Page 6 - Demo

6Discover Washington DestinationsSouth of Olympia, the Thurston Bountiful Byway is an interconnected series of loops roughly 60 miles long. Stops along the route include an impressive number of smokehouses, family-owned farms, farmers markets and independent epicurean shops, along with historic and natural sites. Just don%u2019t forget the cooler for your finds. First, familiarize yourself with the fertile mix of watershed and volcanic soil feeding Western Washington%u2019s rich agricultural lands. Start your day at Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge to work up an appetite for the day ahead. The center%u2019s walking paths traverse delightfully diverse habitats of salt marshes, fed by freshwater and saltwater sources. Bring cash to pay for the parking lot, and briefly pop into the Norm Dicks Visitor Center to familiarize yourself with a miniaturized Mount Rainier watershed leading to the Nisqually Delta outside. Pick up a paper wildlife checklist and maps for the refuge%u2019s roughly four miles of loops and trails %u2014 although it%u2019s challenging to get too lost, due to well-placed signage along the flat, even routes. The boardwalks take you through marshy swamps and estuaries filled with a downright cacophony of bird songs, amphibian croaks and rustling mammals and reptiles. More than 300 species of creatures live in the habitat, so listen and watch for doves, herons, warblers, sparrows and seven types of summer-season swallows. A SCENIC CORNUCOPIA: THE THURSTON BOUNTIFUL BYWAYThe Thurston Bountiful Byway is an interconnected series of loops roughly 60 miles long. (Experience Olympia & Beyond)Discover Washington Destinations