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Travel Tips
- For flights, Skyscanner is excellent for comparing the best airline deals.
- For accommodations, our family trusts Booking.com for reasonable prices.
- Organize your trips easily with a Travel Planner.
- For tried-and-true travel and hiking gear, check out our Amazon Storefront.
- If you're coming from Seattle, take the ferry—it’s the easiest and most comfortable way to get there. The 35-minute ferry ride itself is already a great activity for young children.
- For those coming from Kitsap County, driving is a favorable option.
Did you know?
Here are a few interesting things about Bainbridge Island, Washington:
But first, coffee!
We usually make our own coffee and favorite hiking snacks, but this time we’re getting coffee and pastries at the Starbucks drive-thru. We need to use our points and empty some gift cards we received during the holidays. I feel so lucky for this; small things make me happy!
We're also celebrating our baby’s birthday. Even though we’ve already celebrated his birthday in advance in Vancouver, Canada, we still feel like going out, so this is like a mini adventure birthday celebration for the family.
What to Do on Bainbridge Island in January with Little Kids
A day trip to Bainbridge Island with a baby means our itinerary is easy and breezy. We take our time exploring and don’t rush to see all the attractions. After having two kids, we learned that slow traveling suits us best. It’s a nice feeling not being in a hurry, allowing us to better immerse ourselves in the places we visit. As always, we like to start with a hike or an activity with lots of natural scenery. Then, we explore the town and find something to eat. Before leaving, we like to have some ice cream and pastries for the drive.
1. Explore the Grand Forest West
There were many hikers, but everyone had their own space. This is like a hidden gem of Bainbridge Island that only locals know about, or that experienced hikers and hiking enthusiasts would research. Make sure to take a picture of the map, as not all paths are marked. There are trail boards, but it’s easy to miss them when you’re preoccupied with a little one. I like the trail because it’s all dirt and unpaved. Oh, watch out for the tree roots, especially for the little ones. My little one loved this hike; it’s easy, and we all had a great time.
- History: Once called the "strawberry capital of the Pacific Northwest," it still honors its farming and maritime roots.
- Pickleball: This sport was invented here in 1965 by Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum.
- Orcas: On September 1, 2024, locals and ferry passengers witnessed a stunning sight as orcas played in Puget Sound, captured by Michael Cyger of BainbridgeIsland.com.
Adorable Coffee notebook by Flying Starfish Studios. If you're into journaling or organizing travel plans, check out Flying Starfish Studios for unique journals, notebooks, and planners.
We usually make our own coffee and favorite hiking snacks, but this time we’re getting coffee and pastries at the Starbucks drive-thru. We need to use our points and empty some gift cards we received during the holidays. I feel so lucky for this; small things make me happy!
We're also celebrating our baby’s birthday. Even though we’ve already celebrated his birthday in advance in Vancouver, Canada, we still feel like going out, so this is like a mini adventure birthday celebration for the family.
What to Do on Bainbridge Island in January with Little Kids
A day trip to Bainbridge Island with a baby means our itinerary is easy and breezy. We take our time exploring and don’t rush to see all the attractions. After having two kids, we learned that slow traveling suits us best. It’s a nice feeling not being in a hurry, allowing us to better immerse ourselves in the places we visit. As always, we like to start with a hike or an activity with lots of natural scenery. Then, we explore the town and find something to eat. Before leaving, we like to have some ice cream and pastries for the drive.
- Grand Forest West
- Address: Miller Road Northeast, Bainbridge Island, WA
- Free parking, but a small and limited parking area
Parking was full, so we drove a little bit away from the park sign and found street parking. This is also another entrance to the forest. From here, you can already see how beautiful the hike will be. The tall, mossy trees fill the trail, giving it a magical feeling of being somewhere special.
There were many hikers, but everyone had their own space. This is like a hidden gem of Bainbridge Island that only locals know about, or that experienced hikers and hiking enthusiasts would research. Make sure to take a picture of the map, as not all paths are marked. There are trail boards, but it’s easy to miss them when you’re preoccupied with a little one. I like the trail because it’s all dirt and unpaved. Oh, watch out for the tree roots, especially for the little ones. My little one loved this hike; it’s easy, and we all had a great time.
- Bloedel Reserve
- Address: 7571 NE Dolphin Dr, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
- Buy your admission tickets online ahead of time
Another beautiful place to visit is the Bloedel Reserve, a 140-acre botanical garden known for its calming forest trails.
How to Find Pia the Peacekeeper
- Sakai Park
- Address: 1560 Madison Ave N, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
- Free Parking
From the Sakai Park parking area, Pia is just a short walk away—there's no need to hike, as it’s literally near the parking area. I wish it were further, but this sculpture is huge, so I can’t imagine transporting it any further away. This is by far my favorite! The size is just spectacular and makes you feel small. It’s also the first troll we hunted as a family, so it's even more memorable. The best part of these public artworks by Thomas Dambo is that they're free!
Pia the Peacekeeper is the first troll we encountered, and we have actually hunted two more in the Seattle area: Bruu Udin and Frankie Feetflinter. It's a unique, must-try family experience in Seattle, Washington.
- Fay Bainbridge Park - Pirate ship playground
- Address: 15446 Sunrise Drive NE, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
If you have enough time, this is a great place to check out. It’s around 12-15 minutes away from Sakai Park. We wanted to go to Fay Bainbridge Park on the northeast corner of the island. They have a beautiful beach and a pirate ship playground, but we ran out of time. We went in January, and it was getting cold and a little bit dark. The little ones were tired too, which is why it’s important to start early.
- Hi Life
- Address: 220 Olympic Dr SE, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
- Pay for Parking or Street Parking at Winslow Way E
This place is small; you order at the counter and then either receive your meal there or have it served at your table. If you’re heading home and taking the ferry, this place is the perfect pit stop since it’s within walking distance of the Bainbridge Island Ferry terminal.
They’re known for their Poke “Sho Ka Do” Box, which includes eight types of poke: three varieties of ahi and salmon, one scallop, and one tako, along with an appetizer. It’s a lot of poke that can be shared among up to three people. We didn’t finish it, as we also ordered a salmon poke, which was good, but I realized I prefer my salmon unseasoned—it’s just personal preference. The creamy ramen was my favorite, made even better because our little one loved it! I feel like having the warm and creamy ramen altered our taste buds towards the poke bento, so maybe it’s better just to enjoy them separately. When we went home and ate the rest, it was delicious! Yes, we took it home; it’s winter, so it stayed cold in the bag.
We went walking around town and didn’t know that most establishments closed early. Be mindful of the time, especially in the winter; even on weekends, they close early.
There were many cool shops, interesting art galleries, plenty of unique souvenirs, and lots of dining options. The place reminds me of Port Orchard’s Downtown, small, beautiful and not too crowded.
Notable Places To Visit:
- Bainbridge Island Museum of Art
- Address:550 Winslow Way E, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
- Discover local artists, admire art displays and exhibits
- Bainbridge Island Historical Museum
- Address: 215 Ericksen Ave NE, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
- Learn the island's history and see some artifacts
- Pegasus Coffee House
- Address: 131 Parfitt Way, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
We needed some energy before going home, so we stopped at Pegasus. I got a matcha drink, and it was perfectly made—so tasty! Ever since our trip to Japan, I’ve been picky about matcha drinks. We also tried Dude’s donut, which I like a lot because it's baked and feels healthier than regular donuts.
This place was beautiful—the lighting, the walls, the furniture—it’s like a postcard coming to life. They say Pegasus was the first coffee roaster to serve espresso over the counter in the Seattle area back in the 1980s. This coffee shop has stood the test of time and is still brewing coffee, which is simply amazing. I'm drawn to small shops; the history even adds to their charm. Truly, it’s a gem of Bainbridge Island.
Where to Stay in Bainbridge Island
- Eagle Harbor Inn
- Address: 291 Madison Avenue South, Bainbridge Island, WA
We've heard great things about Eagle Harbor Inn. It's nice because it's only a one-minute walk from Pegasus Coffee Shop and just a seven-minute drive from the Bainbridge Island Ferry Terminal. We'll definitely stay here, because it's convenient to be in downtown and everything is easy to reach, especially since we have little kids. Next time, we'll try not to miss the shops closing, ahahaa.
- Island Cool Ice Cream
- Address: 139 Madrone Ln N, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
We discovered this fun ice cream shop, shining brightly amid the town's closed doors, and it felt like a beacon of hope. The strawberry ice cream was sensational! It was soft, creamy, and had just the right amount of sweetness. They offer gluten-free and dairy-free options and even have board games to keep the fun going.
- Coquette Bake Shop
- Address: 140 Winslow Way W, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
Initially, for dessert, I wanted to have French pastries at Coquette Bake Shop, but we didn’t check the time and completely missed them as they close at 4 p.m. Let me know in the comments below if they’re worth the hype.
A day trip to Bainbridge Island was incredibly refreshing, a perfect blend of outdoor adventures and delightful culinary finds.
Have fun and be safe ^__^
Explore Washington:
Do you want more adventure?
Where am I going next?
- For my next adventure, we’ll be exploring Singapore’s Flower Dome - Guinness World Record Holder for the Largest Glass Greenhouse!
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