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closeWith only a few days left before school starts again, Rebecca and I decided to take the girls for a day trip to Olympia. To keep things simple, we planned to visit the farmers market and the Capitol complex, then grab some dinner and head home.
With the government in a lull and many people on vacation, it's a perfect time to see the state capital without the crowds.
I grew up in Michigan's capital of Lansing, and my stepfather worked in the state House of Representatives, so I have fond memories of wandering around the bustling hallways and doing my homework on the Sergeant-at-Arms table while the Legislature was in session. But I was not prepared for the near-solitude in which we were able to see the Capitol building.
Both girls were impressed with the historical displays in Secretary of State Sam Reed's office, and it was fun to see the amused look on the State Patrol officer's face when Emma asked if Gov. Chris Gregoire could come out and say hello (she wasn't in). We sat in the visitor gallery above the empty House chamber and I asked the girls to envision what it must be like to see and hear democracy in action.
From Interstate 5, take Exit 105 and veer left for Exit 105A. That drops you on 14th Ave. S.E.; continue to Capitol Way South and make a right. Proceed north to the farmers market (www.olympiafarmersmarket.com), which is open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday-Sunday until October. There's free parking behind the market and you can buy lunch at one of several take-away restaurants or pick up fresh fruit, pastries at the Marketplace Bakery, or meats like buffalo jerky from Johnson's Smokehouse.
Across the street is a bright and clean Dancing Goats espresso bar, where the ultra-hip baristas are friendly and the coffee is fabulous. From there, wander west to the waterfront and climb the three-story tower for a view of Budd Inlet to the north and the Capitol to the south. East of the market is a little flower garden to sit and relax.
Next, hop on one of the free Dash buses that run every 12 minutes down Capitol Way to the Capitol grounds (www.ga.wa.gov/Visitor/index.html). The building is open until 5 p.m. daily with free guided tours offered hourly from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Be sure to download the PDF map of the Capitol Campus map from that site.
Older children will enjoy wandering the Capitol grounds, which feature a fountain, monuments and statues. Smaller kids may enjoy the nearby Hands-On Children's Museum (www.hocm.org) at the corner of Capitol Way South and 11th Ave. S.W.
For dining out, there are plenty of suitable restaurants in the area of Capitol Way and 4th and 5th avenues. Get off the Dash and walk around, read the menus, and negotiate a place with the kids.
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