Andrea’s guidebook
Grocery stores
Safeway
3215 Harrison Ave NWclosest supermarket
Haggen
1313 Cooper Point Rd SWA nicer grocery store, close, on Westside of Olympia
A locally owned food store with great , more local options... Look for the Olympic Mountain Ice Cream, it’s awesome!
21 locals recommend
Bayview Thriftway
516 4th Ave WA locally owned food store with great , more local options... Look for the Olympic Mountain Ice Cream, it’s awesome!
Ralph's Thriftway
1908 4th Ave EMy favorite food store in town. Locally owned
Local food coop. Lots of organic options, as well as prepared food bar.
46 locals recommend
Olympia Food Co-op
921 Rogers St NWLocal food coop. Lots of organic options, as well as prepared food bar.
Food scene
Great pizza, plus salad and a few more things... Inexpensive, easy place for kids ! 2 locations, Westside and downtown
21 locals recommend
Vics Pizzeria
233 Division St NWGreat pizza, plus salad and a few more things... Inexpensive, easy place for kids ! 2 locations, Westside and downtown
Inexpensive, good Thai food. Downtown. Very friendly proprieter and waiters... Very reliable!
9 locals recommend
Mekong Thai Restaurant
125 Columbia St NWInexpensive, good Thai food. Downtown. Very friendly proprieter and waiters... Very reliable!
Great French bakery and restaurant. Authentic french breads and pastries, fabulous! Food includes soups, salads, quiches, croque monsieurs, etc. Moderate to pricey, and can get crowded during peak times.
51 locals recommend
The Bread Peddler
222 Capitol Way NGreat French bakery and restaurant. Authentic french breads and pastries, fabulous! Food includes soups, salads, quiches, croque monsieurs, etc. Moderate to pricey, and can get crowded during peak times.
Inexpensive italian food, thin-crust pizzas, salads, pasta, sandwiches. They use local, organic ingredients. Ambiance is nice, euro-modern. Casual.
I.talia Pizzeria
2505 4th Ave WInexpensive italian food, thin-crust pizzas, salads, pasta, sandwiches. They use local, organic ingredients. Ambiance is nice, euro-modern. Casual.
A longtime local favorite, with a varied menu, great burgers and fries, pizza and more... Ambiance and excellent service.
28 locals recommend
McMenamins Spar Café
114 4th Ave EA longtime local favorite, with a varied menu, great burgers and fries, pizza and more... Ambiance and excellent service.
Coffee!!!!
There are 3 locations in Olympia, all great! One of the best coffee houses, and that is saying something here, in the coffee capitol of America!!
79 locals recommend
Olympia Coffee Roasting
2601 N Proctor StThere are 3 locations in Olympia, all great! One of the best coffee houses, and that is saying something here, in the coffee capitol of America!!
Another favorite! Excellent strong coffees, great pastries, casual atmosphere. several locations throughout Olympia.
19 locals recommend
Dancing Goats® Downtown Olympia
550 Capitol Way SAnother favorite! Excellent strong coffees, great pastries, casual atmosphere. several locations throughout Olympia.
Hikes and outdoor fun
A lovely forest hike around a beaver pond, just 3 minute drive from my house! 4-5 miles of trails, easy , mostly flat hiking, see birds, and salmon run (in season).
McLane Creek Nature Trail
McLane Creek Nature TrailA lovely forest hike around a beaver pond, just 3 minute drive from my house! 4-5 miles of trails, easy , mostly flat hiking, see birds, and salmon run (in season).
Evergreen has several hiking trails, one going down to the beach on Puget Sound. Check out the website for Evergreen for maps and directions to the trailheads...
Geoduck Beach
Evergreen has several hiking trails, one going down to the beach on Puget Sound. Check out the website for Evergreen for maps and directions to the trailheads...
There is a trail for running, walking and biking that goes around the school, (about 1.5 miles), and it connects up with the Evergreen Parkway trail, which is nice and shady on a hot day... (It adds another 2-4 miles to the total walk, so lots of options for a short walk or a longer one...). All paved trail...
McLane Elementary School
200 Delphi Rd SWThere is a trail for running, walking and biking that goes around the school, (about 1.5 miles), and it connects up with the Evergreen Parkway trail, which is nice and shady on a hot day... (It adds another 2-4 miles to the total walk, so lots of options for a short walk or a longer one...). All paved trail...
Mclane Creek Nature Trail
4720-5042 Delphi Rd SWA beautiful walk, a flat loop trail beloved by birdwatchers and all nature lovers, about 5 miles long, so wear comfortable shoes!!
65 locals recommend
Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center
100 Brown Farm Rd NEA beautiful walk, a flat loop trail beloved by birdwatchers and all nature lovers, about 5 miles long, so wear comfortable shoes!!
A must- see if you have the time: Mt Rainier is spectacular, with numerous trails for all levels of hikers. Two great Historic lodges to visit/eat a meal/stay the night are at the midway point and at the top of the park road. About 2 hour drive from Olympia.
607 locals recommend
Mount Rainier National Park
A must- see if you have the time: Mt Rainier is spectacular, with numerous trails for all levels of hikers. Two great Historic lodges to visit/eat a meal/stay the night are at the midway point and at the top of the park road. About 2 hour drive from Olympia.
Grocery stores
Bayview Thriftway
516 4th Ave WHiking and outdoor activities
The Evergreen State College
2700 Evergreen Pkwy NW