The Atlas Obscura Guide To Olympia

5 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Olympia, Washington

Updated May 23, 2025

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Unusual Attractions in Olympia

Olympia, Washington

Mima Mounds

Native American burial mounds? Giant gopher dens? No one knows what created the Mima Mounds.

Procession of the Species.

Olympia, Washington

Procession of the Species

Celebrate Earth Day with a menagerie of vibrant, artistic animal costumes.

Bring a bottle

Olympia, Washington

Olympia Artesian Well Commons

Local stories say that if you drink from this well, you will return to Olympia.

Olympia, Washington

Washington Capitol State Reception Room

In addition to what was once the world’s largest single-loom carpet, this charming space contains a pair of unique flags in American history.

Are we missing something unusual?

Thornewood Castle

Tacoma, Washington

Thornewood Castle

"The House That Love Built" is shying away from "The House That Ghosts Love."

17 miles from Olympia

Color Picture of the 1940 collapse

Tacoma, Washington

Tacoma Narrows Bridge

This famous bridge twisted itself into oblivion, but not for the reason you might think.

22 miles from Olympia

Bob’s Java Jive

Tacoma, Washington

Bob's Java Jive

Tacoma’s 25-foot coffee pot music spot has served up over 80 years of concrete kitsch.

24 miles from Olympia

See All 5 Things To Do in Olympia

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Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Atlas Obscura Itineraries

9 Strange and Surreal Spots in Washington State

The deep, moody forests of Washington state are filled with secrets and stories. From springy mosses to towering Douglas firs, rocky outcrops, and glacial deposits, it’s easy to see how the landscape helped set the tone for stories like David Lynch’s trippy TV series Twin Peaks and the teen vampire romance that is Twilight. Across the Evergreen State, human- and nature-made oddities are rarely far from reach.

A foggy view from Washington’s Mount Rainier, the most glaciated peak in the continental United States.

Explore Olympia, Washington

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