Olympia, Washington
Welcome to Washington
Wildlife watching and man-made attractions abound in this state
There is so much to see and do in Washington state that it is literally hard to know where to start.
But the state capitol of Olympia is as good a place as any to begin; in fact, it is a city definitely not to be missed if you're planning a trip to Washington.
A capitol attraction
"The Capitol Building is the big attraction in Olympia," said Richard Emde, tour services co-ordinator for the state capitol in the state of Washington.
Emde said the building (the equivalent of the legislature buildings in Canada's provinces) is open all year with the exceptions of Christmas Day, New Year's Day and the American Thanksgiving Day.
Six tours a day take visitors on an informative look at one of the last great domed capitol buildings built in America. Set on a bluff overlooking Puget Sound, the Capitol Building stands 28 stories high, and 42 broad granite steps lead up to the entrance, symbolizing Washington's place as the 42nd state in the Union.
A team of some 30 artisans spent five years carving the building's details in sandstone, marble and wood. Stone ox skulls circle the base of the dome in a frieze that commemorates Washington's ox-cart pioneers. Elaborate plaster ceilings, rich with eagles and gilded rosettes, crown each legislative chamber.
Louis Comfort Tiffany, in the last of his major commissions, designed the building's floors lamps, sconces and chandeliers. His five-ton Angels of Mercy chandelier, centrepiece of the rotunda, hangs from the dome on a massive 101-foot chain.
Outside the building are more attractions. As Emde pointed out, the Capitol Building sits on 100 acres of parkland. Starting about mid-April, the cherry blossoms are in gorgeous bloom, he said, with rhododendrons and other floral delights to follow.
Emde also recommended Governor's Mansion tours (most Wednesdays; they must be booked in advance).
Olympia features an attractive downtown area with "artsy shops, galleries and antique shops," he said, a summer farmer's market on the waterfront, and the Capitol Mall area for shopping.
Wildlife watching
Julie Gangler, media consultant for the Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater Visitor and Convention Bureau, offered some ideas for getting back to nature, so to speak, in the area.
The Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge is a 3,000-acre preserve for migratory waterfowl, songbirds, raptors and wading birds. Avid birders can theoretically spot more than 200 bird species; as well, 50 small mammals can be sighted in saltwater marsh and forest habitats.
The winged and furred creatures are viewable from trails and photography blinds.
Also worth a visit is Wolf Haven International, a sanctuary for captive-born wolves. The educational facility participates in the Mexican gray wolf recovery program, and the red wolf captive breeding program.
Also nearby is the Mima Mounds Natural Area Preserve, a 625-acre prairie of mysterious mounds up to six feet high and 30 feet in diameter. Theories on the mounds' origin range from ancient Ice Age glacial action to large burrowing animals.
There is great bird-watching here, too (20-plus species of nesting birds), and lovely native wildflowers and grasses. Three miles of hiking trails, interpretive nature outlooks and a picnic area are found here.
The Olympia area is also home to a major salmon run. At the right time of year, visitors can see the salmon right from the bridge in downtown Olympia, or they can check them out at the fish ladder a mile south of downtown.
The salmon run is even reflected in city art. See a display of salmon-related sculptures in the lobby of Olympia Centre. Each sculpture was handcrafted by a local artist or group.
Elsewhere in Washington
The visitors' centre in Olympia will have information on Mount St. Helens and Mt. Rainier, popular tourist destinations in Washington.
Whale-watching in the San Juan Islands, where the orca whale is the big attracion, also draws many visitors.
It is also possible to see whales at the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. The most common baleen whales of the Olympic Coast are the California gray whale and the humpback whale. Common toothed whales include the harbour porpoise and killer whales.
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