There are plenty of beautiful places you could visit that are within a few hours of Seattle: Mt. Rainier, Snoqualmie Falls, Leavenworth, Olympic National Forest, or even Portland, OR. We lived in Seattle for three years, and we were able to explore quite a bit! My very favorite thing to do near Seattle has to be to visit Bainbridge Island. Being surrounded by water always feels special to me; perhaps it’s a side-effect of growing up excessively landlocked in the middle of America.
The first reason why I LOVE the journey to Bainbridge is because… I love the journey to Bainbridge. The ferry ride over is half the experience. The boat leaves from the pier downtown, and you get incredible views of the Seattle city skyline when you embark.
A one-way trip takes about 30 minutes. It’s very affordable— about $9 USD per adult, half that for seniors & kids, and ages 6 and under are free. You pay the fare once on the Seattle end and that covers your return journey as well. Ferry trips run frequently (about every 40 minutes-an hour; varies based on weekday/weekend and time of day).
Should I drive my car onto the ferry or walk on?
So… it depends. Are you going to visit Bainbridge overnight? Traveling pretty far into the island? Wanting to explore more than just the main [touristy] areas? In those cases, it’s probably worth it to bring your car. (Vehicles are $15-20 USD).
We always parked our car in downtown Seattle and walked-on. We only regretted not having our car once (out of maybe 5 total trips?). Walking on is very convenient if you’re not planning to stay for longer than a few hours; it gives you more flexibility and freedom (as far as timing, hassle, and parking).
Tell me more about the ferry…
The ferry itself is massive. You can walk around outside, or sit on a bench for awhile and enjoy the breeze. In case of inclement weather (#seattleproblems) there’s plenty of places to sit inside. There are also restrooms on board the ferry. “We have everything we need,” as my toddler would say.
What to Do on Bainbridge Island Itself?
The island itself (at least the walkable portion most people visit) is pretty touristy. I don’t always love that, but the scenery is so gorgeous, and the streets are so charming that it just fits.
There are a lot of cute shops on the island. You can find trinkets and souvenirs, or larger hand-crafted pieces (woodwork, paintings, textiles, etc.).
You can also find interesting rock art throughout the island. We love to wander along the waterfront and marina areas; especially on a sunny day.
Let’s Talk Food
You’ll pass dozens of eateries when you walk down the major streets: restaurants, cafes, bakeries, etc. Here are the ones that we’ve tried & wholeheartedly recommend:
Mora Iced Creamery
Oh baby. This ice cream is easily on my “Top 3 Ice Creams I’ve Ever Consumed” list. I don’t have an actual list, and I’m not sure what else would go on it…I’m just trying to explain how much I desperately love this ice cream. It quickly became a tradition each time we’d visit Bainbridge.
Pictured below is “cheesecake with brownies”, but there are SO many unique, fresh, fancy, fruity, rich flavors to choose from. Read about what makes their ice cream so different here.
They’ve since opened up locations in Utah, South Carolina, and Nevada. The goodness is spreading! Find your nearest Mora and enjoy!
Doc’s Marina Grill
Located right on the marina (they were not lying when they named the restaurant), the atmosphere at this restaurant is hard to beat. The boats, the breeze in the air… it’s perfect. You can eat inside or outside. But… if you’re eating inside and it’s not raining then I’m going to probably question your judgement.
We enjoyed their fresh cod fish & chips baskets and hearty burgers. Read all about their menu options, operating hours, and COVID details here.
Streamliner Diner
When my dear friend came to visit we ate brunch together at this diner. The service was great– when it started to rain, they quickly helped get us settled at a new table inside. The food we ordered was classic breakfast fare, all done very well.
Apparently later in the day it switches into an Italian bistro restaurant (under the same name). This was impressive and intriguing to me. Watch for their latest info on their website here.
The Return Voyage
On busy weekend afternoons the lines can get long to board the return ferry. If you can, get back to the dock with plenty of time. This sounds obvious, but it’s surprisingly easy to underestimate how long the walk back will take, or wrapping up at the restaurant, etc. Watch the departing times carefully and plan accordingly; there’s nothing worse than expecting to leave, only to find the boat just left and you have to sit around for 50 more minutes (or try to walk back to the shops but then turn right around and come back).
My beautiful sister is displaying the joy that comes from being on a ferry boat on a sunny afternoon in Seattle; it’s about as good as it gets.
AAaaaand now that your journey is complete, you are placed back in downtown Seattle. Which is a perfect opportunity to try out…
Our 5 Favorite Desserts in Seattle
That’s it for how to visit Bainbridge Island!
Have you been able to visit Bainbridge Island? What do you do when you visit Bainbridge Island??
Would you vote for another Seattle Day Trip above this one?
Let me know below in the comments!
Check out these related posts, too!
10 GREAT THINGS TO DO AT SEATTLE’S PIKE PLACE MARKET
WE LIVED IN SEATTLE, WASHINGTON: HERE ARE OUR 5 FAVORITE DESSERTS
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