What comes to mind when you think of a place that embodies all that Washington has to offer? It would have to have an abundance of fresh produce and locally raised meat, great restaurants, quirky shops, and plenty of bookstores… and it would have to be pretty politically moderate, or at least tolerate many viewpoints.

While many places in the Evergreen State meet these requirements, when we think of the most “Washington” town ever, we think of our state capital, Olympia.

Olympia is located in Thurston County, bordering Lacey and Tumwater.
cmh2315fl / Flickr
Around 50,000 people live here, so while it's no small town, it doesn't have the energy of a huge city, either.
Parts of the city have great views of Mt. Rainier, the quintessential Washington state symbol.
Russell Bernice / Flickr
The The Olympia Farmers Market is fantastic.
The Olympia Farmers Market Facebook
The market is open year-round, although from January - March, it's open on Saturdays only.

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If you need some local goodness when the Farmers Market isn't open, just head to 222 Market.
222 Market Facebook
This new artisanal market sells everything from freshly baked bread to bone broth.
The best thing about Olympia is, despite its fairly large size, it maintains a small town feel most people find welcoming.
Jon. D. Anderson / Flickr
This is a community that caters to creativity and the arts.
Jim Culp / Flickr
This is a scene from the annual Procession Celebration parade, which takes place every spring.
It may be located just south of Seattle and Tacoma, but Olympia has its own quiet culture.
Orin Blomberg / Flickr
We picked the right city to be our state capital.

What would be your pick for the most Washington town ever? Perhaps one of the friendly places where everyone knows your name?

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