Category Archives: WA State – Thurston County

Olympia Olive Oil Company

11897946696_4cfb7da4ac_bI like stores that do one thing well and that is the case with Olympia Olive Oil Company at 321 4th Avenue East in Olympia. Crafted extra virgin olive oils (on the left) and flavored balsamic vinegars (on the right) and a small collection of salts and seasonings are what the store features. The vinegars and the oils maybe tasted in little disposable cups, which was a wonderful opportunity. Once you make your selection, the owner pours the oil/vinegar into the bottle, puts on a label and corks it. I left with two olive oils (blood orange and garlic) and a lemon balsamic vinegar. They have a second location in the South Hill Mall in Puyallup. It’s possible to order online at their website.

11897993143_a4752431a3_b

Olympia-Rafah Mural Project, Olympia

11473179874_62cf5591e4_bI’ve admired the bold, tree based Olympia-Rafah Mural Project, located in downtown Olympia WA. Olympia is the sister city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip, Palestine. This 4000 square foot mural “seeks to break down barriers to understanding, increase visibility for Palestinian people, encourage imagination, embrace the hope and courage of Rachel Corrie, and bring people together to work in solidarity for justice and liberation for Palestinians and marginalized people everywhere.” The project began in 2006 and involves more than 150 local, national and international groups and individuals. The project’s website is here.

11472979085_20222f8e27_b

 

The Oyster House, Olympia

11261934805_66f37c8a11_bThe Oyster House at 320 4th Avenue West, Olympia, burned down in July 2013. The 1924 structure was originally built to cull and ship oysters, but in 1925 a small oyster bar was added. By 1949 it had evolved into a sit down restaurant. In 1957 it burned down with the exception of some structural elements. It was rebuilt, but closed in 1995. The restaurant reopened under new ownership in 1996 and has operated as a high quality, destination seafood restaurant until the most recent fire. Their website says it is the oldest seafood restaurant in Washington State. The owners plan to rebuild. The second photo is mere steps away.

11262793045_c6da9cda45_b

My Morbid Mind

morbidSo dear daughter and I are lost in the Olympia area when we go past this gem. We both say at about the same time “that’s today’s new place”. Apparently My Morbid Mind at 4548 Marvin Road SE, Lacey functions as a seasonal haunted house. Really, looking at their website it looks like a scream! I’d love to go back next Halloween.

11125040986_4e065770f7_b(1)

Halloween at Hunter Pumpkin Patch, Olympia

pumpkins blogHunter Pumpkin Patch at 7401 Yelm Highway is an extravaganza of family friendly Halloween fun. They have two corn mazes, plenty of animals to see, wagon rides, a hay maze, a pumpkin sling shot, a pillow jump (like a trampoline), a shop and a snack shop. Mostly it was fun to see the kids running around and having a blast. In December Hunters also has a Christmas Tree Farm with assorted Christmas activities. There website is here and their Facebook page is here.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 

Yauger Park, Olympia

10375312376_ea29bd01f8_bYauger Park in Olympia has a lovely wetland area that doubles as a storm water retention pond during times of heavy rain. Per their website, the area can hold 27 million gallons of water which is slowly released into Percival Creek and eventually into Budd Inlet. One comment I noted on Yelp said that the rain water will sometimes cover the parking area also, which is better than local streets! The park also has picnic facilities, sports areas and playground equipment.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Yashiro Japanese Garden, Olympia

image (5)The Yashiro Japanese Garden at 1010 Plum Street SE, Olympia is a small, well proportioned public garden. It is a a joint effort of the Olympia-Yashiro Sister City Association and the City of Olympia.There are a few art pieces and a waterfall and some colorful fall foliage. More information can be found here.

Video

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 

Welcoming Figure at Evergreen

LadyEvergreen State College gained a Welcoming Figure by Andy Wilbur-Peterson of the Skokomish Tribe and Greg Colfax of the Makah Tribe. More of Andy Wilbur-Peterson’s work can be seen here and there is more information to be found on the artist here. Information on Greg Colfax can be found here. The statue was constructed in 1987 and the statue stands 12′ tall.

Mima Mounts near Maytown

9541088065_2bc2dea785_bThe Mima Mounds Natural Area Preserve is a designated National Natural Landmark near the Capital State Forest and Maytown. The 3′ to 6′ high mounds themselves are kind of cool, large, rounded hills. The Mima mounds appear in parts of Washington, Oregon, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana and California, and also in Kenya, Mexico, Canada, Australia and China. Scientists don’t really know what caused them, but theories include pocket gophers, wind blowing around vegetation, seismic activity, shrinking & swelling clay and, my personal favorite, space aliens.

Fair warning, this park requires a Discovery Pass which can be purchased online here.

9543930022_772de4a52c_b 9543881998_754205fef6_b

John Rankin Rogers, Sylvester Park

Photo Jul 31, 3 43 02 PMThere is a statue of John Rankin Rogers in Sylvester Park in Olympia, WA. Mr. Rogers was Washington State’s third governor serving between 1896 and 1901. He died towards the beginning of his second term. He is best know for supporting the “Barefoot Schoolboy Act” which he had first sponsored while in the state legislature. The Act provided a mechanism of state funding to equalize support for free public education between counties which had a large tax base and those without. (thanks Wikipedia!)