Olympia

Conveniently set between Seattle and Portland along the shores of the Puget Sound, Olympia is the capital city of Washington State and a vibrant meeting and leisure travel destination. Fueled by government activity, Olympia features a historic downtown with eclectic shopping, dining, fine wine, craft brews, locally-roasted coffees, and even handmade soap! Olympia and the surrounding cities of Lacey and Tumwater offer dozens of meeting and event spaces ranging from traditional hotels like Hotel RL or Great Wolf Lodge, to more unconventional spaces like the campus at South Puget Sound Community College, the Lacey Community Center, or even one of the many museums in the area. Thurston County beckons outdoorsy types with its diverse hiking and biking trails running through its cities and into its vast wooded acres. The natural beauty of two National Parks, Mt. Rainier and Olympic Peninsula, are both within a two-hour drive. Explore the 1.2 mile trail encircling Capitol Lake, or for a trip across the county, visit the 14-mile Chehalis Western Trail, a converted railroad line. Percival Landing Park’s one-mile boardwalk in downtown Olympia is a selfie opportunity any time of the year. History buffs can take in a tour of the Capitol Building, the tallest freestanding masonry dome in North America. Nature lovers can visit the Billy Frank Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, an estuary for native fish, wildlife and plants.