Hanging out in Olympia this summer? Visiting family and want ideas on things to do? Looking for ways to warm up or cool down? Trying to entertain the kids until school is back in session? You’ve come to the right place – ThurstonTalk’s Olympia 2017 Summer Fun Guide is here and ready to keep you and your family going all summer long, rain or shine.
On ThurstonTalk’s Olympia 2017 Summer Fun Guide, you will find camps, concerts, movies, outdoor recreation, staycation ideas, and much more.
Don’t forget to check out our 2017 Major Festivals and Events guide. This is your one-stop place for all the dates of your favorite events happening around Olympia. Hint: many occur during the summer months so block your calendar now. And, you will also want to check out our 2017 summer bucket list.
Bookmark this link. We have ideas for summer fun from Memorial Day to Labor Day and you don’t want to miss out.
Camps and Classes
- Summer Camps Galore around Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater and Thurston County
- Confidence and Comradery: Summer Camp with the Girl Scouts
- Summer Camp Options Abound at the South Sound YMCA
- Summer Splash! Hits the Hands On Chidlren’s Museum
- Summer Music Camp Returns to Olympia
- SPSCC’s Adds Volleyball to Summer Camp Lineup
- Sequoia’s Treehouse Summer Camps Sends Kids Outside
Outdoor Concerts and Movies
- Lacey In Tune Brings Summer Entertainment to Huntamer Park
- Olympia’s Free (and Cheap) Theater and Outdoor Summer Movies
- Olympia’s Music in the Park Returns with Entertainment for All Ages
Kid Friendly Hikes, Nature Trails and Adventures
- Explore the Hiking Trails of Priest Point Park
- Nature Trails in Olympia and Thurston County
- Travel on 7 Hikes Perfect for Families
- Pick Berries at Thurston County U-Pick Farms
- Explore Olympic National Park’s Staircase Region
- Rediscover Wildlife at Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge
- Little Loop Trails Meander through Thurston County
- East Bay Public Plaza – No Swimsuits Required for Water Play in Downtown Olympia
- Tolmie State Park – Walking, Swimming, Running, Scuba Diving, Kayaking
- Explore with the South Sound Estuary Association’s Beach Naturalists
- Check out our Thrifty Thurston section which highlights inexpensive family fun every Thursday.
Staying Cool
- 15 Free Ways to Cool Off with Kids in Olympia
- 6 Ice Cream Shops Worth Screaming for in Thurston County
- Splash at Local Swimming Pools and Beaches
- Summer Kayaking around Olympia and Puget Sound
- 6 Whitewater Kayaking Routes around Hood Canal
- Explore Puget Sound via Paddle Board
- Experience an Underwater Adventure on Hood Canal (scuba diving)
- Bowling: A Summer Sport for Everybody and Every Age at Aztec Lanes
- Local Beaches Promise Frugal Fun
- Visit Lake Cushman on the Olympic Peninsula
- Find a Slice of Solitude in Burfoot Park
Outdoor Recreation
- Six Quintessential Hood Canal Hikes
- Two Routes Not to Miss While Mountain Biking in the Capitol State Forest
- 5 Hikes Under and 5 Hikes Over 5 Miles Near Olympia
- Run in the Sun: 7 Running Routes in Olympia
Food and Art
- Tour Olympia’s Downtown Art with a Mobile Tour Guide
- Visit Farmers Markets in Olympia, Tumwater, Tenino, and Yelm
- Olympia’s Beer and Bike Tour Rolls through Town
- Attitude Adjustments – Enjoy an Outdoor Happy Hour in Olympia
- A Tour of Thurston County U-Pick Berry Farms
- Tugboat Annie’s – A True Olympia Establishment in a Serene Waterfront Setting
- 6 Olympia Restaurants Serving Fresh Foods, Sourced Locally
- A Round-Up of Fresh Seafood Sold in Olympia
Day Trips and Staycations
- Sip Wine and Spirits at 8 Tasting Rooms from Olympia to Hood Canal
- Chase Waterfalls on a Day Trip
- Experience Hood Canal on One Tank of Gas
- Plan an Olympia Staycation
- Seven Incredible Viewpoints and Stops along Hood Canal
- Sleep in a Remote Olympic National Forest Cabin
- Sip Spirits and Slurp Oysters along Hood Canal
- 5 Day Trips to Enjoy Nature, Just an Hour or Two from Olympia
- Enjoy an End of Summer Olympia Staycation
Pet Friendly Adventures around Olympia
- 6 Ways to Cool Off Your Dog during Warm Summer Days in Olympia
- 10 Walks around Olympia to Keep Your Dog Happy
- 9 Olympia Restaurants Welcome Your Canine
- Run with the Dogs at Thurston County’s Off-Leash Dog Park
- Visiting Olympia with Your Pup: Dog-Friendly Travel Options in Thurston County
Hood Canal Summer Fun
- Trekking around Hood Canal on a Geocache Hunt
- Seven Stunning Picnic Destinations around Hood Canal
- Five Mountains to Climb in a Day along Hood Canal
- Hood Canal crabbing
- Hiking and Burgers Go Hand-in-Hand on Hood Canal
- Murhurt Falls: A Lesser Known Gem of Hood Canal
