What Olympia is known for

The Olympia Region is known mainly for being the Washington state's capital and for the Olympic National Park and Forest. Visitors from all over the world come to visit the Olympic National Park because it is one of the most diverse areas in America. There are sections of it that are rainforest, sections that have beaches, and sections of it that are deciduous forests.[4] Over the course of a few days, visitors can explore the Hoh National Rainforest, appreciate the views on the beach, and experience the Olympic Mountains without having to travel long distances. About 3.25 million people from all over the world visit the park every year, mainly in the late summer[5]. 

Most tourists come to the Olympic Region in the summertime because the weather is often more convenient for outdoor activities. August and September are the driest and, therefore, the most popular months. The wintertime is often rainy, cold, and overcast--not ideal for being outside.[6] Other than Olympic National Park and Forest, the city of Olympia is known for being the capital of Washington State. Olympia is the 22nd largest city in the state, so it is not its size but rather its location that makes it a convenient capital. It is also one of the oldest cities in the state, contributing to it being the capital.[3] 

In Olympia, many people say that the artesian water is the reason why the coffee there is rated with some of America's best coffee. Some say the artesian wells bring water to Olympia that gives the coffee more flavor. Some particularly famous coffee shops include Mud Bay Coffee Company, Dancing Goats Espresso Bar, and Sizizis.[8] Other attractions in the area include the State Capital building, the Olympic Flight Museum, and the Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort.

Geography

The boundaries of the Olympia Region are basically contained in the Olympic Peninsula. On the east side is the city of Olympia, Washington. The edge of the Olympia Region follows the shoreline and highway 101 all the way up the Pacific coast to the tip at Neath Bay and Cape Flattery, then back down to Tokeland where it cuts across back over to Olympia. Most of the region is unpopulated due to most of it being a national park. However, there are eight Native American Tribes that live on the peninsula. They include the Lower Elwha Klallam, Jamestown S'Klallam, Port Gamble S'Klallam, Skokomish, Quinault, Hoh, Quileute, and Makah tribes.[9] Additionally, there is a Quinault Native American Reservation located on the southwest side of the peninsula. 

The Olympic Peninsula is known for having very diverse ecosystems. There are three different biomes present on the peninsula--an ocean biome, a rainforest biome, and an alpine tundra biome. The ocean biome includes the beach and the foggy sea stacks. Animals that live in this area include sand crabs, tropical fish, and sea stars.[1] The rainforest consists of rivers, green trees with moss growing on them, and rocky forest floors. The fauna found in this area includes Pacific tree frogs, owls, and the brown bear. The alpine tundra biome has steep mountains with deciduous trees, wildflowers, and grassy meadows. Many of the animals from the rainforest biome also live in the alpine tundra biome. Some other animals in the tundra include bobcats, raccoons, and elk.[10] 

One reason the Olympia Region is a popular spot for tourists is that it offers many different options in a relatively small area. The average year-round temperature is 50 degrees Fahrenheit. The weather doesn't change very much between seasons because of its proximity to the ocean. The average rainfall over the course of any given year is 50 inches of rain. It rains more in the winter than in the summer and is generally more humid than as well. August and September are the driest months of the year. Thus they are the months when most tourists visit.

History

Native American Tribes have populated the Olympic Peninsula for thousands of years. In 1846 European settlers Livi Lathrop Smith and Edmund Sylvester first set foot in the Olympia Washington Region. They quickly started building a small seaside town and named it Smithfield after Levi Lathrop Smith. Later, the town's name was changed to Olympia because on any clear day, the Olympic Mountains can be seen from Olympia, and the settlers were reminded of Mt. Olympus in Greece. This town grew to be a large city within a few years of people settling there and quickly became a hub of people coming and going through Washington State, trade, and tourism. [7]

In 1853, the Washington Territory was formed, and Olympia was chosen to be the capital of the territory. By the end of 1889, Washington had obtained statehood, and they continued to hold on to Olympia as the capital. In 1949 a devastating earthquake with a magnitude of 6.7 on the Richter Scale shook Olympia and the surrounding areas. The people of the Olympic Region were not prepared for this type of natural disaster, and many of the historic buildings and sites were destroyed. The few that did survive are in the outlying areas of the city. In 1897 President J. Edgar Hoover declared most of the Olympic Peninsula as the Olympic Forest Reserve. In 1937 the Olympic Forest Reserve was renamed as Olympic National Park by President Franklin Roosevelt, protecting it even further. Following that change, Olympic National Park became a world heritage site in 1981. Though the park has a long history of people admiring the views of the landscape, there is much of it that has yet to be discovered and explored.[7]