Bainbridge Island

Bainbridge Island is an island city on the Kitsap Peninsula within the Puget Sound region of Washington state.

Bainbridge Island is a 35-minute ferry ride from downtown Seattle. Crossing the Agate Pass Bridge at the north end of the island will take you to the Kitsap Peninsula.

Culture
Like many Pacific Northwest residents, Bainbridge Islanders are socially progressive, outdoorsy, and physically active, with nearly every resident active in kayaking, sailing, hiking, skiing, running, biking or soccer. Bainbridge Island is a predominantly white, highly educated, and — as a by-product of isolated island life — culturally and socially sheltered community. The island was once a poets' commune in the 1970s and 1980s, when many West-Coast artists, poets, and musicians converged to bask in the island's serene environment. Artistic and cultural events and organizations still abound, at perennial Pegasus Coffee, The Harbour Pub, The Lynwood Theatre, and The Bainbridge Performing Arts Center, which has its own improv comedy troupe. There is a refreshing alternative scene for people over 40 involving yoga, martial arts, and social activism. The island is becoming increasingly gentrified, with many retirees settling down, particularly since it was voted the #2 place to live by Money Magazine in 2005.

By car
Cross the Agate Pass Bridge on Highway 305 from the Kitsap Peninsula on the north end of the island.

By public transit

 * Jefferson Transit (JT) #7 ... connects Poulsbo North Viking Transit Center to Port Townsend via Port Ludlow. From the Bainbridge Island Ferry Terminal take Kitsap Transit #390 to North Viking Transit Center in Poulsbo and transfer to JT #7
 * Sound Transit Link Light Rail 1 Line goes to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport from the Pioneer Square Station (nearest to the ferry terminal) in downtown Seattle.
 * Sound Transit Link Light Rail 1 Line goes to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport from the Pioneer Square Station (nearest to the ferry terminal) in downtown Seattle.

Get around
Arriving by ferry there are usually cabs at the ferry terminal and Kitsap Transit has busses that meet each ferry. It is a short walk into Winslow, the primary shopping district on the island.

By public transit
The following Kitsap Transit routes serve as local commuter runs from the Bainbridge Ferry Terminal to other parts of Bainbridge Island during weekday afternoons and to the Ferry Terminal during the mornings for local commuters and travelers staying in B&Bs, local campgrounds, or with a local and going into Seattle for a day trip:
 * 93 To Hidden Cove Rd & Hwy 305 along Manzanita Rd
 * 94 To Blodel Reserve in Agate Point.
 * 95 To Miller Rd & Tolo near Battle Point
 * 96 To Days Rd & Phelps in Sunrise
 * 97 To Lynnwood Center in Crystal Springs
 * 98 To Fort Ward State Park
 * 99 Bill Point to Eagle Harbor in Barkentine and Blakey Hill.
 * 106 To Tolo and Battle Point at Fletcher Bay

See
Bainbridge Island has several beautiful gardens and museums open to the public.



Do
Bainbridge Island is a great destination for bicycles - rolling hills and spectacular scenery. During the summer you'll find bike rentals near the ferry dock and year 'round you can rent or purchase bikes at Classic Cycle. Each February the Chilly Hilly, one of the classic bike rides kicks off the bicycle season with a ride around the island. You can get information on this ride from Cascade Bicycle Club.

Birdwatching
The Kitsap Audubon Society has been actively meeting since 1972 and has a broad coalition of birders actively tracking and sharing sightings since then. They also maintain an active website with updates of the latest sightings, suggestions on areas for birders and even a regular newsletter. They also developed a checklist of birds likely to be seen birds in the area.

The state Audubon society developed 'The Great Audubon Birding Trail' which includes key migration flyways. Flyways are major north-south routes of travel for migratory birds and likely areas to see birds along the route extending from Alaska to Patagonia. Fort Ward Park on Bainbridge Island is one of only a handful of areas in the region to be named to the list.

Sea kayaking
With many small bays and inlets in the area, Bainbridge Island is one of the more popular places to kayak in Puget Sound and is popular for beginners and experienced kayakers alike. Thick forests of majestic pine and deciduous trees and dozens of creeks and estuaries dot the coastline. Or just explore Kitsaps many harbor towns like Bainbridge Island that cater to kayakers with shops and restaurants accessible from the water. Harbor Seals, Otters, Sea Lions, Bald Eagles and Blue Herons are common sites while the occasional viewing of an Orca or Grey Whale is not out of the question.

Kayak trails
Organized trails offer overnight camping options and maps of appropriate and scenic travel destinations.

Scuba diving
Scuba diving the cold waters of Puget Sound takes a bit more gear and training than other warm water locations, but the rewards are incredible. The area contains some of the best diving in the world and many areas are accessible from the Kitsap Peninsula. The state offers a guide to parks with launch sites here.

Conservation areas
Well-known to regional scuba divers, Orchard Rocks Conservation Area is located south west of Bainbridge Island in the waters and bedlands of Rich Passage within a 400-yard radius of Orchard Rocks day marker. The natural bedrock and boulders provide habitats for rock associated fish and invertebrate species. Copper rockfish and quillback rockfish once were common at this site. Brown rockfish and lingcod are common, red Irish lord, buffalo sculpin, striped seaperch, and pile perch. Kelp greenling, painted greenling, cabezon are consistently present in the reserve. Invertebrates include red rock crab, spider crabs, red sea cucumber, and orange sea cucumber. Harbor seals frequently visit the site and are often seen hauled out on the exposed rocks at low tide. California sea lions are also commonly observed at the site and may be seen hauled out on nearby navigational buoys.

There are several other popular dive sites centered around Blakely Harbor accessible by boat including wreck diving a 70' long wooden shipwreck simply known as The Boss. To find this site go to Blakely Harbors southern shoreline that heads out to Restoration Point. At about the midpoint of this shoreline, you will see a yellow buoy in about 50 feet of water. This is a PADI dive buoy marking The Boss which is maintained by local divers. The hull of the boat is in about 50' of water and is easily recognizable as it is covered in a field of white Plumose Anemones.

Hiking

 * Gazzam Lake Preserve on the west side of the island has entrances with parking lots at the north (end of NE Marshall Rd (47.624953, -122.566241)) and south (end of Deerpath Ln NE (47.609650, -122.563666)) ends of the preserve. The network of trails provides views of Gazzam Lake and across Port Orchard Channel to Illahee.
 * The Grand Forest is a very large park/preserve with an extensive trail network that has multiple access points and parking lots, ranging from Battle Point Park (far west end of the trail system (47.659836, -122.574855)), a parking lot along Miller Rd NE (47.657004, -122.560544)), a parking lot at the curve in the south half of Mandus Olsen Rd NE (47.650477, -122.547834), a parking lot along the north half of Mandus Olsen Rd NE (47.659562, -122.547742), the end of McRedmond Ln NE (far east end of the trail system (47.654076, -122.537260)), and from other surrounding roads.

Eat
There are a variety of excellent restaurants on Bainbridge, with a full-range of cuisines and price-ranges.

Go next
Seattle is to the east via Washington State Ferry The rest of the Kitsap Peninsula is to the west via the Agate bridge.