Bainbridge Island: Easy Ferry Day Trip for Seattle Families

What do you do when everyone else on social is posting vacation pics ... but your wallet’s looking empty?

You don’t have to go far to go big.

A cruise to a beautiful island is always in style. The best bargain around is a $9.85 Bainbridge Island getaway.

The island’s two claims to fame are that it’s where pickleball was invented and where Buy Nothing was founded. It’s also really pretty. The village of Winslow is an easy walk from the ferry terminal, and has everything you need for a lovely day out with the kids.

Kids love a ferry ride

At downtown Seattle’s Colman Dock, a new ferry terminal is in the works. The new passenger building, opened in November 2022, fully faces the water with 4,230 square feet of windows looking onto Elliott Bay and Seattle.  

The Seattle-to-Bainbridge ferry costs $9.85 for walk-on adults, and youths younger than 18 ride free. It’s a steal for the killer views of the Seattle skyline alone.

On the ferry, my family and I stood on the outdoor deck to watch the cars loading. A little boy counted them: “87, 88, 89 ...” Downtown Seattle slipped away, and then 35 minutes later, the ferry approached and docked at Bainbridge.

We looked and looked but did not see any orcas on the way over. A crewmember told me that when orcas are spotted, everyone on the boat runs over for a look and you can actually feel the boat lean.

Where to play

Your first stop on Bainbridge should be the Kids Discovery Museum, which is located a half-block from the ferry terminal. The sweet spot for this children’s museum is ages 2–8, although more than one adult has been caught playing with the Lite-Brite wall upstairs. Admission to KiDiMu, as it’s familiarly called, is $9 for adults and children older than age 1. Babies enter free.

Don’t miss KiDiMu’s neighbor, the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art, where admission is always free. It’s a beautifully curated space and the price is right.

The playgrounds on Bainbridge are fantastic. If you drive on, make sure you hit Fay Bainbridge Park and Battle Point Park (there’s something really cool here). The phenomenal and inclusive Owen’s Playground is either a very short drive or a very long walk (1.6 miles) from the Winslow ferry terminal.

There is a small playground in downtown Winslow, located right behind the Town & Country Market. It’s fully gated, and has a set of swings and a play structure for ages 2–5. From the playground, it’s just a few steps down to Eagle Harbor, where you can walk out onto the dock. We even saw a heron!

Window shopping Winslow

We love wandering through Winslow’s charming shopping district. Eagle Harbor Book Co. has a large children’s section, and my kids were delighted to find the newest “Magic Tree House” book.

And we always stop to browse the creative and fun toys at Calico Toy Shoppe.

Exploring belly-first

The best way to explore Winslow, of course, is with your stomach. We ate our way down Winslow Way — and we have no regrets. Have the kids bring their Tooth Fairy money and let them pick out little treats (and practice math skills).

We started at Bon Bon Candies, where we were greeted with the magical words, “Would you like a sample of our fudge?” The fudge is island-made and delicious.

The kids picked out scones and a window booth at Blackbird Bakery. Our next stop was the all-important Mora Iced Creamery, where samples are back! Mora has an entire section of the menu devoted to chocolate flavors. These are my kind of people.

At the end of downtown Winslow, check out Proper Fish, tucked just around the corner on Madison Avenue South. It’s a kid-friendly hole-in-the-wall serving up fish and chips on newsprint.

If you need more fuel, hit up the excellent deli section at Town & Country Market. The second-floor dining area with a view of Winslow Way is the perfect place to have a low-key lunch without worrying about kids having to be “good” at a restaurant.