6 Best Sights in Bainbridge Island, The Puget Sound Islands

This 150-acre internationally recognized preserve is a stunning mix of natural woodlands and beautifully landscaped gardens—including a moss garden, a Japanese garden, a reflection pool, and the impressive former Bloedel estate home. Dazzling rhododendrons and azaleas bloom in spring, and Japanese maples colorfully signal autumn's arrival. Picnicking and pets are not permitted. Timed tickets can be reserved in advance.

Twice a year (the second weekend in August and the first weekend in December), the island's artists and craftspeople put their best pieces on display for these three-day events, and you can buy anything from watercolors to furniture directly from the artists. Even if you can't make the official studio tours, check out the website, which has maps and information on studios and shops throughout the island, as well as links to artists' websites. Many of the shops have regular hours, and you can easily put together your own tour.

Under cooperative ownership and led by women, this longtime certified-organic winery 5 miles from the ferry landing produces around 1,200 cases a year from entirely island-grown varietals that thrive in the Puget Sound region. The winemakers compare their offerings to those that come from the Alsace or Loire Valley in France—on the light and fruity side—and you can enjoy a tasting of four pours for $18 on the winery's lovely sun-dappled patio. Kids will want to say hi to the draft horses that help till the fields. The tasting room is open Thursday to Sunday from noon to 5 pm.

A boutique winery with stylish coastal decor, Fletcher Bay focuses on Bordeaux grapes along with Tempranillo and Sangiovese sourced from Washington State's Yakima and Walla Walla valleys. The casual, dog-friendly winery, set in the Coppertop Business Park, has a kids’ play area, an enclosed patio with a fireplace and heat lamps, and live music every Wednesday evening. There's also a tasting room right in town ( 500 Winslow Way E) and a rooftop wine garden above it, with live music Sunday evenings.

On the southwest side of the island is this lovely and tranquil 137-acre park. There are 2 miles of hiking trails through forest, a long stretch of (sometimes) sun-drenched rocky beach, a dozen picnic tables, a boat launch, and even an underwater park for scuba diving. Along with views of the water and the Olympic Mountains, you might be lucky and get a peek of Mt. Rainier—or of the massive sea lions that frequent the near-shore waters. A loop trail through the park is suitable for all ability levels, and will take you past vestiges of the park's previous life as a military installation.

One of six giant trolls handmade from recycled materials by artist Thomas Dambo now lives in Bainbridge's Sakai Park, a little more than a mile off Highway 305 and eight minutes by car (about 30 minutes on foot) from the ferry terminal. Like the other five trolls in the Puget Sound area (Vashon Island, West Seattle, Issaquah, and Ballard) and Portland, Pia was built on-site in 2023 and will be there through at least 2026 but probably many years more. Her eyes are especially enchanting (and peaceful!). If you're into geocaching, look for the Adventure Lab that leads from the art museum to the Pia.