Olympia ranked one of top places to visit in US this summer. Other WA cities made the cut
For the past few years, Americans have wondered when traveling will return to how it was during pre-pandemic times. Since the World Health Organization officially ending the global health emergency in early May and Washington state immediately followed suit, the upcoming season is shaping up to be the first real post-COVID summer since the 2020 outbreak.
Will the summer of 2023 really be the first real post-pandemic travel boom? AAA predicts that about 7% more travelers will be out and about than in the summer of 2022. During Memorial Day weekend alone, more than 42 million Americans are expected to travel.
Washingtonians will no doubt be looking to fill up their travel logs in the coming months. Travel blog Travel Lemming recently curated a list of America’s top 150 summer travel destinations, and several Washington state cities and locations are listed as top choices, with Olympia ranked as 10th-best.
Olympia summer events and travel spots
The travel site states “Washington’s capital city represents the best of the state,” highlighting its vibrant artistic community, performances at local theaters, and live downtown and summer festivals.
Olympia is also a great access point for much of western Washington’s diverse scenery, including rainforests, coastal beaches, state parks, national parks and more. The city rests on the southern shore of the Puget Sound, perfect for kayaking and boating. The following environments are around a two-hour or less drive from Olympia:
Olympia has no shortage of outdoor festivals in the coming summer months, too. Here are some notable events to add to your calendar:
87th Annual Strawberry Festival – June 17
LoveOly SummerFest 2023 – June 23-25
2023 Capital City Pride – July 1
2023 Thurston County Fair – July 26-30
2023 Tumwater Artesian Brewfest – Aug. 19
South Sound Block Party 2023 – Aug. 25-26
Olympia Harbor Days Festival – Sept. 1-3
Other notable WA destinations
Travel Lemming ranks other Washington locations in top spots to check out this summer, including one central Washington city at #2. Other regions include locales in Pierce County, Seattle and northern Washington.
Leavenworth – #2:
“The Bavarian Village” lies at the foothills of the Cascade Mountains in Chelan County and is defined by its Old-World Bavarian architecture, wineries and Alpine aesthetic. The town also is home to Washington’s first Alpine Coaster at the Leavenworth Adventure Park, which opens June 1.
Gig Harbor – #21:
The Pierce County town is set just across the northwestern side of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. It’s known for its paddleboarding opportunities, maritime history, breweries, cafes and marine wildlife such as sea lions and jellyfish.
The Church Cantina in Tacoma – #30:
This bar in south Tacoma features an 80s-horror and goth, with candles, skeletons and religious relics on display.
Seattle Seafair – #32: Seattle’s month-long summer festival lasts from early July to early August. It features an airshow, a torchlight parade and various other community events.
Friday Harbor – #35:
This port town on the eastern edge of San Juan Island contains forests of fragrant cedar and fir, zero stoplights on the roads and abundant wildlife.
