To learn more about Bainbridge Island history, stop in at the Bainbridge Island Historical Society and Museum, 215 Ericksen Ave. NE (tel. 206/842-2773; www.bainbridgehistory.org). This little museum, housed partly in a little red 1908 schoolhouse, is open Wednesday through Sunday from 1 to 4pm. Admission is $2.50 for adults and $1.50 for students and seniors (children 4 and under are free). If you have the family along, you may also want to spend some time at the Kids Discovery Museum, 305 Madison Ave. (tel. 206/855-4650; www.kidimu.org), which is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10am to 4pm and Sunday from noon to 4pm. Admission is $5 per person. Between mid-April and late October, on Saturdays from 9am to 1pm, there is a farmers market in the center of town at the City Hall Plaza. Here amid the many interesting shops and boutiques of downtown Bainbridge Island, you'll also find the tasting room of Eleven Winery, 278 Winslow Way E. (tel. 206/780-6982; www.elevenwinery.com), which makes a wide range of wines, including a couple of different port-style wines. The tasting room is open Thursday through Friday from 1pm to 7pm, Saturday from noon to 7pm, and on Sunday from noon to 5pm (closed in Jan).
Down at the south end of the island is Fort Ward State Park (tel. 360/902-8844), on the quiet shore of Rich Passage. The park offers picnicking, good bird-watching, and a 2-mile hiking trail.
To sample some more local wines, drop by Bainbridge Island Vineyards and Winery, 8989 Day Rd. E. (tel. 206/842-9463; www.bainbridgevineyards.com), 4 1/2 miles from the ferry landing (take Wash. 305 for 4 miles to the stoplight and turn right on Day Rd. E.). The winery specializes in European-style white wines made from estate-grown grapes. These wines are quite good and are only available here and at a few select restaurants. The winery is open Friday to Sunday from 11am to 5pm.
Garden enthusiasts will want to call ahead and make a reservation to visit the Bloedel Reserve, 7571 NE Dolphin Dr. (tel. 206/842-7631; www.bloedelreserve.org), 6 miles north of the ferry terminal off Wash. 305 (turn right on Agate Point Rd.). The expansive and elegant grounds are the ideal place for a quiet stroll amid plants from around the world. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, and $6 for children 5 to 12. The gardens are open Wednesday through Sunday from 10am to 4pm. Nearby, at the northern tip of the island, you'll find Fay Bainbridge State Park (tel. 206/842-3931), which offers camping and great views across the sound to the Seattle skyline.
If you'd like to do a little paddling in a sea kayak or canoe, turn left as you get off the ferry and head to Back of Beyond Explorations, 181 Winslow Way (tel. 206/842-9229; www.tothebackofbeyond.com), which rents boats at Waterfront Park. Sea kayaks and canoes rent for $15 to $20 per hour depending on the type of boat. Some unusual swan boats (patterned after those in Boston) can be rented for $40 per hour.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
