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.
Let me help you become a Real Estate Investor: Olympia, Shelton and nearby. Helping my clients Monitor the multi-family market, Identify the good performers and Develop their portfolios and goals.
ActiveRain Corp. is not responsible for the accuracy of the site's content (which is written by members of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network) and does not endorse the views of the real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and others listed here.
Powered by the ActiveRain Real Estate Network
© 2008 ActiveRain Corp. All Rights Reserved
Sarah,
Greetings from up north in Bellingham. I always enjoy visits to Olympia, unless I am putzing with legislators --that is less fun.
I have never been to your part of the US. It looks beautiful! I especially like that HUGE tree stump. How do they get into the water? The video is pretty cool too!
Thanks guys :)
Steve- I have always been amazed how similar our two areas are. Bellingham and Olympia are similar in laid back people, house prices, distance from Seattle, just a bunch of things.
Rich- I agree- it is gorgeous here! The big stumps get in the water from when properties are logged and cleared and the stumps are pulled out. But then they have to get into the water somehow... but then they bob around and wash up on someones shore to look all pretty! That one has been migrating along the park area for a few months now.
Hi Sarah, Priest Point Walk looks too brrrrrry for me! Lovely country in the spring though! Not long now! Jerry
Great pictures & write up. It looks line a great placeto spend some quiet time.
Sarah, I went to highschool in Olympia and, in fact, graduated from there. We are having our **th high school reunion this year. Where DID the time go?
In August, Sarah. I doubt if I'll be there though 'cause it's been so long that I don't think I'd remember anyone, and if they remember me - I'd have to feign remembrance. ;-)
Sarah,
I also ,love to walk my dog at Priest Point Park. I like the upper loop by the rose garden. It feels like you're in a rain forest, yet the park is so close to town.
Sandy
Sarah:
This IS a beautiful place to walk and to take the dogs. Mine is so little I have to carry her down some of the steep steps. Thanks for sharing such beautiful photos, but where is one of your doggie?
Oh! You are so right! Silly me, I have now uploaded a photo of Lilly-pug sniffing something interesting at the base of a tree. We probably don't want to know. Oh- if you watch the vidoe link, you get to part of Lilly as I tell her NOT to step on the little crabbies.
Enjoyed the pictures and your video Sarah, thanks.