Far from the hustle and bustle of city life Bainbridge Island offers its residents a safe harbor and tranquil lifestyle. A pearl nestled amongst a chain of beautiful islands Bainbridge is a sanctuary that regenerates your soul and allows its residents to enjoy life to its fullest.

Only a 35 minute ferry boat ride away from Seattle lays a charming village by the bay.  Arriving via ferry Bainbridge Island, walk-on passengers split to the left of the terminal, where busses await, or to the right side, where taxis and parked cars line up. 

Signs are posted to direct foot traffic to beautiful downtown Winslow, which is an easy, slightly uphill jaunt from the ferry terminal. Winslow Way is essentially Main Street on the island. You may stop at the Town and Country Grocery store (on the left side of the street just a few blocks) and have the deli build a custom sandwich, wander through the salad bar, and then south through the park, all the way to the water’s edge where a picnic table awaits you.

Rent a boat from the dock, and in a few minutes your picnic lunch can be transformed to a shoreline cruise. Enjoy watching the boats in the harbor before exploring some favorite shops downtown. Eagle Harbor Books, with a special selection of local author’s books, is fun to peruse. Then cross the street to browse through Winslow Mall (don’t be disappointed that the “mall” is a far cry from Seattle shopping!) and wander through the specialty shops, including  Winslow Winery. 

Next grab a latte at the Blackbird bakery with the locals, and then head up the street to Winslow Green for another row of fun and unique shops, and another great bakery if you need a cookie and a cup of tea! Bainbridge gallery features local artists, and several times a year a weekend is devoted to the Art walk, where local talents are displayed in a number of downtown store fronts. At the end of the quaint main street walk, Madison intersects Winslow Way to the left, down the hill, is a walk along the water, another great local coffee shop, and a couple of harbor pubs (Doc’s chowder is great, and the Harborside is a great stop for local flavor). 

Choosing to go right, up Madison a little distance, is the new children’s museum, an interactive child’s delight, and a favorite local stop, the Big Star Diner. To the right of the street are the City Hall, Playhouse, and the old school house, which houses the local museum. On an unhurried afternoon, the Pavilion has a number of matinees playing, and a couple good restaurants at your service. 

Winslow boasts a variety of ethnic food, including Thai, Mexican, Indian, Asian, and Chinese restaurants. On the corner of Winslow and Madison is great lunch or dinner spots- the Winslow Café, or Café Nola. For a leisurely and fine dining experience, The Four Swallows is a lovely historic home destination next to the Pavilion. 

Now that you’ve shopped and eaten your way thru downtown, a trip through the countryside gives you the real “feel” of Bainbridge. A slow afternoon ramble through Bainbridge Gardens inspires you to get home and redesign the landscape. Whether you choose to walk about downtown or discover forested lanes and hidden neighborhoods, Bainbridge is a unique island experience not to be missed!