Just a 35-minute ferry ride from downtown Seattle, Bainbridge Island offers a comfortable escape from the hordes, a place where yupster commuters retreat to rural waterside homes and retirees enjoy a peaceful escape from the workaday world. Over 20,000 folks call Bainbridge home today, and more move here every week.

On the west side of the island, Bainbridge Gardens (9415 Miller Rd. NE, 206/842-5888, www.bainbridgegardens.com) is a historic nursery with unusual trees, theme gardens, and a nature trail. The café has cuisine from a wood-fired oven and espresso.

Getting to Bainbridge Island

The Washington State Ferry ($14.45 one-way car and driver, $6.25 motorcycle and driver, $6.70 extra passengers and walkers, $6.25 extra kayaks, $1 extra bikes) provides service between downtown Seattle and Winslow on Bainbridge Island every 50 minutes throughout the day. The crossing takes 35 minutes.

The Seattle–Bainbridge route is the busiest ferry run in Washington—over six million riders each year. Be ready for long delays—especially in the summer—if you're traveling on Friday evenings from Seattle to Bainbridge, and on Sunday evenings back to Seattle. Avoid the wait by leaving your car behind and taking the bus.

Kitsap Transit (206/373-2877 or 800/501-7433, www.kitsaptransit.org) provides daily service around Bainbridge Island and the Kitsap Peninsula and meets all state ferries in Winslow. All buses have bike racks.

Tours of Bainbridge and surrounding areas are offered by Taxis & Tours (206/842-7660, $35 per hour, two hours minimum).