Discover Bainbridge Island

With 53 miles of shoreline and over 30 miles of public trails, Bainbridge Island offers an astonishing variety of natural experiences within its compact 28 square miles. This verdant escape sits just a 35-minute ferry ride from downtown Seattle, yet feels worlds away from urban life. Why Bainbridge Island Is a Hiker’s Paradise Bainbridge Island […]

Have you encountered a fallen tree blocking your favorite trail? Don’t worry – there are simple ways to report it and get the issue resolved quickly. For Park District Trails The easiest solution is to call the Park District directly at 206-842-2302. Simply let them know you’re reporting a tree across a trail, and their […]

There are six intersections with traffic lights on Bainbridge Island. Bainbridge Island is a charming and picturesque destination known for its natural beauty and small-town feel. Despite its proximity to a major metropolitan area—only 8 miles from Seattle as the crow flies— Bainbridge Island retains a distinctly rural character. One measure of this is the […]

On a seemingly ordinary evening, September 1, 2024, Bainbridge Island residents and ferry passengers were treated to an extraordinary spectacle. Michael Cyger, publisher of BainbridgeIsland.com, captured breathtaking footage of a pod of orcas frolicking in Puget Sound, just off the shores of Bainbridge Island. The video montage of excerpts, which began at 7:09 PM, showcases […]

Introduction Bainbridge Island, nestled in the heart of Washington’s Puget Sound, is not only known for its picturesque landscapes and vibrant community but also for its proximity to one of nature’s most magnificent creatures: the orca, or killer whale. These intelligent and social marine mammals have been captivating residents and visitors alike for generations, making […]

Bainbridge Island’s Linda Wolf, a renowned writer and photographer, has achieved remarkable success throughout her career. As the founder of Teen Talking Circles, Wolf has made significant contributions to youth empowerment. Her diverse accomplishments include serving as a staff photographer for the Los Angeles Citywide Mural Project, co-founding Women in Photography International, authoring three photography […]

Are you ready to take the plunge into the invigorating world of cold water immersion? Right here on Bainbridge Island, Washington, a community of daring individuals regularly embraces the chill of Puget Sound, reaping the benefits of what’s known as a “cold plunge.” This isn’t just a test of willpower; it’s a full-on wellness ritual. […]

Bainbridge Island, Washington, is home to a number of historical concrete structures that are remnants of the island’s military past. The presence of the United States naval base in Bremerton was one of the reasons for the establishment of coastal defense sites like Fort Ward. The Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton has been an […]

In the serene embrace of Upper Fort Ward Park, a new symbol of community and shared human experience has taken root. The Bainbridge Island Kindred Spirit Mailbox, inspired by the original on Bird Island, North Carolina, invites visitors to share their innermost thoughts and connect with others in a deeply personal way. What is the […]

What mysterious figure lurks beneath the verdant canopy of Bainbridge Island, stirring the curiosity of both resident and traveler alike? The Bainbridge Island Troll — named “Pia the Peacekeeper” — is an 18-foot-tall art installation awaiting discovery at Sakai Park, located at 1560 Madison Ave N, Bainbridge Island, WA, 98110. This enigmatic creature hides in […]

On Bainbridge Island, six (6) dedicated, public pickleball courts can be found at Battle Point Park. These courts are free to use and operate on a first come, first served basis with some organized play. Pickleball Live Status This is the current status of the pickleball courts and shows how many people are playing on […]

Table tennis, also known as ping pong, is a racket sport enjoyed by people of all ages. It’s easy to learn but takes skill to master, making it both accessible and challenging. The game provides great exercise, burns calories, and improves coordination and reflexes for everyone on Bainbridge Island. Table tennis can be played casually […]

The Great Blue Herons are a familiar sight on Bainbridge Island, sharing their habitat with the majestic eagles, their archenemies. While not as abundant as gulls and other recognizable shore birds like Canadian Geese and Mallards, the herons have established a remarkable presence on the island. What sets the herons apart is their nesting behavior. […]

Enhancing Birding Experiences in the Pacific Northwest Birding, the observation and study of birds in their natural habitats, is a popular activity for nature enthusiasts and bird lovers. Bainbridge Island, located in the Pacific Northwest region of Washington state, offers a diverse range of bird species and stunning natural landscapes, making it an ideal destination […]

In late summer to early fall, you can see a red streak in the waters of Bainbridge Island. This is the annual zooplankton bloom of the dinoflagellate algae, often referred to as “red tide.” The bloom is caused by a surplus of nutrients. The population of the dinoflagellate algae can jump to more than 20 […]

According to the 2020 census, Bainbridge Island’s population is now 24,825. Those 24,825 people live in 10,115 households across the island. The Bainbridge Island population is up by 1,800 residents (or 7.8%) over the past 10 years – which averages out to an Bainbridge annual population increase of less than 200 people. Additional census facts: […]

As a boy, Erik Lindbergh had a vivid recurring dream. “If I flapped my arms hard enough, I could fly,” he recalled. “It was a lot of work because I didn’t have wings, just these stupid arms, but I got good at it. I flew from my house in Manzanita around Big […]

Online research reveals 245 nonprofit organizations in our 98110 zip code, which includes public and private family foundations, service organizations, religious groups and educational institutions. To better understand how many nonprofit organizations are serving the island, a better source is One Call for All, Bainbridge’s nonprofit supporting nonprofits. It lists 125 organizations […]

“Our children were young when we moved here, the youngest was 5,” said photographer Sue Larkin, whose family of five has been on the island since 2000. “And from day one, we were able to watch from our home a pair of eagles live, raise young and take first flights. We are all wildlife enthusiasts.” […]

A few things have put Bainbridge Island on the national map. Our high-profile governor calls Bainbridge home. Its history inspired the bestselling novel Snow Falling on Cedars. And, increasingly, our island is known across the sporting world as the birthplace of pickleball—one of the fastest growing sports in the country with millions […]

The Chymiys’ forever home on Bainbridge Island is many miles—and many years—from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, where Andrea and Thomas met in 1992, just days into their freshman year. The friendship that started at a dormitory mixer soon turned into more and by the second semester they were dating. The pair […]

The short answer: it’s complicated. The longer answer is that you might need a permit and whether you do depends on many factors, such as zoning, lot size, tree conditions, title restrictions (some subdivisions require a minimum number or certain location of trees), and whether the lot is subject to rules regarding […]

Lori Blevins-Schilling is no stranger to major lifestyle adjustments. She founded Bainbridge HeArt & Soul: Art as Therapy Studio with her family, after a head-on car crash that left her with a traumatic brain injury and the need for several surgeries. Dealing with physical, mental and emotional challenges, Blevins-Schilling found her life […]

Dominique Cantwell is no stranger to the spotlight. Recently named an Island Treasure, she is known by many as the charming, dauntless executive director of Bainbridge Performing Arts. But her impact as a leader extends far beyond the theater. Cantwell has participated in arts funding and cultural planning on the island, served […]

We islanders love our avian friends (except possibly that territorial owl on the Gazzam trail). We invite them over with feeders full of seed and suet (homemade, of course) and skulk along the water lines with binoculars to spot even more. As the days get longer, many islanders look for certain special […]

If pickleball has a cousin in the golf world, it might be disc golf. The rapidly growing sport is especially welcoming of new players with its easy learning curve and low cost of entry. Players navigate a course of distinctive chain baskets with inexpensive flying discs—no golf clubs or memberships required. As […]

Picture an apple. The shine of its skin, the star of seeds at its center. Statistically speaking, if each of those seeds were planted, they would most likely grow into completely different varieties of apple trees—different from the parent fruit and different from one another. Because most apple varieties are not self-pollinating, […]

Suzanne Selfors excitedly forged ahead early this year with two new ventures: a book co-written with her son Walker Ranson and ownership of a bookstore. “Braver: A Wombat’s Tale” will be released June 23. It was set to launch with a celebration at Liberty Bay Books in Poulsbo, which she bought in […]

If you’ve noticed more gardens popping up around the island (and on your friends’ Facebook feeds), that’s because there’s a budding trend in our midst. According to the National Gardening Association, the number of households that currently grow food has risen 200 percent since 2008. Since the novel coronavirus took hold, changing […]

Ken Stern grew up surrounded by languages. His grandparents spoke Yiddish and his friends spoke Italian, though he never learned either himself. At age 8, Stern moved with his family from Brooklyn, New York, to the suburbs and found himself missing the linguistic and cultural diversity of his former neighborhood. In high […]

Sgt. Trevor Ziemba, a police officer for nearly 30 years, recalls a time when he would get a 911 call for a mental health crisis— “a suicidal subject, a person under the influence, someone having a psychotic episode”—and the best he could do was send the troubled person to a hospital. At worst, he […]

Bainbridge Island has been lauded for being the only place in the world where the chicken coops are nicer than the houses. But chickens, as it turns out, aren’t the only feathered friends receiving all-star treatment on the rock. Every morning for nearly two years now, Maxine Steele gets out of bed […]

Rachele Turnbull was one of a handful of women in her Oregon State classes while earning a degree is construction engineering management. After several years’ experience, she co-founded Clark Construction on Bainbridge Island in 2006. Her crews recently finished two multi-family residential projects, the Roost development in Lynwood Center and The Walk […]

By Alorie Gilbert When students and teachers file through the doors into the inspiring, light-filled new Captain Johnston Blakely Elementary School, there are few reminders of the aging building it replaced last year, save one. Like an old friend, welcoming them at the main entrance, is a tree. A very special one—a beloved Japanese maple […]

The school district might have had to cancel school for four days due to snow, but January 2020’s snowfall didn’t deter this hummingbird from commuting to its local diner. Bainbridge Island resident Carolyn Leigh snapped this shot as she walked by her dining room window, marveling at how the hummingbirds were working their beaks through […]

It only takes a few moments to cross the Agate Pass Bridge, but maintenance to ensure the safety and longevity of the bridge is an ongoing priority for the Washington State Department of Transportation. Beginning in spring of last year, drivers crossing the bridge were greeted with the sight of white tarps, […]

Google “the art of conversation” and you’ll find more than 1.7 million results for books, videos, blogs, memory tips, guided tours, TED talks and even seven-step systems for improving your ability to chat. Apparently, many, many of us have lost the gift for gab. Happily, a gamut of island groups recognizes the value […]

Great Abaco Island, located in the northern Bahamas, lies just under 3,000 miles southeast of Bainbridge. Its largest town, Marsh Harbour, boasts the island’s lone traffic light. In nearby Hope Town, transportation options are limited to golf carts and bicycles, and tourists pose for photos in front of the candy-striped Elbow Reef […]

At the start, Bainbridge Island Rod and Gun Club members fished for salmon in the Sound and hunted wild game in the woods. It was 1929, and “the island had a very rural character then,” said David Ward, president of what is now the Bainbridge Island Sportsmen’s Club. The island has changed a […]

For thousands of years, the land we know as Bainbridge Island, and the greater South Coast Salish area beyond it, was home to the Suquamish Tribe. One visit to the Suquamish Museum will immerse you in culture and history so deep, you’ll realize how inextricably linked native history is to the earth […]

By Alli Schuchman Perched on a north-facing hillside—across Eagle Harbor from the ferry maintenance yard—sits the stunning black home of interior designer Tracey Artiss. She describes it this way: “Somewhat a farmhouse with a rural vernacular and modern sensibility. Clean lines. A little bit industrial.” Though unquestionably bold, it nonetheless fits into her beloved Eagledale […]

The headlines are somber—wildfires rampaging, polar ice melting, glaciers vanishing, oceans rising. Even so—or perhaps especially so—Bainbridge will be celebrating Earth Day throughout the month of April with events that will inspire, educate and foster family fun. “We’re so bombarded with messages about the denigration of the Earth. There has to be […]

Takes place at Woodward Middle School every year. Since 1960, the annual Rotary Auction and Rummage Sale has raised nearly $5 million for service projects. It’s a major recycling event – and it’s also a community volunteer effort that raises a lot of money. Residents don’t have to look far to see those funds at […]

The Bainbridge Island Pumpkin Walk annual event benefiting the Boys & Girls Club features hundreds of carved pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns, food, jumpy house, maze, games for kids and more. It takes place every year from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. during select days that vary from year to year. Visit Bainbridge Gardens to learn more. Great […]

The annual Oktoberfest After Hours will be at the Village Shopping Center area (centered on Hildebrand Way). Enjoy Bavarian-style foods (bratwurst, sauerkraut, wieners and the like), microbeer and wine samples, music, raffles, and tours of participating businesses. This free event is presented by the Chamber of Commerce and hosted by the Village District Merchants. Public […]

Pat Wright and the Total Experience Gospel Choir return to Bainbridge for the annual Sing Out! honoring Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The concert will benefit Helpline House and donations of non-perishable food; warm clothing, new socks, underwear, jackets hats, blankets, toothbrushes, backpacks and phone cards will be collected at the door. Learn more: […]

Friends of the Farms sponsors and organizes the annual Harvest Fair at Johnson Farm on Bainbridge Island. This educational and fun event brings our community together to celebrate, appreciate and nurture local farming. Not just for the kids, Harvest Fair encourages everyone to take a day and join us on the farm. Activities of the […]

On October 31st, downtown Bainbridge Island merchants will close Winslow Way at 3:30 p.m. and sponsor a safe trick-or-treating evening with spooky family fun. Come in costume, listen for spooky tunes from the Eagle Harbor Church bell tower, drink free hot cider and place your vote for the best merchant costume at the Bainbridge Island […]

You’re invited to attend and participate in the Grand Old Fourth of July Parade and Community Celebration on July 4th. The Grand Old Fourth includes a Pancake Breakfast, all-day Street Fair, Foot races (benefiting Bainbridge Youth Services), a Classic Car Show, Historic Baseball Game, Music, Food, Entertainment, a Beer Garden, and plenty of Family Fun […]

Annual pancake breakfast and fire truck ride to benefit the local fire department on Bainbridge Island, celebrated every 2nd week of October.  Learn more:  http://www.bifd.org/ Bainbridge Island Fire Department Pancake Breakfast