Bainbridge Island

If you want a quiet, relaxing vacation from the bustle of Seattle, then Bainbridge Island is just right. The town is home to a thriving artist's community, and is ideal for vacationers seeking beauty and peace and quiet. Just 30 minutes away from Seattle by ferry, the many parks, rustic shops and eateries, arts and crafts and nature activities will rejuvenate your spirit.

To spend the day in nature, head to Fay Bainbridge State Park, located on the northeast tip of the island. The park offers sweeping views of Puget Sound, the Cascade Mountains and two volcanoes, Mount Rainer and Mount Baker. The park is popular for beachcombing, boating, camping, fishing and scuba diving. It has 36 overnight campsites, each with a picnic table and outdoor grill. The day-use area of the park includes picnic tables, two kitchen shelters with electricity, playground equipment, a swimming beach and a restroom/bathhouse with hot showers.

Another popular spot for outdoor recreation is Fort Ward State Park, with impressive views of Rich Passage and the Olympic Mountains and access to a variety of marine wildlife. The park is popular with hikers, joggers, boaters, bird watchers and scuba divers, The original Fort Ward, for which the park is named, was built before World War I. Some of the gun emplacements and bunkers remain. There are also two reservoirs, one atop the parade grounds and another much less known one just off of Toe Jam Hill. The park has a public boat ramp and a small parking lot for cars and boat trailers. There are two picnic areas. The lower, along the beach, is accessible only by foot or bicycle, and the upper area is accessible by car. Each has vault toilets and potable water.

For botany lovers, Bainbridge Gardens is a full-service year-round nursery with unusual trees and shrubs, perennials, bonsai and a garden statuary. The Bloedel Reserve is a 150-acre forest garden that includes a traditional Japanese garden. The Reserve has both natural and highly-landscaped lakes, immaculate lawns, woods, a rock and sand Zen garden, a moss garden, a rhododendron glade and a Reflection Garden. The Bloedel's French Chateau-style home, including many original furnishings, is preserved as a Visitor Center. The number of visitors to the Reserve is limited to preserve its tranquility and the experience of its visitors, so reservations are required.

Stop off at the Bainbridge Island Vineyards and Winery for some excellent wine. The winery, open Wednesday through Sunday, specializes in European-style white wines made from estate-grown grapes. For great food, stop by the Pegasus Coffee House & Gallery near the marina in Winslow. The Harbour Public House, about a block away from Pegasus Coffee, serves good pub food, including burgers, fish and chips, and other seafood. Just up the hill from the Bainbridge Island ferry terminal is the island's main shopping district, where you'll find interesting shops and restaurants.

There are several lodging options in Bainbridge. Waterfall Gardens is a unique B&B on five acres of gardens and natural landscaping, with a wild salmon and trout stream. Accommodations are located in an old farmhouse, with 15-foot ceilings and a suite with a full kitchen, or in garden-level rooms with a whirlpool tub. Downtown's Island Country is the only motel-style lodging on the island, and with its convenient location, outdoor swimming pool and Jacuzzi, it's a good choice for anyone coming to Bainbridge in the summer, though guest rooms are only a bit better than a typical motel room. The motel also has suites with kitchens, better for a longer stay.

Only a 30-minute ferry ride from Seattle, Bainbridge Island is a bedroom community for the greater Seattle area. The ferry departs from Seattle Pier 52 and accommodates driving or walk-on passengers.