We were at the lower park playground it was nice and clean…read moreWords words all ljgdssdgjlkgfds

This is an excellent park for locals and tourists alike. This is a privately owned park, it is not…read moreowned by the city. It is well kept and beautiful. During salmon season it is fun to watch the salmon make the long hard swim upstream to the hatchery. Great place for senior pics, wedding pics or family photos. The duck dash the first weekend of June is a lot of fun. Seeing thousands of plastic ducks make their way down the falls is so cool for kids and adults. Paths are easy for walking, we even wheeled my grandma in her wheelchair years ago. Mind you, up hill was a bit of a workout but she enjoyed the scenery. The falls are fun to see year around. Different landscapes for different seasons. It loses a star because the kids playground stinks. They need a serious update and refresher. Just a few chunks of cement shaped like a boat. Lock your cars and hide your valuables- occasional break ins by lowlife thieves.

We recently visited for one night. We stayed in one of the few open spots, right near the front of…read morethe campground. The only sections open for winter were the small section we stayed in and the open field area. Unfortunately for us, the sections closed for the season were the prettiest...much more treed and private feeling there. We enjoyed one hike, the boardwalk-old growth-orchard sections and back to the campground. Apparently there is some damage to parts of the trail system here, but those we took were in good shape, just a bit muddy. Although we didn't get around to the lake, it looked gorgeous when we passed by driving in. Aside from the site across from ours after the teens left that morning, the grounds were all very clean. Pretty area and park...although I probably would only return if I could stay in the closed sections. :)

I moved up from SoCal where I have access to beaches and pools and easy access to the airport so I…read morecan be somewhere tropical in the winters when I want. Moving to Olympia, I was near none of that. So how cool was it to discover we lived almost around the corner from a nice park that has access to a lake where you can rent kayaks and duck boats or swim in the lake. Yes, after a couple months of summer, the water is a little gross from all the lie bottom being stirred up and mixing with the sunscreen and people soup, but if you want to get a cool dip on a hot day, it's nice (just don't dip your head into the water). Lots of picnic tables, but they do run out on weekends, so when we want to go we bring our own tables and can park it underneath the forest shade). On the first lake side parking lot when you come in, you're close to a place that serves beer and pizza. Halfway down in the next parking lot, you're near the place that sells nachos and ice cream. The parking is limited to the point that on the busiest summer days, they have to refuse entry and tell you to come back in the afternoon. For all the problems, it's a good park and one of our favorite places to hang out with our dogs.

Definitely a hidden gem to have but it's small and unfortunately there's a homeless camp living…read morebehind the park. We think it's an otherwise calming place but we don't always feel safe there.

I took my daughter to Yashiro Japanese Gardens expecting it to be a relaxing and inspiring…read moreexperience. I also wanted to experience our local Asian culture. I was very disappointed and a little embarrassed. The whole garden was in a state of neglect. There were leaves floating on the Koi Pond, which was the home of only two Koi. Furthermore there was algae growing in the pond which gave it the appearance of a swamp. The rest of the garden appeared neglected. There were no labels identifying the plants. Identifying plants is minimum expectation of a public garden. I would preferred a reference to their significance. At bare minimum the garden could have weeded and raked. I feel this garden was a disgrace to the city of Olympia and an insult to our Asian population

We wanted to explore more of our city. I've never been to this park even though I grew up in the…read moreOly/Lacey area. This is a great 1-mile loop trail. Easy to walk/hike because there are no large hills to maneuver. A majority of the trail is shaded with trees so if you need a nice walk/hike on a warm day check-out this park. A few things to note: there is limited parking here, only about 4-5 cars can fit in the parking area (free parking), no dogs are allowed, and also the trail is not paved and I feel is not suitable for wheelchairs or strollers. Some of the trail is pretty narrow. My son is three and he was able to hike the trail with ease. There are better parks in the Oly/Lacey area (in my opinion), but nonetheless this is a nice park, especially on a warm day when you want to get outside and stay cool.

Great hidden park, actually pretty big but unassuming from the outside. Not much open space and no…read moreamenities, but you feel like you're in the middle of the woods and end up doing dome bushwhacking if you take some of the trails. Olympia's hidden gem!

Well this trail is cute. I had avoided going on the trail because usually I am in the area at night…read moreand there aren't any lights down on the trail at night so it's kind of spooky because you don't know what's lurking down below. I parked at the West Bay park and walked up and over to the trail. I did like that the trail has direct access to water. The land next to the water wasn't too muddy or loose where your shoes might get stuck either, so that was nice. As there is nothing preventing your from walking up to the stream, watch your kids to make sure they don't fall in. The trail is just wide enough for a stroller, but it's uneven in sections and has steps and bridges so be aware of that. I think the stream is feed by water that runs off the streets as there are large black plastic tubes running down the hillsides carrying street water to disperse into the stream. I guess that's why it's important to watch what you throw into the gutters and streams. Even though this trail is short there are no shortage of inclines, stairs, bridges, and declines. It's a lot of variety in a short stretch. Although the sign says no running there were several people running or with their dogs. At the end of the trail furthest away for West Bay there are steps that lead up to a bus station just in case you're trying to catch the bus. Overall, it's a cute & short trail which may be just enough to get your heart pumping.

This is a super short trail, less than a mile round trip, but a nice way to escape the heat of the…read moreday and enjoy the peace and quiet of nature. I parked for free at West Bay Park and crossed the main road at the pedestrian walkway to find the trailhead. There is a bench at both ends of the trail as well as one other at the halfway point. Signs at both ends clearly indicate the rules of the park including leashed dogs allowed; but no jogging is permitted. Seriously? I'm not sure why that last one is an issue. There were very few people, mostly women of all ages, that I saw on the trail, but perhaps the no jogging rule was implemented because the path is narrow and could be slippery when wet. I met two leashed dogs on trail with their responsible owners. The trail winds down from the road at both ends and follows a creek bed. There are bridges, retaining walls, wood planks, steps and dirt path that make it easy to follow this trail from start to finish. You will be surrounded by large trees throughout that provide a canopy blocking out the sun and heat of the day. At a few points, you can see water trickling through the brook below. I imagine that it is more powerful during and after a few days of rain. I could hear the stream and birds squawk. This easy trail basically offers a nice, short stroll through the woods to breakup the monotony of the day.

Sequalitchew Creek is a pet friendly and an ideal easy stroll for families. It is a total of 3…read moremiles round trip. Half a mile of it is paved and the remaining mile is rock path. Decline going there and incline on the reverse. You'll see beautiful views of the puget sound at the end. Most of the trail is surrounded by trees. If you decide to go there to watch the sunset, you'll have to use your cell phone flashlight. There is no lighting on the path. Respect the aina (land, earth, environment) and take your trash back with you since there are no trash cans.

Beautiful hiking trail that is only 3 miles in total - out and back with great views of the Puget…read moreSound. Plenty of free parking available and restrooms on site. I would recommend if you are looking for an easy hike. My kids and I enjoyed this trail a lot plus it wasn't crowded at all on a weekday!

Beatty Memorial park spans approximately 4 square inches. The park is maintained by the community…read more Neither picnic nor camping reservations can be accepted because the park is just too small. However, the park is ideal for photo opportunities, being located in scenic downtown Olympia. The grounds of Beatty Memorial Park are maintained by the community. Please, don't litter and please, share the park. It's pretty small and can get crowded at peak hours. Keep your dogs on leashes at all times.

I visited this park today! I saw ever inch of it, and even got to water the whole park! This is a…read morelovely park, worth spending a time walking around it!!!!!

Good walk, but not what I'd call a "hike." There are some small lakes, a few modest waterfalls, and…read moresome second+ growth trees. There is a small parking lot. Trails might be the most clearly marked I've ever seen, but again, this is a minor trail, which you couldn't get lost on if you tried.