I just got back from a very fun morning walk with my little dog, at Priest Point Park. This is a real favorite of the Olympia locals, as it is just minutes out of downtown Olympia- easy to walk, bike or drive to.
It is set on the muddy tidelands of Budd Bay and there are lots of trails to get down to the water and eel grass and oysters and birds. And because it is a tidelands that reach to some cliffs, every time you visit, you see something new- like big tree trunks scoured by the saltwater and sand! 
The Pacific Northwest is, of course, known for the rain- constant dripping moisture that keeps our slugs fat & happy, and the hillsides green. But today was actually pretty dry, just a bit misty. Perfect for a walk.
One of my favorite things to do as a child was to turn over things on the beach and see what was under- usually little crabs scrabbling for cover! So I made a little video: just click here to see it.

This is just one end of the park- there are actually a total of 314 acres it covers and it includes some very pretty gardens, under moss covered trees, cliffsides with places to sit and watch the water, and trails galore. The city of Olympia website has some good information about the park's History, maps of the trails, information about reserving the picnic areas.
As any child of the Puget Sound can tell you, this is not the sandy beaches of the tropics! This is colder. And mucky! So don't forget your rainboots. And a towel.


To get to Priest Point Park, take I-5 to Exit 105 and head northbound on Plum Street, which become Eastbay Drive, and is about 2.5 miles from I-5.
The park is just beyond the waterfront homes to your left, and is located at 2600 Eastbay Drive NE.

This is one of the best parts of helping someone buy a home in Olympia- introducing them to the things I love! Please give me a call if you have any questions about homes near Priest Point Park or downtown Olympia.
Sarah,
Greetings from up north in Bellingham. I always enjoy visits to Olympia, unless I am putzing with legislators --that is less fun.