East Olympia - Lacey, WA Area Guide

Much of East Olympia's history is tied to the city of Lacey. The land, like all the Pacific Northwest, was originally occupied by Native Americans tribes. Europeans began to migrate into the area in the 1850s and used the land to produce forestry products, milk and cattle. East Olympia now serves as a commuter neighborhood for those working in Olympia, Tacoma and Fort Lewis.

Olympia houses an abundance of all forms of art. Numerous museums, galleries and theaters fill downtown such as the Washington Center for the Performing Arts and Capitol Theater. Locals flock downtown every April for the Procession of the Species. Seven weeks of art-focused workshops are followed by a special and elaborate parade celebrating the cultural connections of humans and the natural world. Those wanting to see hundreds of people donning their best animal costumes shouldn't miss this eccentric display.

Restaurants in East Olympia lie clustered along Marvin Road Northeast and Martin Way. Those seeking upscale restaurants do best in downtown Olympia at popular favorites like Dockside Bistro & Wine Bar, La Petite Maison, and Gardner's Seafood and Pasta.

Locals appreciate the casual comfort food found right around the corner at Mayan Mexican Restaurant. Mayan serves hearty platters of authentic Mexican dishes such as enchiladas rancheras, tacos al carbon, and flautas. Regulars love the large menu and friendly service. Meat lovers appreciate that Mayan stuffs the tacos, quesadillas, and burritos to the brim with tasty carne asada and chicken.

Heading east out of the city along Martin Way, Cebu Restaurant features Filipino cuisine. Family-owned Cebu makes every plate of food from scratch such as the mechado, a slow-cooked beef brisket cooked with tomato sauce, bell peppers, and potatoes. Cebu produces comfort foods at a very affordable price. The clean atmosphere and sincere service warrant repeat visits.

Meconi's Italian Subs serves simple Italian cuisine in a laid-back atmosphere. Build your own sub with up to three meats, such as chicken, corned beef, made-from-scratch tuna salad, or Canadian bacon. The hot sausage sub comes with Italian sausage, grilled green peppers, grilled onions, two cheeses, and marinara sauce as a hearty meal. Add a soup or salad for an extra side.

East Olympia houses a decent selection of nightlife options. Wine lovers enjoy spending an afternoon at the tasting rooms of nearby Stottle Winery and Northwest Mountain Winery. Bar-goers head to a number of comfortable spots including Ram Restaurant & Brewing, Cedar Inn Tavern, and Pints & Quarts. For more nightclubs and live music venues, head to downtown Olympia.

Jake's on 4th represents a fun place to dance the night away. This establishment features a DJ and hosts theme nights on a regular basis. For live music or a movie night, locals head to Capitol Theater. Established in the 1920s, Capitol Theater serves as the go-to place for arts and culture in the city.

Most people drive, with a few using public transportation. Parking is easily available throughout the area. East Olympia is not considered walkable, but those using a bike for transportation find a good number of bike lanes throughout the community, particularly along Marvin Road, Britton Parkway and Martin Way. Intercity Transit's service provides bus transportation, although the immediate East Olympia neighborhood does not have any bus stops. Locals must get to the Lacey Walmart station along Marvin Road in order to ride the route into downtown Olympia. Taxi companies service East Olympia, but Uber does not operate here.

Thurston County's Parks and Recreation department operates 25 parks and over 47 miles of maintained trails throughout the county.The cities of Olympia, Tumwater and Lacey also maintain a number of municipal parks. East Olympia hosts a number of these sites including Lacey's Meridian Park and Pleasant Glade Park. Meridian Park covers 24 acres and features a playground, picnic shelter, basketball court and an open play area. Pleasant Glade Park stands undeveloped but hosts a small pond and 2,000 feet of woodland and beginning in 2015 will contain play areas and environmental education stations. Dog lovers appreciate the Thurston County Off-Leash Dog Park. Located on Hogum Bay Road, this park opens from dawn to dusk every day of the week and provides Fido a place to run and play.

Nisqually National Refuge sits just east of East Olympia. This 760 acre site sits at the Nisqually River Delta and houses a variety of habitats rich in nutrients and biodiversity. The largest wetland restoration project in the Pacific Northwest happened here at Nisqually when the dikes surrounding the delta were removed to connect the tides of the river to those of the Puget Sound. Locals enjoy taking a stroll around the grounds to view the various species of migratory birds that temporarily call this area home.

The parks host numerous events throughout the year. Locals from all over Thurston County congregate at Sylvester Park on Wednesday evenings during the months of July and August for Music in the Park. This event features live music, food vendors and family-friendly fun.

The cost of living in East Olympia sits at one percent less than the Olympia city average as well as one percent less than the state average of Washington. Housing and healthcare costs are particularly high here. Renters in East Olympia can expect to pay $785 for a one-bedroom apartment.

In East Olympia, gas prices sit around 10 percent higher than the national average. Those using Intercity Transit's bus service pay $1.25 for one-way fare and $2.50 for a day pass. Patrons generally pay $5 for a pint of local beer.

Locals find adequate shopping options in and around East Olympia. Hawks Prairie Village Mall sits south of the neighborhood along the intersection of Marvin Boulevard and Martin Way and features box stores like Home Depot, Costco and Best Buy alongside smaller specialty stores and a number of grocery markets. Many residents from all around East Olympia and Lacey find Hawks Prairie meets almost all retail needs. For upscale shopping, many locals drive to west Olympia for a visit to Capital Mall where name brands featured include Eddie Bauer and Sephora.

A handful of small shops and markets line Marvin Boulevard Northeast in East Olympia. Hefty Harvest sells everything a gardener needs to produce a large and fruitful garden. The knowledgeable staff can guide everyone, from the novice to the green thumb, in finding the perfect soil and fertilization complements. Right down the street from Hefty Harvest lies Olympia Hot Tub. Those looking for a little reprieve from the Pacific Northwest winter enjoy perusing the large hot tub selection at Olympia Hot Tub. Customers give this store rave reviews for the professional customer service and great prices designed to fit any budget.

For groceries, locals head to Costco and Safeway within Hawks Prairie Village. Grocery Outlet, a popular discount grocery store, sits across from Hawks Prairie Village. For a farmers market experience, residents visit the Lacey Community Market on the second Saturday of July, August and September from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. The expansive Olympia Farmers Market in downtown Olympia remains open year-round but has limited hours during the winter months.