While Washington DC is the capital of the United States, Olympia WA is the Washington state capital and it is well worth a few days spent exploring this historic and yet quirky part of the world. The yearly Procession of the Species is part Mardi Gras, part family-fun carnival and part homage to Darwin, while the stately and sedate historic buildings and museums provide the cultural counterbalance.

Arts and Culture

Regarded as one of the most artsy cities in the US, Olympia is packed with galleries and dialogue on all things art. From State of the Arts, an eclectic collections that avoids snobbery by showcasing global talent at all budget levels to the seminar discussion aptly titled 'Who Cares if There's Underground Culture or Not?' (held yearly at the Capitol Theater), Olympia is a heartland of artists and creative expression.

Art is not only to be found in galleries here. Graffiti and street art examples are everywhere in Olympia and although the contrast between these vibrant and cutting edge artforms are at odds with the historic white mansions, somehow they blend well.

Places to See

For a more conventional but equally interesting taste of Olympian culture, take a tour of the Washington State Capitol. The Capitol building was made of logs, until this grand replacement was inaugurated in 1903. As well as a little history, there is also a magnificent greenhouse and Botanic area on-site and the grounds give easy access to the Temple of Justice, the State Library and the State Supreme Court, all of which are either open to the public or offer guided tours.

Off the Beaten Path

Getting off the beaten path is surprisingly easy in Olympia. Hole-in-the-wall restaurants are plentiful (try Any Happy Teriyaki for great food and cheerful service), while the Olympia Film Society serves up almost daily doses of independent cinema. About ten minutes drive from downtown Olympia is the Zen Center, where all visitors are welcome – try the zazen sessions in the evening for a little tranquility, or just check out the Soto temple for pure architectural beauty. On Martin Way is O'Blarneys, a faux-Irish pub that still serves a pretty reasonable facsimile of UK fish-and-chips, as well the obligatory overpriced Guinness, along with generous helpings of friendly chat.

The Annual Procession of the Species is a quirky Olympian carnival and series of events that aims to encourage awareness of the natural world and environmental protection. Beginning with a parade of costumed characters representing all stages of evolution and species types, and ending with The Luminary Ball, the Procession of the Species is part good cause and part good old-fashioned fun. The majority of this year's events happen during April, but lead-up events like an open-house of the studio where the parade floats are built kick off in March. The highlight of the calendar is, of course, Parade Day itself (this year on April 14th), with most of the downtown streets being closed to traffic as the Procession winds its way through Olympia.

Hotels

Accommodation in Olympia definitely errs on the inexpensive side. A clean and comfortable double room in a standard hotel will cost around $50 per night, with the pointy end of the price range heading up to around $100 per night for a more luxurious, suite-style room. Most hotels are within 5 minutes walk of downtown Olympia.

Use the Hotelsio Rate Finder on the left to find cheap hotels in Olympia, WA.

(Photo:©iStockphoto.com/wwing)

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