When I moved to Olympia in 2005 from Seattle, I didn’t think there would be much of a difference between Seattle and Olympia. Afterall there are only 60 miles that separate these two cities. But I soon learned of Olympia’s unique attributes!
Before moving to Olympia, WA, be sure to watch my video to see the town’s scenery and my top 9 picks that make Olympia unique.
#1 – Geography
Where is Olympia, WA? Olympia is 60 miles south of Seattle and 115 miles north of Portland, Oregon.
Olympia is the capital of Washington.
Probably the best part about Olympia’s location is the fact it is a gateway to so many natural wonders like the Pacific Ocean. Ocean Shores and Westport are two popular destinations. They are about an hour and a half drive away. The Olympic mountain range is where you can hike the Hoh Rainforest and visit Forks, WA if you’re a diehard Twilight fan. The Cascade mountain range bisects the state and here is where you’ll find Mt. Rainier and Mt. St. Helens.
#2 – The Weather
Olympia’s weather can be classified as mild. We do get a little rain here and our rainiest months are November-January. For snow, we will get a little. Some years, we don’t get any snow at all and then other years, it’s pretty bad. One of my earliest videos I did in 2012 was when it snowed A LOT and you can check that out here. At the time, the video was pretty funny but right after I uploaded the video, we lost power – for a week. Then it wasn’t so funny. Speaking of losing power, we can get some strong wind storms in the winter that can knock out power.
For the winter months, temperatures on average are mid-30s to high 40s. In the summer, we are in the 70s and 80s but we do have some 90 degree days.
#3 – The Traffic
Traffic is pretty much an issue in any metropolitan area but Olympia is still pretty good. You can still get around. I-5 is the major freeway and it runs north and south from the Canadian border all the way down to Mexico. But in Olympia, I-5 runs east and west. So if you need to go south on I-5, you would be travel west.
On the topic of traffic, Olympia loves roundabouts. A roundabout aka a rotary in other parts of the country, has replaced the 4-way stop and traffic lights. Most roundabouts here are two lanes, some are one lane. Just make sure you pay attention to the signage so you know if your lane can go through or if you have to turn and exit the roundabout.
#4 – Employment
Thurston County’s major employers are the city, state and federal governments. Being that Olympia is the state’s capital, the state buildings are primarily in Olympia and Tumwater. The largest private employers are Providence St. Peter Hospital, Safeway, and Walmart.
#5 – Affordability
Washington state does not have an income tax but we do have a sales tax that varies depending upon what city you are in. Thurston County remains the most affordable county for housing along the I-5 corridor. Be sure to check out my video on the cost of living in Olympia.
#6 – The Waterfront
Olympia’s downtown waterfront is impressive with its views of the Olympics, the marinas, the water activities, the boardwalk and all the amenities along the way including restaurants, galleries, and access to the Farmer’s Market. This is a great place year-round for a walk, and in the summer, there are several festivals including the Olympia Dragon Boat Festival. And if you are looking for affordable waterfront properties, we have those too! Click here for the current waterfront listings in Olympia.
#7 – The Mall
The mall was something that surprised me when I moved here.
Growing up in Seattle, I was used to going to Nordstrom’s flagship store and the old Frederick and Nelson’s where my parents took me to meet Santa Claus, which some years didn’t go so well, but I was used to these big department stores with many floors. So when I went to the mall located on the westside of Olympia, I went to the Macy’s store and couldn’t find the escalator, nor the stairs nor an elevator. It is all one level, or in my world, it’s what I’d call a giant rambler. Shopping at malls is becoming a moot point nowadays but that was one thing that shocked me when I moved here – the mall was just one level.
#8 – JBLM
JBLM stands for Joint-Base Lewis McChord. It is the Army and Air Force base located in Pierce County, northeast of Olympia. The base has a population of 209,000. Its population size makes it the 4th largest military base in the world. One thing that I didn’t know about living in Olympia is that JBLM trains with mortars and artillery. In the distance, you can hear these strange booms. That was something new to me but now that I know what it is, I can use my military client’s words to describe that as the sounds of freedom!
#9 – Fun Stuff to Do
I thought that moving to a smaller town would mean less fun stuff to do but actually there is a lot to explore & it’s easy to do as you aren’t fighting for a parking space or large crowds or spending a ton of cash for an event. As I mentioned, there are a lot of outdoor activities to get out into nature. But Olympia also has a great art scene w/galleries, public art installations, the semi-annual Arts Walk where you can see local artists & their work. Downtown has some fun shopping & eateries. You have to visit the Hands-on Children’s Museum and be sure to try the Sunday brunch at Budd Bay Café.
I’d love to help you find your next home in Olympia WA – call me if I can help.
1 thought on “9 Things to Know Before Moving to Olympia WA”
Comments are closed.