North Olympia Olympia, WA

Before the Europeans arrived in Olympia in 1792, many Native tribes inhabited the area. With the influx of Oregon Trail immigrants, the area’s population grew, and in 1853, the area got its name because of its view of the Olympic Mountains to the Northwest before being incorporated in 1859. Today, Olympia's vibrant arts and music scene celebrates the region's natural beauty.

The downtown area, attracting many artists and musicians, exposes residents to art both in local coffeehouses and formal exhibitions. Residents can visit Art in Ecology, located in the Washington Department of Ecology, to see the works of northwest artists or the Monarch Contemporary Art Center and Sculpture Park for the expansive sculpture garden.

On Earth Day, the Procession of the Species, with its animal-themed celebration attracts large crowds and participants. The biannual Arts Walk takes place during the seven weeks leading up to the Procession.

From date night to family night, downtown Olympia has options to satisfy any craving.

Lunchtime gets tastier at The Bread Peddler, a deli perfect for your sandwich fix. Order the savory Croque Monsieur, and save room for one of many baked pastries. The deli, with its assortment of baked goods, also provides residents with a quick fix for breakfast.

For an upscale dining experience, head to the boardwalk, and dine in at the chef-owned Dockside Bistro & Wine Bar. The restaurant has an innovative menu inspired by European and Southeast Asian influences using locally sourced ingredients. Start your meal with the Humboldt Fog Goat Cheese Salad, and order the Elk Duet for your main dish.

Whether the family craves breakfast for dinner or you are a college student hungry after a late-night study session, King Solomon’s Reef, a diner with friendly staff and a full bar, serves meals until 3 a.m. You can get breakfast all day at the diner, and the waffles prove to be a popular order. If you yearn for comfort food, add some fried chicken to your waffles.

Residents can head to downtown Olympia for its diverse nightlife, and given the proximity of the bars to one another, you can change your mind and go to a different venue easily. There exist plenty of choices for music, from punk rock to local bands. The 4th Ave Tavern has live music daily and free Wi-Fi for patrons wanting to remain connected. The Eastside Club Tavern, with its casual atmosphere, affordable prices and selection of over 30 microbrews, attracts many people.

Residents can get around Olympia easily using many different modes of transportation other than their car.

Unlike other cities, Olympia provides a lot of public parking, making a drive into downtown hassle-free. Meters range from 15 minutes to 9 hours, but some do not take credit cards or the Oly Smart Card.

Residents enjoy a pedestrian lifestyle, walking for leisure and to get to school or the grocery store. If you are downtown, everything sits close by, so walking proves even easier. You can also hail a cab if necessary, as companies such as Yellow Cab or RediCab remain available.

In the event you do not want to walk, Olympia has an efficient and readily accessible public transportation system. The Intercity Transit connects commuters to other transit centers and rail systems, such as Sound Transit. Intercity Transit also has a free shuttle route, Dash, running from Capitol Campus to the Farmers Market on the edge of downtown.

Commuters wanting to bike use the city's dedicated bicycle lanes and can easily incorporate exercise into their morning travel to work or for running errands. Downtown Olympia has 32 miles of bike trails, connecting into the larger Thurston County area.

For commuters covering more ground, Amtrak has two different lines for varying needs. Amtrak's Coast Starlight's southbound train provides service to Centralia, Portland, and Sacramento & Emeryville, California. The northbound train provides service to Tacoma and Seattle. The Amtrak Cascades train takes travelers farther north or south to Vancouver or Eugene, Oregon, respectively.

With an active population, Olympia has many park systems allowing residents to be in the outdoors, but the parks themselves have unique features.

In the 1800s, the wells established in Watershed Park served as the primary source of water for the city. When the property acquired by the city in 1917 was to be sold in the 1950s, citizens appealed to the Supreme Court to preserve this historic site. Today, the park, described as one of the best walking trails, gives visitors a historic site with the remains of the wells and ancient trees stumps still visible. Go deeper into the park, and find the Moxlie Creek Springs Basin, one of the largest basins. The park trails do have steep inclines and may be unsafe for young children. Pets are not allowed on the grounds.

Yauger Park, with its 40 acres, offers visitors a space meeting more athletic and family-oriented needs. The park has four multi-use sports fields, a jogging path, playground for children and even a skate park. There are picnic areas and community gardens as well. An interesting feature of the park remains the artificial wetland that acts as a stormwater retention pond during times of heavy rainfall, draining water so that the nearby streets do not flood. When the pond is not filled, it acts as an urban environment, attracting waterfowl and a variety of other creatures.

In the New Year, at Long Lake Park, participate in the Polar Bear Plunge, ringing in the New Year by jumping into a freezing cold lake. If you do not want to participate this year, standby with a cup of hot cocoa and cheer on others.

Compared to the pricier costs of living in a city such as Seattle, Olympia offers more affordable housing with a median rent of around $904, which is 0.5 percent less than the rest of Washington State.

While you can drive around Olympia and easily find parking downtown, gas proves costly with prices 4.2 percent higher than the national average. Instead, take the bus with one-way fare at $1.25, and avoid having to worry about driving home after drinks at dinner, with beer priced around $3 to $4.

Commercial shopping can be found at the South Sound Center, an indoor mall converted into an outdoor mall, in Lacey or at Capital Mall, west of downtown Olympia. If you want something more local and unique, downtown Olympia, unlike other downtown centers, has a number of interesting finds.

Compass Rose 's motto, "fresh, local, and always in season" remains evident at the storefront in downtown Olympia. The store, a perfect shop to stop by when in a bind for a gift, sells locally made goods, an array of kitchenware and other trinkets. You can also find an assortment of $1 postcards.

For a one of a kind piece of jewelry for yourself or as a gift, stop by Bon Lemon. The business started by four women brings its clientele interesting, show-stopping pieces, but the most noteworthy fact about the store is that all profits are donated to charities.

Residents can get their groceries at the QFC, Fred Meyer or Safeway. Local and organic options can be found at the Olympia Farmers Market, which also houses many vendors selling prepared items. Try a jam from Johnson Berry Farm, one of the many vendors at the market.