Welcome to Bainbridge Island
A 35-minute ferry from downtown Seattle. Walkable Winslow, Bloedel Reserve, beaches, a troll, and the courts where pickleball was invented. Written by people who live here.
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Before you sail
Plan Your Visit to Bainbridge Island
Walk on or drive on, what is walkable from the dock and what is not, and the last boat home. Start with the guide, then the ferry.
Visitor Guide
Things to do, car vs walk-on, Bloedel, Winslow, the last boat.
Ferry Schedule
Seattle ↔ Bainbridge, 35 min
Getting Here
Ferry or Agate Pass bridge
Maps
Winslow, the island, trails
Getting Around
On foot, BI Ride, taxis, parking
Weather
Forecast and what to wear
Itineraries
A day, a weekend, a rainy one
Friday, Oct 9
What’s On This Week
Farmers’ Market
598 Madison Avenue N
Bainbridge Island Fire Department Pancake Breakfast
8895 Madison Avenue N
Morning Sadhana with Sue Steindorf and Ann Strickland – IN STUDIO Event
159 Wyatt Way NE
Conservation Volunteer Work Party
2213 Victorian Lane NE
Things to do
What People Come For
The places people come for. Each page says how to get there and whether you can walk from the ferry.
Pia the Troll
Sakai Park, walk from the ferry
Bloedel Reserve
Tickets, hours, you need a car
Winslow
Downtown, all on foot
Birthplace of Pickleball
Founders Courts, Battle Point
Beaches
Fay, Rockaway, Lytle, Blakely
Grand Forest
Trails, and Battle Point next door
Exclusion Memorial
Where the 1942 removals began. Free, always open.
Museum of Art
BIMA. Free, three minutes from the dock.
Only here
Pickleball was invented
on Bainbridge Island
in 1965.
A summer afternoon, a badminton court, a wiffle ball, and some plywood paddles at the Pritchard place. Six decades later the public courts at Battle Point are the pilgrimage, and the camera tells you if a game is on before you drive over.
Everything pickleball, one pageEat, drink, stay
Where to Eat and Where to Sleep
Many restaurants close Monday or Tuesday. Check hours before you go.
Restaurants
Winslow, Lynwood, Rolling Bay
Cafes & Bakeries
Coffee near the dock
Bars & Wineries
Tasting rooms, a walkable loop
Stay
Hotels, inns, vacation rentals
One spin, one island restaurant. Decided.
Spin
Week 41
Photo of the Week
An Island Evening Surprise
A soft rainbow appeared over the water during a six-week visit from Austin, with a Washington State ferry gliding through the view. Even without Mount Rainier, the familiar ferry crossing made the Bainbridge shoreline feel especially memorable.
Photo by Kirsten Robinett
Trivia of the Week
Our beloved Frog Rock has been watching traffic at Madison and Phelps for decades. What year did he first turn green?
Pick one. We’ll show you if you got it right.
