Bainbridge Island is one of our favorite quick getaways. It’s just a short 30-minute ferry ride from Seattle, and watching the city’s skyline drift into the distance makes the trip there a moment in itself.
Most people visit Bainbridge as a day trip to go shopping, and that’s perfectly fine.
But Bainbridge has a ton of unique things to do. There’s so much more than just the area near the ferry port. You can wander through its seaside parks, find a wooden troll, or stroll through a 140-acre botanical garden.
We live in Seattle and have visited Bainbridge more times than we can count. And every time we go there, we end up discovering something new.
In this guide, we’re sharing our favorite things to do on Bainbridge Island. These are the spots we always go back to, a few lesser-known gems, and everything that makes this little island one of our favorite day trips from Seattle.
11 Awesome Things to Do on Bainbridge Island
Pia the Peacekeeper
Pia the Peacekeeper is an 18-foot-tall wooden troll who lives quietly on Bainbridge Island. She’s one of the more obscure things you’ll find on Bainbridge Island.
She’s located in Sakai Park, out of sight of the road. But once you enter the park, she’s right there. She’s huge but blends in with her surroundings.
Pia’s message is one of environmental stewardship and creative reuse. A reminder to live in balance with nature.
She’s part of the Way of the Bird King, a series of six giant trolls scattered across the Pacific Northwest, created by Danish artist Thomas Dambo. Each troll has its own personality and story, and they’re all built entirely from recycled and reclaimed wood.
Bloedel Reserve
If you only have time for one big stop on Bainbridge, make it Bloedel Reserve. It’s the most beautiful place on Bainbridge Island.
The Bloedel Reserve is a 140-acre property that’s been landscaped into 14 different areas, each with their own distinct styles. You can wander from mossy forests to open meadows, pass by tranquil ponds, and even visit a Japanese garden.
The Bloedel family mansion also resides on the property, overlooking the water. Everything is connected by walking trails that loop through the property, so you can easily explore these different areas.
But getting to the Bloedel Reserve is the tricky part. It’s on the north end of the island, about a 15-minute drive from the ferry terminal in Winslow. The easiest way to visit is definitely by car, but Bainbridge does have a local bus system that stops at Bloedel Reserve a few times a day. If you plan your timing right, it’s doable without driving.
Waterfront Park
Right next to the ferry terminal, Bainbridge’s Waterfront Park is where we go when we need a break from the crowds in downtown Winslow. It’s a small park with a mix of grassy lawns and wooded areas, with benches and picnic tables.
One of our favorite things to do there is to bring some snacks and coffee from town and just hang out for a bit to watch the boats float through the harbor before catching the ferry home.
There are also a few short walking paths that weave through the park, including one that runs right along the water.
Hall’s Hill Lookout Labyrinth
Labyrinths are thought to be useful for reflection, healing, and meditation. And that’s exactly what the 36-foot diameter labyrinth at Hall’s Hill Lookout Park was built for.
The labyrinth is hand-laid with smooth river stones and spirals through 12 concentric circles that ties it to both lunar and seasonal cycles.
There’s no right or wrong way to walk through the labyrinth. You can start from the inside or the outside. Some people enter looking to answer a question they have in their mind. Others just walk to unwind.
Either way, walking the labyrinth is a journey for anyone looking to connect with themselves.
Harbour Marina
The Harbour Marina is adjacent to the Waterfront Park. It’s another great spot to just explore for a bit and escape the crowds. Along the marina’s edge, there is a boardwalk that stretches out to the docks. It’s an easy walk to explore the area.
One of the marina’s docks is open to the public, so you can walk right out over the water and get a closer look at the boats in Eagle Harbor.
Bainbridge Island Museum of Art
The Bainbridge Island Museum of Art is the perfect spot to check out on your way off the island. It’s a two-story building located right across from the ferry terminal.
The museum is small, but well curated. It showcases art from across the Puget Sound region. The exhibits change regularly, but you’ll usually find works inspired by Northwest nature, Native and Indigenous culture, and the island’s own Japanese American history that reflects on the World War II internment camps that affected Bainbridge families.
Even if you’re not a huge “museum person,” it’s a place worth visiting. The architecture alone is incredible. And the museum’s layout makes it easy to explore. There’s also a cafe inside if you want to grab a quick coffee before boarding the ferry.
And best of all, admission to the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art is completely free.
Bainbridge History Museum
Another museum on the island is the Bainbridge History Museum.
First, a little about the museum building itself. It’s a former one-room schoolhouse that was originally built in 1908. It underwent an addition to house the museum before it was eventually moved to the spot that it stands in today.
The museum’s exhibits tell the stories of Bainbridge Island’s ethnic communities, including African American, Filipino, Japanese, and Indipino (bet you never heard of them – we didn’t either).
There are also exhibits about the island’s early logging, fishing, and shipbuilding days.
And of course, the museum wouldn’t be complete without a fun exhibit on one of Bainbridge’s claims to fame: the birthplace of pickleball. That’s right, pickleball was invented in Bainbridge in the 1960s.
The Bainbridge History Museum is completely free to visit and within walking distance of the ferry terminal.
Bainbridge Farmers Market
If you are looking for a more local experience, then head to the Bainbridge Island Farmers Market. It’s held every Saturday from April through November, 10 am to 2 pm, right in front of the Bainbridge Performing Arts Center.
The market isn’t huge, but it’s the kind of place where you end up chatting with the person who actually made (or grew) what you’re buying. That’s exactly what happened when I got into a conversation with the market’s mushroom vendors.
Besides mushrooms, you’ll find local farmers, food vendors, and crafters selling everything from fresh produce and baked goods to clothes and wood carvings.
Fort Ward Park
Fort Ward Park was originally a military installation before eventually closing in the 1960s. Today, the area is a public park with a walking/bicycle path that hugs the shoreline. The path passes by some of the relics of the park’s military days, such as artillery foundations and barracks.
We visited for sunset, and in my opinion, that’s the best time to go. The golden hour sunlight hits the park’s path while the rest of the island fades into dusk.
There are also a few benches and picnic tables scattered along the walkway if you want to just sit back and watch the water.
Fay Bainbridge Park
Fay Bainbridge is a classic coastal Pacific Northwest park. It’s long, sandy, and lined with piles of driftwood. And of course, wide-open views across the Puget Sound.
One of the coolest things about Fay Bainbridge is its whale-watching opportunities. When we visited, there were plenty of people staked out with binoculars, scanning the water for orcas.
The park also has camping facilities if you’re looking for a budget overnight option in Bainbridge.
And if you have kids, they’ll definitely love the pirate ship–shaped playground.
It’s not the most picturesque park you’ll ever visit, but it’s worth stopping by if you’re in the area looking for a peaceful spot to stretch your legs.
Japanese American Exclusion Memorial
In 1942, Bainbridge Island became the first place in the United States where Japanese Americans were forcibly removed from their homes and put into internment camps. Soldiers arrived on the island, rounded up families, and escorted them to the ferry dock. They didn’t know it at the time, but they were being sent to the Manzanar internment camp in California.
The Japanese American Exclusion Memorial stands on that very site, beside the old Eagledale Ferry Dock, where 227 Japanese residents of Bainbridge left the island. By going there, you can walk the same path they took when they left their island home for the unknown.
For us, it was especially solemn. My grandfather was also interned at Manzanar, though he was from Seattle.
Along the walkway, panels share stories from Bainbridge’s Japanese American community. How they left, how they returned years later, and how they rebuilt their lives.
How to get to Bainbridge
The best way to get to Bainbridge Island is by ferry from Seattle. It’s one of the city’s classic day trips, and the ferry ride itself is half the fun.
The ferry to Bainbridge departs from the Seattle Ferry Terminal at Pier 52, right on the waterfront. The ferry ride takes about 35 minutes. Along the way, there are beautiful views of the Seattle skyline and the Olympic Mountains as you cross over the Puget Sound.
You can either walk on or drive on to the ferry. Walking onto the ferry is the cheaper and more reliable option, since you don’t need to worry about the ferry getting full of vehicles and having to wait for the next one (it happens more often than you think).
If you walk onto the ferry, you only need to pay for the Seattle to Bainbridge trip. The return trip is free for walk-on passengers and bicycles.
But if you want to venture around the island (like to Bloedel Reserve), bringing a car might be worth it.
You don’t need a reservation to take the ferry. Just show up at the terminal and purchase your ticket. Ferries to Bainbridge leave about every 50 minutes.
How to get around Bainbridge
From the ferry terminal, it’s just a five-minute walk to Winslow, the island’s main hub for visitors. This is where you’ll find most of the island’s shopping, cafes, restaurants, and museums.
However, if you want to explore beyond Winslow, your best option is to drive a car onto the ferry. But driving on the ferry costs more than walking on, and during rush hour and weekends, the car deck can fill up, so you will need to allow yourself more time.
Another option is the bus. Bainbridge has a small but reliable public transit system run by Kitsap Transit. It connects Winslow to other parts of the island, including Bloedel Reserve. The catch is that the buses don’t run as frequently as those in Seattle, so it’s best to check the bus schedule and plan in advance.
Another option is to ride a bicycle. The island has decent bicycle infrastructure, and some of its main roads have bike lanes. The roads are scenic and well-kept, but can be hilly in spots.
Here are a couple of places that you can rent bicycles on Bainbridge:
Where to eat in Bainbridge
There are a bunch of dining options in Bainbridge, especially around Winslow, the main town near the ferry terminal.
For your morning coffee fix, Pegasus Coffee is probably the most iconic cafe on Bainbridge. It’s known for its vine-covered brick exterior, which is sure to make you stop for a photo before even heading inside (we totally did). Their coffee and pastries are excellent, and the atmosphere is warm and a little artsy.
One of our favorites is Doc’s Marina Grill. It’s a classic American bar and grill that’s right by the marina. The patio is perfect on a sunny day, and the views alone make it worth it.
If you’re in the mood for something a little different, check out Ba Sa. It’s a Vietnamese restaurant right in Winslow. A local recommended it to us one day when we were getting coffee at Pegasus. They were absolutely right. The food was phenomenal. Definitely a spot we’d go back to.
And for dessert, stop by Bon Bon Candies. It’s a small chocolate shop with a huge selection of truffles, caramels, and fudge. You may go there planning to buy gifts… but watch out, you might just end up eating them yourself before you leave the island.
Are you following our Washington blog series?
We’re based in Seattle and have done tons of things all over Washington. To help fellow adventurers, we’ve put together guides to the best places we found. You can check them out by clicking the links below.
- Our ultimate Seattle guide: 27 Incredible Things to Do in Seattle: Complete Travel Guide
- Our Seattle hiking guide: 11 Incredible Hikes Near Seattle: Complete Guide
- Best things to do in Mount Rainier: 12 Unique Things to Do in Mount Rainier: Complete Travel Guide
- Our ultimate Mount Rainier hiking guide: 20 Incredible Hikes in Mount Rainier: Complete Travel Guide
- Best day trip from Seattle: 11 Awesome Things to Do on Bainbridge Island: Complete Guide
- Best winter weekend trip in Washington: 8 Amazing Things to Do in Leavenworth in Winter: Complete Guide
I hope you enjoyed our guide to things to do on Bainbridge Island, Washington. Feel free to leave a comment below if you have any questions 🐸
