Molly Neary & Joanie Ransom
Windermere Real Estate / Bainbridge Island 
Bainbridge Island
[Marina View]
Eagle Harbor and the Seattle/Bainbridge ferry

Bainbridge Island is the epitome of the natural beauty you envision when you think of the Pacific Northwest. Yet, while taking pleasure in all the pluses of a small, rural community and the calm of island living, Seattle's vibrant downtown with its rich cultural features is literally minutes away.

Our goal is that people interested in Bainbridge Island and Seattle will have to look no further than this page to find information about this region of the Pacific Northwest; and will have a pretty fair idea about what is available within a two to three hour drive from Bainbridge.

Island Resources
Bainbridge residents comprise a diversified, multicultural community of young and old, professional and retired people who are passionately fond of their chosen home. An unusually high percentage of artists, writers, and musicians have chosen Bainbridge as a place to work and live, bringing a rich cultural heritage to the island.

    Island Photos
    Island living tends to foster a strong sense of place and an even deeper sense of community that creates a friendliness and mutual caring which goes beyond one's normal expectations.
    Working and Playing in Seattle
    Many island residents work -- and play -- in Seattle. They enjoy the ultimate commute to the downtown area: instead of driving on increasingly crowded freeways, they take a scenic, 35-minute ferry ride and walk to their offices.

    Ferry Schedule
    The Washington State auto/passenger ferries run approximately every 45 minutes with only a very late-night three-hour break between 2:30 and 5:30 a.m.
    Schools
    The Bainbridge public schools are widely respected, with notable academic standards and a reputation for caring well for children of all abilities. The district encourages parental involvement and has a well-supported, active volunteer program. It is a growing district with three elementary schools, one middle school, one intermediate school, and one high school. There is also a choice of Montessori schools, other early-learning opportunities, and several excellent private schools.

    Island Lodging
    Overnight visitors have the choice of an abundance of delightful island B&Bs, a new motel, camping sites, or nearby accommodations in Poulsbo and Seattle.
    Island Dining
    Having worked for a food magazine years ago, I've decided to list only those restaurants that I have frequented, and enjoyed the fare and atmosphere. I also listed a few of my off-island favorites ... from Bremerton to Sequim.
    Business Services
    Here are some services, most of which are related to real estate, for which a newcomer to Bainbridge may have an immediate need; while my colleagues and I have had good experience with these providers, it by no means reflects on those not listed. You will find the resources for most day-to-day needs on the Island.
    Community Services
    There is a good choice of medical clinics and dentists, as well as chiropractic and other health-oriented practitioners. There is a strong and active seniors' organization and center, and extended care facilities. Government, service organizations, and community generosity provide us with our library, local assistance for people with special needs, historical museum, municipal court, island police force, and other supportive services.
    Churches
    The various religious communities on Bainbridge Island offer residents a wide choice for their religious preferences. The contributions of these communities to the quality of life on the island has long been part of our rich cultural heritage.
    Sports and Fitness Facilities
    Bainbridge has two golf clubs: Wing Point, a private golf and country club, has a challenging 18-hole course, and also includes an outdoor swimming pool and tennis courts, plus year-round social activities and dining at the clubhouse. Meadowmeer, located on a ridge near the center of the island, is a public nine-hole course with Olympic Mountain views. Bainbridge Island Racquet Club, a private indoor tennis facility, adjoins Meadowmeer Colf Course.
    Equestrian Activities
    The rural setting also makes horseback riding a popular activity, with a Pony Club, riding facilities and trail systems well supported. Breeding, boarding, training and veterinarian services are all available on the island.
    Boating and Moorage
    The island lends itself to sailing, power boating, sea-kayaking, canoeing and rowing in the waters around Bainbridge. Yacht clubs, moorage facilities, and a ship's chandlery on the island support the yachtsman.
    Outdoor Activities
    Opportunities for all other northwest outdoor activities abound: stream, lake and saltwater fishing are close at hand. The Olympic and Cascade mountains are handy to Bainbridge for outdoor enthusiasts who want vertical challenges for their biking, jogging, hiking and climbing pursuits.
Maps, Climate & History
Bainbridge Island is located in Puget Sound, eight miles due west of downtown Seattle, and about five miles southeast of downtown Poulsbo on the Kitsap Peninsula.

The topography of the island and its surrounding waterways was carved out by receding glaciers some 10,000 years ago; they left an island with five harbors and 14 points of land jutting into the coastal waters surrounding the island. Each point creates a shelf where food fish congregate and attract salmon. The fresh water runoff from streams and rivers mixes with saltwater (becomes brackish), preventing the corrosive atmosphere common to many islands in the Pacific.
    Island Maps
    Use Yahoo!'s map making tool to create your own map of Bainbridge Island, which you may then print out on your printer. You may also request a large four-color map of the entire island.
    Our Climate
    The Bainbridge climate is similar to that of Seattle. Summer temperatures average in the mid-70's (F) and occasionally climb to the low 90's. In winter the average temperature is 42 degrees. Rainfall is approximately 29 inches per year; snowfall averages about eight inches per year. The growing season is approximately 180 days.

    If you like, you can check out today's forecast.
    Our Tides
    Tidal changes in the Puget Sound effect coastal moorage and the availability of beaches for clamming and beach walks. Knowing the tides is as important for some of our residents as knowing the weather.
    History of Bainbridge Island
    Today's Bainbridge Island community has evolved from an early history of timber harvesting, shipbuilding, berry farms, and summer waterfront cottages, to a year-round population of people who are sensitive to their rural beauty and island heritage.
Villages and Neighborhoods
The following is a list of many of our older neighborhoods, each instilled with a unique personality. Many contain homes remaining from old waterfront villages that relied on sea captains for news and as a means to sell their harvests or visit friends in other parts of the island.
    Northwest Sector
    This part of the island is known for its warm western sun and majestic view of the Olympic Mountains. It is favored for its good farming, clam-filled beaches and rich salmon fishing. It is here that the Agate Passage bridge provides a land link to the Kitsap and Olympic peninsulas.

      Agate Point
      Arrow Point
      Battle Point
      Fletcher Bay
      Island Center
      Manzanita Bay
      Meadowmeer
      Seabold
      Tolo
      Venice
    Northeast Sector
    Home to historic Port Madison with its 19th century homes, plenty of protected deepwater moorage, and summer sailing classes, this area features glorious sunrises and is surrounded by bays, passages, and inlets.

      Ferncliff
      Hidden Cove
      Manitou Beach
      Point Monroe
      Port Madison
      Rolling Bay
      Skiff Point
      West Port Madison
    Southwest Sector
    This part of Bainbridge is noted for its no-bank and low-bank waterfront along Rich Passage, historic beach cottages, and its exposure to the low-lying afternoon winter sun.

      Crystal Springs
      Fort Ward
      Lynwood Center
      Pleasant Beach
      Westwood
      Point White
    Southeast Sector
    Home to the village of Winslow and the ferry terminal, and boasting the island's most spectacular views of downtown Seattle, this area has been the center of village life on the island since the mid-1800's. Many of the island's oldest homes are clustered around Eagle and Blakely Harbors, in close proximity to these two historically "working" harbors.

      Bill Point
      Creosote
      Eagledale
      Blakely Harbor
      Rockaway Beach
      South Beach
      West Blakely
      Wing Point
      Winslow
      Yeomalt
Points of Interest
In addition to the spectacular views afforded to an island traveler, there is an extensive park system, top-notch wines, organic farm produce, challenging bicycling, an historical museum, Grand Forest and the Bloedel Reserve; all packed into 40 square miles.

    Downtown Winslow
    Winslow, emanating charm and history, is the main town on the island, and within walking distance of the ferry terminal. Although outlying neighborhood centers shouldn't be missed, the majority of the island's retail shops and excellent restaurants are located in or near Winslow.
    Bainbridge Island Winery
    Bainbridge Island Winery is just off Highway 305 on Day Road East. It offers walking tours, a museum, wine tasting, and sales of German-style wines. It is open Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 5:00 p.m.
    Bainbridge Parks
    Three popular parks are on the waterfront, Fay Bainbridge and Fort Ward State Parks, as well as Winslow's Waterfront Park. Interior favorites include Gazzam Lake, Strawberry Hill, Battle Point, Island Center, and Meigs Parks. Administered by the local Park District, these locations offer arts and recreation classes; baseball and soccer fields, tennis courts, picnic sites and playgrounds for all ages.
    Bloedel Reserve
    The Bloedel Reserve was for years the private summer retreat of one of the northwest's major timber families. The Bloedel home and guest house, along with its remarkable 150-acre international specimen garden and wildlife habitat, is now open to the public. Reservations should be made, as visitors are limited in order to preserve tranquility on the grounds. The Bloedel Reserve is arguably the greatest unheralded gem of the island.
    Bainbridge Gardens
    Bainbridge (Harui) Gardens is a large plant nursery and specimen collection with a history special to Bainbridge Island. It was overgrown and almost lost during the period of Japanese-American internment; but now, Junkoh Harui has reclaimed his father's life's work and restored a piece of Bainbridge heritage.
    Experience the Schooner Adventuress
    Mission: "Sound Experience sails the historic schooner Adventuress to help people discover Puget Sound and learn from its majesty and vulnerability. Whether you are aboard Adventuress for a day sail or a week long trip through the San Juan Islands, you will find out what we mean when we say that the ship is a metaphor for the Earth: a closed system that requires understanding and care, and sails best when all aboard are working together. Our focus is educational because we believe that people will protect what they learn to value. As they voyage through the Puget Sound basin, Sound Experience participants are encouraged to realize their interdependence with the ship, the natural environment and each other. They see how their daily behavior makes a difference. And they respond with a growing spirit of cooperation, community, stewardship and responsibility."

    Historical Museum
    This museum is located in an old schoolhouse in downtown winslow behind Bainbridge Performing Arts. The museum showcases and preserves the island's fascinating history.

    Islandwood Environmental Learning Center
     Located on 255 acres on Bainbridge Island, the Puget Sound Environmental Learning Center (PSELC) is a new non-profit educational resource for the Puget Sound region offering ecologically-based science and humanities day programs in an outdoor setting.

 

The Surrounding Area
Bainbridge Island is at the hub of the maritime Northwest. Within easy reach is skiing in the Cascade or Olympic mountains, combing the Pacific Ocean beaches, weekends in the San Juan Islands, or visits to Victoria and Vancouver in Canada.
    Seattle and Vicinity
    Most island residents become thoroughly familiar with all Seattle has to offer -- the full gamut of musical offerings from grunge to opera, an abundance of theaters, galleries and museums, major sports teams, vital downtown core shopping, excellent schools and universities. This is a thriving, growing city that is only 35 minutes by ferry from Bainbridge.
    Kitsap Peninsula
    Surrounded by the shellfish-rich Hood Canal and Puget Sound, the peninsula offers views of the Olympics so breathtaking, you feel as if you are at the base of the mountains. Naval bases on the peninsula are just a short drive from Bainbridge Island, a plus for retired military personnel who wish to take advantage of their commissary and medical perquisites.
    Olympic Peninsula
    Embraced on three sides by sea water, this peninsula is noted for Victorian Port Townsend, the protected inland sea of Hood Canal, the vast wilderness of the Olympic Mountains and rain forest, and the coastal zone of the Pacific.
    Port Townsend
    Rich in history, this city's economic vitality has come full circle. Marine trades have once again become the focus of major development, and the city has gained an international reputation as a builder of wooden sailing vessels. If you enjoy Victorian homes and 1880's brick and stone public and commercial buildings, the 44-mile trip takes you over the Hood Canal and through pastoral valleys for a one-hour drive.
    San Juan Islands
    Almost half of these 457 islands are large enough to have been named, and they have been a spectacular boating and touring destination for decades. They are home to numerous pods of Orca "killer" whales, boast 15 peaks over 1,000 feet, and take years to explore.
    Vancouver, British Columbia
    An entirely different experience from Victoria, sophisticated and cosmopolitan Vancouver is endowed with one of the world's most memorable settings. It has become such an international city that English is now the first language in less than half of Vancouver's homes.
    Victoria, British Columbia
    This more-British-than-Britain city can be accessed so easily from Bainbridge that our students take day trips there. Everything that you have ever heard about the pride homeowners take in their gardens is absolutely true -- there's no place quite like Victoria in the Spring.
If you haven't done so already, you might want to take a few moments and check out Island Events.

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Last updated: 1/11/2006

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