At the southern end of Puget Sound, in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, lies Washington’s Thurston County, home of majestic Mount Rainier and the Cascade Mountains. Only one hour’s drive away is the Pacific Coast. More than 245,000 residents live in Thurston County, located 60 miles south of Seattle.
Olympia is the county seat, the state capital and the county’s largest city. Residents here like to boast that they have it all, from open prairie lands to sweeping mountain views, the sparkling Puget Sound and a vibrant music and arts scene. But what’s the best thing about life in Thurston County?
County officials asked those who know – local residents – what they consider best about their home. Their answers, compiled into a list of “Seven Wonders of Thurston County,” are as follows:
1. Capitol Grounds: The landscaped grounds and grand buildings of the county’s headquarters gives Thurston one of the most beautiful capitols in the country, with cherry blossom trees, landscaped gardens and sweeping views across Capitol Lake to Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains.
2. Mima Mounds: Visitors and residents alike love to speculate about the mysterious Mima Mounds in south Thurston County. These regularly spaced, six to eight-foot tall mounds cover the 600-plus-acre Mima Mounds Natural Area Preserve.
3. Wolf Haven: Those who participate in a Saturday “Howl In” at Wolf Haven feel tingles at the hauntingly beautiful sounds of the wolves. Spread across about 80 wooded acres, Wolf Haven International provides a safe, natural setting for captive-born wolves.
4. Tumwater Falls Park: The Deschutes River waterfall is the highlight of this gorgeous park tucked away in the City of Tumwater. In August and September visitors can watch Chinook salmon making their way back to a hatchery at the park.
5. Tenino Quarry Pool: This public pool was created by allowing groundwater to enter an abandoned sandstone quarry to create a uniquely beautiful location.
6: Nisqually Wildlife Refuge: This refuge for wildlife and visitors alike is located on the Nisqually River Delta in south Puget Sound. It boasts 3,000 acres of salt and freshwater marshes, grasslands, and riparian and mixed-forest habitats.
7: Olympia Farmers Market: Locals flock to the market to shop, mingle, have a bite to eat from a choice of restaurant stands, enjoy live music and enjoy the views of Budd Inlet from the Port Plaza observation tower.
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