In the southwest region of Olympia is the town of Rochester. It's not much more than a wide spot in the road, but it is home to one of the oddest unexplained phenomenon around, the Mima Mounds Natural Area Preserve, home to a series of mysterious, regularly spaced six to eight foot mounds. There has been much study and even more speculation about them, but no concrete answer. When you pull off the main road you drive through a heavily wooded area on a nicely paved road to a parking area where you can get out and walk from there. The facilities include a 1/2 mile paved wheel chair friendly trail, an interpretive shelter with a rooftop platform where you can view the area or take photos. Along the trail there are signs which not only map out the path but help you identify the many flowers and wildlife that inhabit the Preserve. Come to find out we are not the only ones that have these mounds in our neighborhood. In fact they can be found in several areas in the U.S. as well as in Kenya and Mexico. For even more interesting info click here or here.