16 Things to Do on Bainbridge Island

👉 Jump to: Best Things to Do on Bainbridge Island | Food & Drink | Family & Kids | Outdoors

I’m a Washington local, and I always bring my visitors to Bainbridge Island. It’s a surefire way to get them to fall in love with this state. There are plenty of things to do on Bainbridge Island and most are free or cheap, so it’s a win-win for everyone’s budget, too.

Bainbridge Island has a lot going for it. A quirky and colorful downtown, independent wineries, waterfront parks, and historic sights await visitors to one of Washington’s incredible islands. So let’s get into it! Here’s exactly what to do on Bainbridge.

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16 Best Things to Do in Bainbridge Island

Winslow

Explore unique shops, delicious restaurants, independent wineries, and cozy cafes in the biggest town on the island.

📍 Google Maps

Winslow is probably where you’ll spend most of your time on the island. It’s a ten-minute walk from the ferry terminal, which is part of the reason Bainbridge is such a good day trip from Seattle. Winslow has most of my favorite Bainbridge spots.

Start your day at Blackbird Bakery to give your taste buds a treat. Order a mean (and generously sized) margarita from Isla Bonita in the afternoon. Stop at Town and Country Market before heading to a park. Here, you’ll find all the locally made bread, cheeses, and drinks you need.

Want a filling meal? A popular choice is Harbour Public House, a waterfront restaurant with new American fare. Or hit up Proper Fish for UK-style fish and chips so good you’ll be dreaming about your meal all the way back to the ferry. 

⛴️ How to Get to Bainbridge Island: The quickest way to get to Bainbridge is via the Bainbridge Island ferry from downtown Seattle. You can walk, bike, or drive on — no reservation needed. But arrive early. This is a popular route and the ferry lines fill up fast! You can check the ferry times and plan your trip further here.

Bainbridge Island Museum of Art

Admire contemporary art by talented local artists.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (206) 842-4451 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 5 pm daily | Entrance: free

The Bainbridge Island Museum of Art is a small contemporary art museum. Inside you’ll find a permanent and rotating collection of paintings, sculptures, and textile works by local artists.

BIMA’s exhibits rotate regularly, but I recommend making a summertime visit a priority. The museum hosts a summer art market series where you can purchase goods directly from independent makers. This way, you can admire art and add some to your collection too. 

Bainbridge Island Historical Museum

Learn about the island’s fascinating history in a converted schoolhouse.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (206) 842-2773 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 4 pm Wednesday-Sunday, Closed Mondays and Tuesdays | Entrance: free

The Bainbridge Island Historical Museum is small but jam-packed with island history. This free-to-enter museum is located in an old schoolhouse in Winslow. It thoroughly covers topics like the forced internment of the island’s Japanese residents during World War II, the lives of the island’s original Suquamish inhabitants, and its rich military history.

You can also learn about the creation of pickleball. Yep, that trendy sport was invented in Bainbridge!

👉 Want More History? The Suquamish Museum is located just outside of Bainbridge Island on the Port Madison Indian Reservation, and it’s worth the trip. The Suquamish Museum features exhibits, films, artifacts, and an abundance of information to help you understand the Indigenous history of the greater Seattle region.

Bloedel Reserve

Wander through a historic reserve with beautiful, immersive gardens.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (206) 842-7631 | Website | Hours: 9 am – 6 pm Tue-Thurs & Sun, 9 am – 7 pm Fri & Sat, Closed Mondays | Entrance (changes seasonally): $26+, adults, $14+ students (13-18), $9+, children (5-12), free for children under 4; Pay as you wish (first Wednesdays) | 👉 Book a Bloedel Reserve & Sightseeing Tour

The Bloedel Reserve is a meticulously maintained botanical garden that’s uncrowded, well-kept, and a perfect alternative to Seattle’s Washington Park Arboretum (albeit with a higher price tag). 

It’s on the north side of Bainbridge Island, and while it’s possible to take a bus here, it’s much easier if you drive. Timed tickets are required to enter so purchase them online before you visit.

When you arrive, you’ll take a journey through several beautiful gardens, including a traditional Japanese garden, a moss garden, a reflection pool, and a rhododendron glen. Bringing a date to Bainbridge? Add this spot to the top of your list.

Food & Drink

Blackbird Bakery

Sample fresh, seasonal baked goods at a popular island staple. 

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (206) 780-1322 | Website | Hours: 8 am – 4 pm daily

Blackbird Bakery is a gem. It’s a popular destination for both residents and visitors. Personally, if I’m going to Bainbridge in the morning, this is a non-negotiable first stop. 

The bakery has a multitude of offerings: croissants, bread, quiches, and cakes, all cooked with fresh, seasonal ingredients. And it’s the Pacific Northwest, so of course you can also order some (really good) coffee.

Can’t choose between all the tasty-looking treats? The toast and jam gets top reviews from nearly everyone who tries it. And the potato quiche is superb.

Bainbridge Brewing

Try a variety of craft beers at Bainbridge Island’s stand-out brewery.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (206) 451-4646 | Website | Hours (Alehouse): 2 pm – 9 pm Monday-Friday, 12 pm – 9 pm Saturday, 12 pm – 7 pm Sunday

Beer lovers should make their way to Bainbridge Brewing to sample some seriously good beer. This independent craft brewery has two locations on the island.

Go to the brewery and taproom if you’re able to spend leisurely time on the island. It’s a decent-sized brewery with pinball and video games on the top floor and food trucks outside. There are also several other businesses near this location, including a winery, distillery, and climbing gym.

Go to Bainbridge Brewing Alehouse if your time is limited. The alehouse is only open to those 21 and over and is dog-friendly. You’ll also find board games and light food offerings here.

🍺 Love Craft Beer? Don’t miss my guide to the best breweries in Seattle!

Eleven Winery

Sip delicious wine in a comfortable, relaxed environment.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (206) 780-0905 | Website | Hours (tasting room): 12 pm – 8 pm daily | 👉 Book an All-Inclusive Winery & Dinner Tour

Eleven Winery is one of the best wine-tasting spots on the island. The atmosphere is casual, the staff is personable and the welcoming environment makes it a good choice for regular and newer wine drinkers.

There are two locations, but my favorite is the tasting room in Winslow since you can easily walk there from the ferry. Expect reasonably priced flights and a good mix of red, white, rose, and dessert wines.

Want to save a couple of bucks? Bike to the Winery on Day Road (about five miles north of Winslow) and you’ll get half off your wine tasting! This is a way for the owner (an avid cyclist) to support fellow bikers.

🍷 One for the wine lovers: Take a wine-tasting tour through Bainbridge Island! You can do a self-guided tour to nearby wineries. But for a more luxurious experience, I’d book this all-inclusive winery & dinner tour. All tastings are included in the price, along with dinner and transportation, making this a hassle-free way to spend a few hours on the island.

Heyday Farm

Splurge on a fresh, farm-to-table meal in an intimate farmhouse.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (206) 201-1770 | Hours (farmhouse dinners): 4:30 pm – 9:30 pm Thursday-Saturday, Closed Sunday-Wednesday

Heyday Farm is another spot to go if you’re trying to impress your date. Splurge on an incredible meal and support a local farm while you do.

Make a reservation for a Thursday or Friday night dinner and prepare to be wowed. The restaurant is in the farmhouse, and the setting is both cozy and romantic. The menu changes seasonally but the ingredients used are typically sourced right from the garden. 

Bainbridge Organic Distillery

Savor a tasty flight of organic spirits at a family-run distillery.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (206) 842-3184 | Website | Hours: 11 am – 5 pm Wednesday, Thursday & Sunday, 11 am – 6 pm Friday & Saturday, Closed Mondays & Tuesdays

Bainbridge Organic Distillery is a small, family-owned business that makes a variety of incredible spirits. Serious spirit-lovers should make a stop here.

Visit the tasting room in the Coppertop Park Plaza and try a flight of gin, whiskey, and vodka. All of the spirits are prepared on-site and are 100% organic, which helps enhance the taste.

Family & Kids

Kids Discovery Museum

Take kids to an interactive museum for hours of play.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (206) 855-4650 | Website | Hours: 9 am – 4 pm, Fri-Sun, 1 pm – 5 pm Mon-Thurs | Entrance: $9, adults & children, free, infants under 12 months; “Pay what you will” First Fridays from 1 pm – 7 pm

Anyone visiting Bainbridge with kids will want to visit the Kids Discovery Museum. This interactive and discovery-focused museum is on the small side. However, it makes up for its size by being packed with experiences that kids 7 and under will thoroughly enjoy.

Enjoy themed rooms (the store and the bank are both popular), and free, themed art nights on the 1st Friday of the month. Because KiDiMu is close to the ferry terminal, it’s also a good place to go on a day trip to get kids out of the house on a rainy day.

Battle Point Park

Hang out at a huge community park with large meadows, recreational activities, and an astronomy center.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (206) 842-2306 | Website

Visit Battle Point Park if you only have time to see one Bainbridge Park. Bring kids to the expansive playgrounds or head to the huge, open fields for picnics and ultimate frisbee.

There are tennis and basketball courts, along with spots for roller hockey, disc golf, and, of course, pickleball. Battle Point Park’s northern end has ponds teeming with ducks. Walkers have plenty of trails to choose from, one of which leads to the Grand Forest. 

One final thing that makes this park super cool? It has an astronomy center that hosts star parties, classes, educational movies, and other events. 

Fay Bainbridge Park

Visit or camp in a family-friendly beach park with pretty mountain views.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (206) 842-3931 | Website | Hours: dawn to dusk

Take a day trip to Fay Bainbridge Park on the north side of the island, or book a campsite to enjoy a weekend getaway from Seattle. This is a family-friendly spot, and kids will love the giant pirate ship playground structure. Dogs are also welcome both on the trails and the beach.

The beach at Fay Bainbridge Park is sandy and like many other Pacific Northwest beaches, there are plenty of driftwood “sculptures” to wander around. While visiting, make sure to soak up views of the Cascade Mountains, Mount Rainier, and Mount Baker on a clear day. Or visit at low tide to search for sand dollars and teeny crabs.

Outdoors

Fort Ward Park

Walk, bike, or picnic in a 137-acre military base turned public park.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (206) 842-5661 | Website | Hours: 6 am – 8 pm daily

Fort Ward Park is a 130-acre park on the southwest side of Bainbridge. Come here if you’re in search of relaxation. The main trail is paved, so it’s fully accessible and a good place for walking, biking, or jogging. The trail also leads to the waterfront, where you can watch ferries crossing the Sound to Bremerton.

Use the handboat launch area to get out on the water. Want to take it a step further and get in the water? Go to the Underwater Park to scuba dive in the chilly Puget Sound.

Fort Ward Park was a military base nearly 65 years ago. I recommend searching through the forest for the old gun batteries if you’d like a glimpse of this past

Japanese American Exclusion Memorial

Visit a somber memorial detailing the history of the island’s Japanese American residents.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (360) 386-2114 | Website | Hours: 9 am – 5 pm daily | Entrance: free

The Japanese American Exclusion Memorial is somber yet beautiful. This outdoor exhibit tells the story of Japanese Americans who were forced into internment camps during World War II through a series of wood panels.

The memorial’s plaques show the stories, names, and quotes of the Japanese Americans forced to leave their homes. You’ll see origami paper cranes strung throughout, and you can leave some of your own as well.

Entry to the memorial is free year-round, so you can come at any time. However, the most beautiful time to visit is when all of the cherry blossoms planted throughout the grounds are in full bloom from late March through early April.

Grand Forest

Hike through a peaceful, old-growth forest on beginner-friendly trails.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (206) 842-2306 | Website

The Grand Forest has about 8 miles of hiking trails that extend through three parcels of land. One trail connects Battle Point Park to West Grand Forest, and others connect the West and East Grand Forest.

This is one of the best hikes near Seattle for beginners since the trails are mostly flat and well-maintained. The hike will take you through a gorgeous Pacific Northwest old-growth forest with firs, cedars, and other moss-covered trees. Dogs are allowed on the trails.

The Labyrinth Mosaic and Halls Hill Lookout

Reflect and meditate at a small park full of public art.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (206) 842-4971 | Website

Visit this little Bainbridge Island gem for a quick, but peaceful excursion. The Labyrinth Mosaic and Halls Hill Lookout is a small outdoor space that overlooks Blakely Harbor. It features a variety of public art created by different artists and is meant to inspire peace and reflection.

The most well-known of these art pieces is the labyrinth maze, which was created from stones the artist found on the island’s beaches. There is also a prayer wheel, carved fence posts, a covered wood swing, and several other outdoor art pieces. 

You probably won’t spend a ton of time here, but it’s still a sweet place to go if you need a little escape from crowds.

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Now you’re ready to hop on the Bainbridge Island ferry and experience one of the best day trips from Seattle! What are you most looking forward to when you visit Bainbridge? Let me know in the comments.