Two communities, each just ferry ride away from downtown—but they each feel like a whole other world.

Seabird Courtesy of Amber Fouts

Bainbridge Island

A scenic ferry ride from downtown Seattle, this pastoral island offers distinctive shops, wineries, restaurants, and gardens.

Explore

From the ferry terminal, it’s a short stroll to the free Bainbridge Island Museum of Art (550 Winslow Way E), which occupies a strikingly beautiful building and displays diverse contemporary works, and the interactive Kids Discovery Museum (301 Ravine Ln NE), with exhibits geared toward children up to 10 years old. Farther afield, the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial (4195 Eagle Harbor Dr NE) features gorgeous gardens and informative signs sharing triumphant personal stories that illuminate a traumatic part of World War II history. Breathtakingly beautiful Bloedel Reserve (7571 NE Dolphin Dr) is a delight for hiking and viewing local flora.

Eat and Drink

At chic but unpretentious Seabird (133 Winslow Way E), dine on creatively prepared and locally harvested geoduck clams and wood-grilled halibut. Doc’s Marina Grill (403 Madison Ave S) is another excellent seafooder, offering classic chowders and grills with wonderful views of pleasure boats in the harbor. Dine on modern versions of Vietnamese food, like pork wontons in spicy truffle oil, at trendy Ba Sa (101 Winslow Way E), and pick up a baguette sandwich, a molasses cookie, and a cafe au lait at charming Coquette Bake Shop (140 Winslow Way W). Take bus 390 north a couple of miles to sample the island’s acclaimed liquid assets at Fletcher Bay (9415 Coppertop Loop NE), Bainbridge Brewing (9415 Coppertop Loop NE), and Bainbridge Organic Distillers (9727 Coppertop Loop NE).

Shop

You’ll discover a variety of charming shops in Winslow village, including the stylish gift shops Plum (124 Winslow Way E) and Dana’s on Bainbridge (194 Winslow Way E). Celtic Crossroads (380 Winslow Way E) carries handcrafted jewelry, wool sweaters and caps, and cookies and teas imported from Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. Inside the cute Winslow Mall (278 Winslow Way E), vendors proffer everything from crystals and wind chimes to raincoats for your dog.

USS Turner Joy

Bremerton

Naval history, family fun, and a burgeoning food scene greet visitors who ferry to this lively waterfront enclave.

Explore

It’s a relaxing ramble from the ferry terminal to explore the fascinating exhibits at the Puget Sound Navy Museum (251 First St) and the whale-inspired copper fountains and waterside benches at Harborside Fountain Park (251 First St). Save time to explore the decks of the USS Turner Joy (H300 Washington Beach Ave), a decommissioned 1950s warship, then see what’s showing at the Roxy (270 Fourth St) movie theater. Rodeo Drive-In Theatre (7369 Hwy 3) dates back to 1949 and is the largest drive-in in the Pacific Northwest. Stroll amid the waterfront greenery of Elandan Gardens (3050 Hwy 16), famed for its world-class bonsai collection.

Eat and Drink

Anthony’s at Sinclair Inlet (20 Washington Ave) is a splendid waterfront setting for savoring seafood, while El Balcon (326 Pacific Ave) dishes out flavorful Salvadorean fare. Local Boys Taproom (519 Fourth St) carries a great selection of Washington craft beers, and at Manette’s Hound + Bottle (2109 E 11th St) you’ll find creative cocktails and flavorful beef and veggie burgers. If you’ve brought your car, it’s worth the short drive from downtown for the fresh seafood at Tiny’s House of Crabs (4930 Kitsap Way), authentic Korean food at Suzy’s Kitchen (2665 Sixth St), and Spam musubi and loco moco bowls at Island Hut (2502 Sixth St).

Shop

F.R.O.G. Soap (707 Pacific Ave) uses Pacific Northwest pine, lavender, and calendula in its body creams and shampoo bars. Game Wizard and Blue Sky Hobbies (603 Fourth St) stocks an incredible array of board and video games—you can try them out in the restaurant. Look for cool finds from yesteryear at Manette Antiques (2105 E 11th St) and interesting, smaller-vineyard wines at The Weekender (2106 E 11th St).