What are winters like in Olympia, WA? | What to do in Olympia in the winter?

One of the most common questions I get from people moving to Olympia is, “what is the winter like in Olympia?”

Olympia’s Winter Weather

You might have already guessed but it rains here.  Olympia averages about 50 inches of rain a year.

As for snow, we don’t get much.  The average is about 12 inches of snow per year but some years we don’t get anything and then other years, it’s apocalyptic!  Here’s a video I did back in 2012 when I thought the snow was kind of fun…until we lost power for a week!  Then it wasn’t so fun.

When it does snow, just plan on staying home. We don’t treat our roads like other parts of the country. The streets become very icy with the heavy, wet snow so the few plows we have and the deicer that is used is sometimes futile. 

With the cloudy, grey days and with the sun setting at 4:30 in the afternoons in the winter, it definitely feels like winter.  But don’t let the weather get you down. Olympians have lots of things to keep busy during these dark and damp months. 

Olympia’s Winter Activities (during COVID-19)

So what do Olympians do during the winter?  Usually, we have a lot of things to do but this year with COVID-19, just about everything is shut down so here is my modified list of things you can do:

I always say, start with coffee. Drive-thru coffee stands are still going strong.  Grab your favorite latte and a snack and head to the waterfront.

The downtown waterfront is a great walk even in the rain. With a wide boardwalk, you can go all the way from the Farmer’s Market to downtown and take the track around Capitol Lake.

Most restaurants downtown offer curbside pick-up.  Right now, indoor dining is not allowed but take this opportunity to try something new. 

Take a virtual art class at South Puget Sound Community College. SPSCC offers a range of noncredit classes, not just in art, that are open to the public to take in a virtual setting. Learn a new language, up your business skills, or write a novel!

Ride your bike or take a walk along the 21-mile Chehalis-Western Trail. This runs from the Woodard Bay area northeast of Olympia all the way down south to the town of Rainier.  This was a railroad line that is now a flat, paved trail so it is easy walking, running and cycling.

Drive the 60-mile Thurston County Bountiful Byway. Although it’s more fun to explore this byway when you can get out and stop along the way, this route is a great way to see the many diverse landscapes in the area. From the farming communities to the mysterious rolling hills of the Mima Mounds to the water of McClane Creek (see the slideshow video here), Mud Bay and Nisqually. This is a fun route to see a lot of Thurston County and its diverse landscape.

We are known for our voracious appetite for books and reading.  Luckily we have a great library system in Thurston County where you can borrow books online and read them on your e-reader or computer. Visit the Timberland Regional Library System at trl.org to get started. 

If you are looking to take a day trip, another fun outing is to go storm watching at the ocean. The ocean beaches are a couple of hours away from Olympia in neighboring Grays Harbor County. You have to get out and experience the strong winds and feel the sand hitting your face at least once!  Then get back inside, sit by the fire, and warm up with a hot cocoa.

Conclusion

Olympians don’t let the rain stop them from getting out and enjoying the beautiful nature Olympia and Thurston County have to offer, and it shouldn’t stop you either.

If you are considering making Olympia your home, contact me today. I’d love to have a conversation with you!

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