Olympia, Washington: Our State Capitol

After I left Nisqually I decided to head down to Olympia, as I've never spent any time there other than whizzing by on Interstate 5.  I figured I've been here 12 years, I should probably check out my state capitol.

Capitol Lake, West Bay and the Olympic Mountains.

Washington State Legislative Building.  Not quite as impressive as Victoria's.

No dumping in Puget Sound please!

I like the State Patrol cars but not when they are behind me with their lights on. lol

This image really cracked me up.

I realize that my state is named after George Washington and all, but we have the world's most boring state flag.

World War 1 Memorial

Another view of the Olys

After I left the Capitol Buildings, I headed down to 4th Avenue in downtown.  Olympia is like a miniature Berkeley or  Haight Ashbury.  

Not that I'm a Molsons fan, I just liked the leaf.  When it comes to Canadian beer, I'm partial to Kokanee.

Of course I stopped into this Deadhead/Reggae store.

I loved this Harley Davidson-like neon sign at the guitar shop.

I could have bought EVERYTHING in this little antique and curio shop, but I was a good girl and didn't buy anything.  The last thing I need is another knick knack.

Lots of murals in town.

Now that's what I call a hookah!!!

Chief Leschi of the Nisqually tribe.

Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge

We had a gorgeous, clear day on the Saturday of President's Day Weekend, so I decided to take a day trip down to Thurston County, to the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge.

The refuge is located near Olympia, at the bottom of the Puget Sound region, south of Tacoma.  It's about a 45 minute drive from my house.

Unfortunately, I did not realize just how cold and windy it was going to be down here, on the water.  I was completely unprepared for it.  When I pulled into the parking lot, I noticed all the other people hitting the trails bundled up with hats, scarves, gloves and winter coats.  I was wearing a short sleeved tshirt under a denim jacket.  I froze my chicklets off and had to cut my hike short b/c I was freezing.

Lots of lichen on the trees

The snow covered, craggy Olympic Mountains were just stunning!

I was disappointed that there were no bald eagles out and about, due to the cold wind.

The Nisqually River is fed by the Nisqually Glacier on Mt. Rainier and flows all the way down to Puget Sound.

Nisqually River

Olympic Mountains