Taking The Ferry From Seattle to the 2nd Best Place to Live in America: Bainbridge Island

Above we have just left the Coleman Ferry Dock on the downtown Seattle Waterfront, heading across Elliot Bay to Bainbridge Island.

Bainbridge Island is about 10 miles long and 5 miles wide, covering around 17,778 acres, making it one Puget  Sound's larger islands.

The city of Bainbridge Island took over the entire island on February 28, 1991, gobbling up the city of Winslow. Somewhere around 23,380 people live on Bainbridge Island ,with many of the residents commuting to Seattle to work, on a 35 minute ferry ride.

Bainbridge Island is connected to the Kitsap Peninsula by a bridge carrying State Route 305 over Agate Passage. The only other public transportation way off the island is via a Washington State Ferry taking you from Winslow in Eagle Harbor to Coleman Dock in Seattle.

Bainbridge island is very hilly. Every February, since 1975, the Pacific Northwest biking season kicks off on the island with the "Chilly Hilly" bicycle ride.

In 2005 CNN and Money magazine picked Bainbridge Island as the 2nd Best Place to Live in America.

Below is a YouTube video showing you some of the ferry ride to Bainbridge Island. You'll see the ferry leave Coleman Dock, with a very good look at the Seattle Waterfront and skyline, including the Space Needle, a Crusie Ship, the Seahawk Stadium and the Mariner's Safeco Field Ballpark. In the video I don't think we make it out of Elliot Bay, let alone all the way to Bainbridge Island. Towards the end of the video you will see a seagull flirting for food with ferry passengers....