Day trip ideas: Bainbridge Island, WA

It’s almost March… Everyone in Washington State is itching for Spring. We’ve begun to question every life choice we’ve made about living in this green abyss. January through April can be… well…a bit dreary here. Although the spring days have not quite arrived yet, it doesn’t stop us from getting out and exploring to break up the monotony of the grey clouds. So this past Presidents Day Weekend, we took the opportunity to explore Bainbridge Island for the day. I personally have a soft spot for Bainbridge because I actually lived there briefly as a child, around the same age as LBB now, so it’s always nostalgic to go back and visit with her and show her all the things I did as a kiddo, and of course dive into all the new activities too! So here’s a list of a few things to enjoy on the Island to get the juices flowing for a fun day out!

*Bainbridge Ferry with the view of Seattle.*

Step one; the ferry in itself is fun. Washington State has one of the most extensive commuter ferry systems in the continental US. We are lucky to have so many islands and inlets lining our coast. So getting the chance to explore them via ferry is not only a novelty for a toddler, but it’s something we always like to do when we have friends visiting from out of town! Another reason I also love visiting Bainbridge Island in particular with little ones is that you aren’t always tied to the ferry schedule once you arrive. You can actually drive on and off the island via Poulsbo connecting bridge. The flexibility of this is always handy when a nap somehow goes arreye, or you don’t feel like waiting for the next ferry back. The drive back home will take you all the way around the peninsula through Tacoma and backup I-5 N to Seattle/Eastside. It’s not always the shortest drive, so just be prepared for that, but you typically get to drive across the Narrows Bridge in Tacoma which has nice views of the Puget Sound if you haven’t gotten enough while on BI. For reference here is a link to the WA DOT ferry schedule to Bainbridge Island to save you a google search. Bainbridge has frequent ferry times, as it is a popular place to live and commute into the city of Seattle for work. In the summer, you have to plan way ahead when choosing your ferry time and when to arrive to avoid extensive waits and missing your ferry. However, majority of the year you can arrive anywhere from 10-30 minutes before your ferry time to line up to board. For example when we went last week, we planned to take the 9:30am ferry, and got to the ferry terminal at 9:15am. To be fair we were in the second to the last line of cars waiting to board, but hey, we made it! Not that you can plan it, but getting a second row ‘wing’ of the ferry directly against the windows is the best spot for viewing if you plan to stay in your car for the journey across. However, regardless of where we end up parked onboard, we typically like to enjoy the passenger deck. LBB gets very excited to see the water through the windows, and if you’re brave, you can walk outside and brace the cold to feel the sea air brush your face, and your hair blow ecstatically in the wind. The trip across is about 30 minutes or so, and with waiting and docking and disembarking, plan for about an hour of travel time.

The first thing we usually do when we arrive is head straight to Blackbird Bakery. It’s just a 5 minute drive off the ferry in downtown Winslow. They are famous for their thick slab ‘toast’ that comes slathered in butter and served with a side of homemade jam. It’s delicious. Plus, it has other yummy treats in the pastry case to choose from if toast isn’t your jam (ba-dum-chhhhhh, you’re welcome). They typically have a few gluten free and vegan options too if you have dietary restrictions in your bunch. There are only a few tables inside of the bakery itself, but just outside there is a causeway with several outdoor tables and benches to sit and enjoy for a moment to prepare for your next stop. Downtown Winslow is darling, it’s one street lined with an eclectic bunch of shops and restaurants to wander about. It can easily take up your morning if you’re a meandering type.

This time around however, we decided to go to the Kids Discovery Museum, better known as KidiMu which is at the far end of Winslow Way E directly behind the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art. It’s only $9 per entry (kids and adults alike) which felt like a deal in comparison to some other children’s museums we frequent on the other side of the water, so we wanted to give it a go! It was quite the hit with LBB. They have an indoor treehouse to climb up, lots of stations for building puzzles, making towers with foam, a reading nook, lots of fun sensory activities, pretend grocery store, veterinary, and bank to boot! Here is the website with hours and ticketing info for your reference. Just be sure to take a look at when they are open. We lucked out since it was a holiday, they were open for a full day 9am-4pm vs. a typical Monday when they are open 1pm-4pm. Since it was raining on and off it was even more exciting to have a dedicated indoor location to explore for the morning. However, they do have a small outdoor space that includes a covered rock climbing wall which was a great way to finish off play for the morning.

This past summer Washington and Oregon were the newest recipients of 6 amazing Troll installations from the artist Thomas Dambo. So we’ve made it a personal goal to visit all 6 in the next year or so while they are on display. Dambo uses trash and other discarded artifacts and twigs to create them, and they are quite the sight to be seen! Plus a great little photo op for the family. Thus far, we’ve seen 3 if you include Pia the Peace Keeper on BI. She is only a mile or so from the ferry terminal and well worth a visit! I’m going to write about our experience seeing the others in another post so I won’t go into too much detail here. Just note that Pia doesn’t have much parking available nearby so plan accordingly! We were there in low season and we were cramped for the few parking spots that were available in a small roundabout just shy of the trailhead to Pia’s location. There are also several trails available nearby and you can make your way via bike from the ferry terminal if you so choose! These trolls have quite the following, and the artist has instillations around the world so it’s extra special that we have so many in our own backyard.

At this point, as I’m sure you can imagine, we were famished. So before heading back to the ferry terminal to head home, we wanted to find a spot to settle for a good lunch. We made our way back to Winslow to one of our favorite lunch spots with water views, Doc’s Marina Grill. They even have a covered and heated patio in the winter so you can still enjoy the marina while chowing down. Any chance we get to be near the water we take, and it’s the perfect blend of BI charm and tasty fare. Other restaurants in the area that we’ve tried and enjoyed are Harbour Public House, Ba Sa, and Bruciato’s. But if you’re there in the summer and want to grab something to munch while lounging for a picnic lunch on the beach, we usually go to Town & Country Market. It’s a BI classic and has loads of premade tasties that never disappoint!

After the Kids Museum, Pia and lunch we were pooped. So we decided to call it a day and snag the next ferry home. Still wondering what else to do on BI? Here are a few ideas other things we’ve enjoyed:

Bloedel Reserve: This land is absolutely stunning. Again we went off season and I somewhat regret spending the almost $50 entry to enjoy the park without all the flowers in bloom. Nevertheless, it’s stunning. After parking near the giftshop, you check in for your designated time (pre-purchased tickets and time slots are required) and take the trail around the park to take in all the nature. About 2/3rds of the way through the trail you end up at the Bloedel Residence that has been turned into a museum, with lovely views of the water off the back porch, and then continue on the trail that will eventually spit you out at the parking lot. The park is situated at the far north end of BI, so it’s ideal to zip off the bridge in the direction of Poulsbo to do the drive back around to Seattle, vs. drive back to the ferry terminal and wait for the next ferry. I most definitely plan to do the Reserve again in the spring and or summer to see it in full bloom. I can only image how lovely it will be!
Pritchard Beach Park: This park is the perfect spot to pack a picnic, set up a blanket and watch the world go by. It’s located just around Eagle Harbor opposite the ferry terminal so you can watch the boats come and go as the waves wash up on the beach. This is also a great spot for littles to dig in the sand with a pale and shovel. Fun fact, when I was 3 years old living on BI, my neighbor found a 2 carat diamond ring washed up on the beach. My dramatic mind instantly went to a scorned fiance throwing her ring off the ferry and it somehow magically washed up on shore. So you never know what you’ll find?!
Battlepoint Park: We haven’t had the chance to do this with LBB yet, but we hope to the next time we go to BI. It’s got a great playground from what I’ve read and I’m curious to find out in person what it’s all about. Be the first to go and let me know!
Lynwood Center: Much smaller than the town of Winslow, Lynwood Center has a few shops and restaurants near the edge of the beach. There’s a frozen yogurt spot if you’re there on a hot sunny day to cool off and there is also a very old Lynwood Movie Theatre (I used to frequent as a kiddo) that is a great spot to drop in if you’re there on a rainy day.

There is so much to explore on this amazing island, that you can’t go wrong visiting anytime of year. So pack your car and hit the ferry for your next adventure to BI!

Day trip ideas: Bainbridge Island, WA

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