fit the beautiful decor. So it's kind of a mixed bag. But go see the saloon and beautiful light fixtures.

Very good news!…read more This winery has been operating irregularly the last year or so. The owners, who are friends, have been dealing with some health issues. But as I said - good news! They are both past those health issues and now open week ends again. A side benefit (if you can call it that) to their being closed is that much of the wine laid down in barrels before their health issues hit has only become better. It is now being bottled. The Stagecoach blend is better than ever! The Cab is super smooth! Keep an eye on YELP and FB for news about their 19th anneversary party August 8th, by the way.

Despite previous reviewer's accurate description of the Nisqually Bridge(s)... The location…read moreindicated is NOT the Nisqually Bridge, but rather the Deschutes River Bridge in Olympia. The Nisqually Bridge is not in Olympia, but rather 10 miles farther east on I-5.

Great shows, proper old school theater with good acoustics and local orchestra, easy to get in by…read morechecking surname

It's great that there's a place like this in Olympia. The staff were friendly, the movie screen and…read moreacoustics fine. But. Oh. My. God. The seats!!!!!! I can't go back. The seats are all old, springs broken, the seat portions slope downward. We tried a few in our one trip--and more on the way out (with our backs sore). Almost left a great movie due to the pain of these awful seats. I hate to rag on an local establishment run by volunteers and a fil society. But I feel the need to warn people for the sake of their butts and backs. Someone seriously need to get a fund raiser going to fix the awful seating. At the very least, bring your own pillows.

Lael's Moon Garden is one of the most special nurseries in the Pacific Northwest. The gardens are…read morebeautifully designed and peaceful to walk through, and the plant selection is incredible. They carry an impressive collection of rare and unusual plants, including one of the best selections of Japanese maples I've seen anywhere. What makes this place stand out is that it's not just a nursery--it feels like a botanical garden you can explore. The staff are knowledgeable and clearly care about plants, soil health, and helping people find the right plants for their space. Every visit I discover something new. If you love gardens, rare plants, or Japanese maples, Lael's Moon Garden is absolutely worth the trip.

Everything looks very nice. Worth the adventure. A place for great ideas and the variety is…read moreoutstanding.

Walking around the area, I was drawn to the Bay and saw this memorial…read more Thank you for your service and dedication.

A great memorial in a prime location. Fantastic views and a sobering reminder that this profession…read morehas made many sacrifices. This should be a stop while touring the rest of the Capitol area complex.

What a cool thing to have right in the middle of the town! There's a nice parking lot a few feet…read moreaway from the well, so it's easy for people to fill up multiple jugs of water and load them up into their vehicles. The water comes out from a pipe and empties into a metal grate so there's no pooled water to worry about. It wasn't busy when I went, and so I just took a sip from the stream of water coming out. It was cold, refreshing, and slightly metallic tasting. Not too bad. There are advisories to not boil the water as it was tested and noted to have high levels of manganese, which boiling would concentrate and potentially cause health issues if consumed in large amounts.

Truly life-saving water! It's worth every effort on your part to stop by and get some That's it…read moreplain and simple. The Yelp won't let me post unless I say more. There is no more to say. The water is excellent. Do you need more? Come and get some, it's still there and it's still free.

A taste of Venice and Gig Harbor all in one bite. Enjoy the charm of an old fishing village that…read morewas wrapped up in great Pacific Northwest history. Some intriguing stories about how this glorious inlet became a true gem of the Tacoma area. Stunning views of upscale living and of our Mount Tahoma aka Mt Rainier. Our gondolier, John painted our experience with a beautiful saranade and a lovely rendition of a birthday wishes. This is a must do, mark it on your list for this summer. Recommendation: go on a Sunday. Still vibrant but not as packed. End or start at the Brimstone Bar on Pioneer. Enjoy and you're welcome!

This is a great local experience! Our friend was visiting from Italy (crossed the Atlantic to ride…read morea gondola) and loved the trip. Greg was an excellent singer and she really appreciated his Italian dialect when singing. The tour was very enjoyable and Greg shared some local history while carrying us around the harbor. If you have the time, we recommend the 90 minute tour all the way around the harbor. It's a very relaxing trip and well worth it.