Olympia - The Sound of the City Next Door by Serena Bartlett and Perrin Randlette. Review by Bryan West.
All right, I admit it. I’m one of those people who walks into a bookstore and eventually finds himself in front of the travel books, you know, the Lonely Planets, Frommers, Rough Guides.
I have a book case at home with two shelves of these “bibles” for travelers with countries like South Africa, Malaysia, Italy and Spain, all of which I’ve actually used on site. I also have the Seychelles, the Canaries, and Argentina/Patagonia, places I’ve yet to visit but dream about. So it’s no surprise I picked up a copy of
Olympia: The Sound of the City Next Door by Serena Bartlett and Perrin Randlette by GrassRoutes Travel. Or is it? I live in Olympia; why buy a travel guide about a city I know pretty well?
When I first picked up a copy of the book, I wanted to see what in the world the authors could include to fill almost 200 pages. Sure, I love my city and its surroundings, but we’re not Seattle or Portland. We don’t have a space needle, a zoo or aquarium. We don’t have Pike Place Market or the Rose City’s cool transit. What do Bartlett and Randelette highlight in Olympia? The answer is simple; they validate what we know is good (or great) and introduce us to some new places that we have never visited. Face it, we become complacent after we find our first five or six favorite restaurants or parks.
The book is divided into interesting sections: Calendar, Explore, Buy Me, Get Active, City for Free, and many others. OK, I admit it, I went straight to the restaurant section. I was hungry and dinner was an hour away. I quickly checked to see if Lemon Grass was mentioned (I love the menu there), and it was. They even highlighted my favorite menu choices. I too go to Koibito on Harrison for lunch. But I also noticed Cebu in Lacey, a Filipino restaurant I’ve never visited but will soon based on the authors’ review.
What about suggestions for the outdoor folk who want to enjoy our city and environment? Look to the back of the book and check out Boston Harbor Marina. You won’t be disappointed. The marina, about seven miles from city center, offers kayaks for rent, a beach for your dog or kid to run around on, fresh seafood for sale, and a Sunday brunch during summer months. In the evening you can purchase a beer or glass of wine and treat yourself to a beautiful sunset on the large deck that looks out to the Olympics. On your way out, stop at Priest Point Park, Olympia’s oldest, and Burfoot (a county park off Boston Harbor Road a half mile from the marina).
Most people associate downtown Olympia with the Farmer’s Market and great shopping for unique items, local arts and crafts, and specialty gifts. There’s also an abundance of restaurants, cafes and taverns to cater to your dining and entertainment needs. While downtown, you can enjoy a number of parks all within walking distance of each other. Sylvester Park is a central location for many of Olympia’s community events. Percival Landing highlights Olympia’s waterfront and marina. Capitol Lake is a favorite for walkers, joggers and dog lovers. And let’s not forget the one thing that sets Olympia off from every other city in the state—the capitol building and campus are a step outside of our everyday life. Free guided tours are available daily except major holidays.
If nature is more up your alley, read about the Western Chehalis trail that begins a Woodard Bay. You’ll see eagles, heron, and so many native plants you couldn’t count them.
Olympia: the Sound of the City Next Door is on our coffee table in the living room. When friends come from out of town, I page through it or let them browse picking places they’d like to go. And when we have a weekend to ourselves, I use it to explore my own city that I thought I knew.
The book is available at einmaleins and other local bookstores in town.
Bryan West taught English at Spokane Falls Community College from 1979 until retiring in 2005 and moving with his wife, Lynn, to Boston Harbor. Since coming to Olympia, he has taught writing at Pierce and Tacoma Community Colleges and works part time in his daughter and son-in-law’s downtown Olympia interior design store, 510 Interiors. He recently started a writing service for small businesses—Ghostwriters PNW, publishing flyers and newsletter and offering editing help for improved business communication.
