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Are you up for an adventure by day and yet be in the comfort of your own home before bedtime? Take a trip on our own Bountiful Byway, the back roads of Thurston County to uncover gourmet delights and fun activities – and maybe even make friends along the way. My husband and I headed out midmorning after a yoga class, open to whatever came up along the way.

VCB logoOn our first agritourism drive we started at the Billy Frank Jr. National Wildlife Refuge, which is a hop off I-5 at Exit 114 or at the bottom of the Martin Way hill. Renamed last December, the honor has been given to Billy Frank Jr., a Nisqually tribal leader and treaty rights activist. I recommend starting your day with a walk here. The park is open from sunrise to sunset and has a $3.00 use fee. It’s a popular birding area, and there’s plenty of parking. For up-to-date info, check out the park’s Facebook page.

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The Billy J. Frank Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge is a beautiful place to start a trip on the Bountiful Byway.

As you leave the wildlife refuge, turn onto state highway 510. You’re off the freeway now and along the Thurston Bountiful Byway, passing through Yelm and Rainier en route to Tenino. Plan your trip for a Saturday so you can stop at the Tenino Farmers Market for fresh, locally-grown produce. Pick up a healthy snack to keep you nourished along your travels.

Tenino is worthy of all the time you want to spend. Play outdoors and walk the trails in Tenino City Park or visit the Tenino Depot Museum. With free parking, it’s easy to explore the museum built in 1914. Learn about Tenino’s history with wooden money.

Your next Tenino stop should be at Sandstone Distillery, one of the original agritourism stops along the Bountiful Byway. The family-owned distillery creates expertly crafted spirits. Surprisingly, it’s even a great destination for families with tours that teach chemistry. Live music can often compliment your visit to Sandstone Distillery.

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Fred and Katherine Colvin work a 550-acre piece of land in Tenino. Photo credit: Jennifer Crain.

For a few more details about a day visit to Tenino, click here.

Head down the road for a stop at Colvin Ranch. The Colvin family has been supplying our community with quality meat since the original homestead in 1851. Their thoughtfully tended, grass-fed beef roam the pastures. You can tour the farm if you call ahead to make arrangements.

As you continue west toward I-5 and take the back roads to Olympia, you can stretch your legs at Wolf Haven International and Mima Mounds, a geographical quandary – small earthen bumps in various fields across Thurston County. Were they made by busy gophers? Paul Bunyon’s antics? Remarkable vegetation and flora? Make up your own theory.

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Park the car and trek the Bountiful Byway by bike instead.

Want to extend your visit along the Bountiful Byway? Make a reservation at Scatter Creek B&B. The private country setting makes Scatter Creek B&B the perfect relaxation stop along your tour.

If you are looking for even more adventure, try cycling the Thurston Bountiful Byway via the Chehalis-Western Trail connecting to the Yelm-Tenino Trail. The path is smooth and mostly level, and there is ample shade. It’s appropriate for all sorts of riders. That means you could also bring along youngsters. It’s also a popular avenue for walkers.

After our pleasantly adventurous excursion, we found our way to downtown Olympia for a brew at Three Magnets Brewing. We savored our drinks and relived details of our drive.

Take a friend, your relatives or even go it alone. The Bountiful Byway has something special in-store for you. Download a Thurston Bountiful Byway map from the Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater Visitor & Convention Bureau. Enjoy!

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