BAINBRIDGE ISLAND:  A SPECIAL PLACE

Downtown Bainbridge Island on a late summer afternoon is pictured on the left. This beautiful island community, with a population of 23,000, is a 35-minute ferry ride from downtown Seattle. Once a vacation hideaway for Seattlites, it is now an area with many full-time residents who commute to Seattle. Yet, Bainbridge has somehow retained its bucolic identity. Known as the “best commute in America,” it is not unusual to see a pod of orcas or a gray whale while crossing Puget Sound.

Bainbridge Island has evolved from an economic reliance on the shipbuilding and timber industries, and an enclave of summer cottages and farmers, to a resident population determined to preserve the beauty and special feeling of the countryside. Bicyclists and joggers love the quiet roads; others enjoy the many parks for picnics or relaxation. Part of the allure of living on this beautiful island is the feeling of community, of being remote and safe. It's certainly little wonder that Money Magazine named Bainbridge Island the "Number Two Best Place to Live in the US"! Life is definitely different here...and better.

WINSLOW

Winslow Way remains a favorite trail for tourists and locals alike. Overnight visitors find excellent accommodations in cozy bed and breakfast inns, and in a new - and very comfortable - motel. Downtown Winslow has a diverse array of charming and unique stores where you can purchase everything from lattes to lighthouses. You will find local coffee houses, restaurants and a wide variety of "every day small town" shops mixed with the eclectic and unique as well. There are new residences springing up in the downtown area, and in a number of established communities. To many, living "downtown" affords you the opportunity to get to the ferry without having to worry about parking your car. Downtown Seattle is very accessible from Colman Dock, and the city is a taxi/bus/walking-friendly place.

Getting to Bainbridge
Ferry schedules and a live view of both Colman Dock and the Ferry Terminal on Bainbridge are available on line at www.ferrycam.com. The ferries servicing the Seattle/Bainbridge crossing run every 45 - 60 minutes. Walk-on fares are collected departing Seattle only. Each ferry accomodates about 200 cars and 2,000 passengers. Commuter runs, Mariner/Seahawk game-time sailings, and weekend tourist runs during the summer days are crowded, so plan accordingly.

If you must avoid the ferry, you can get to Seattle driving. The Agate Pass Bridge provides access from Bainbridge to Kitsap Pennisula, the Olympic Pennisula, and Tacoma. For the latest happenings as well as island news, check out the bi-weekly Bainbridge Island Review, at www.bainbridgereview.com.


INVEST IN BAINBRIDGE REAL ESTATE
Whether you are enjoying an Olympic mountain sunset or walking along the Marina, Bainbridge Island retains a small-town feeling in a beautiful setting yet is just a boat ride away from all the excitement, sophistication, and culture of a big city.

Bainbridge is a place where you can find a truly unique home in a truly unique setting. Take advantage of the Property Search feature on our website and find the house of your dreams on an island in the Pacific Northwest.