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closeone day vacations: Bainbridge Island: Magical Brigadoon a ferry ride awayto glorious shops, hidden treasures
Sally Zeiger Hanson / guest columnist
Destination: Bainbridge Island
Bainbridge Island is a little like Brigadoon for me. I always have a great time when I go there but then the details get hazy and later I end up thinking maybe I imagined the glorious little shops, the fabulous food and the breathtaking ferry ride. In order to see if this great place does indeed exist, we made another trip across the water last week.
While it is possible to drive from Puyallup comfortably in less than two hours, I always prefer to walk on the ferry from Seattle if I can arrange it. During the 35 minute crossing, my friend and I enjoyed the views from all sides of the boat.
After landing, we walked the half mile from the ferry dock into the little town of Winslow. We stopped in the first boutique that caught our eye and swiftly scooted on our way after seeing a few $400 price tags in the jeans section. From there we meandered on to Eagle Harbor Book Company. Here’s a store I hear lots about because it is independently owned and has lots of authors coming in for book signings. I purchased two novels to assign to my friend for her return plane trip back to New York. One souvenir I like to collect on vacation is costume jewelry rings. In search of a big, artsy ring we went into The Gallery, a collaborative gallery showing the work of 300 local artists. The front of the gallery is a retail store and the back section has rotating exhibits. We saw the exhibition called Wings which features depictions of anything that flies; planes, birds, bugs and commuters.
Nearly starved to death, we found our way to San Carlos’ Southwestern restaurant. We were pressing our noses to their window at 4:30 p.m. when they opened for dinner. This early arrival assured us the best seat in the house; a corner table on the wooden deck that is overgrown with greens and flowers to the point that it has an almost tropical ambiance. We felt compelled to order the herbed crab chimichanga since that dish was created at San Carlos in 1996. They still brag about the Best Entrée award that dish won at the Bite of Seattle and can quickly list off the other restaurants that now serve it.
Having confirmed that the scenery, the art, the food and the fun are very real indeed, we headed back to the ferry for a twilight return to the city. I sleep better at night knowing that a magical Brigadoon of our very own is just a ferry ride away.
Trip details:
> San Carlos Southwestern Restaurant
279 Madison Ave. N.
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
206-842-1999
www.sancarlosgrill.com/
> Eagle Harbor Book Company
157 Winslow Way E.
Bainbridge island, WA 98110
206-842-5332
www.eagleharborbooks.com/
> The Gallery: Bainbridge Art & Crafts
151 Winslow Way E.
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
206-842-3132
www.bainbridgeartscrafts.org
Ferry info
Washington state ferries run hourly between Seattle’s Pier 52 and Bainbridge. Fares are $6.70 for adults, $3.35 for seniors and $5.40 for children.
For more information, visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/schedules/current/index.cfm?route=sea-bi.
Upcoming events
> Bainbridge Island Summer Studio Tour — This annual tour of local artists’ studios and art sale is Aug 8, 9, and 10. For more information or to preview that art that is for sale, visit www.bistudiotour.com.