Why do we love Bainbridge Island, WA? It’s the kind of place where you can live your whole life and see something new every day. We all have a variety of priorities: peace, comfort, community, creativity, growth, etc., and we strive for our environment to reflect these priorities. We are on a quest to find the perfect place to settle, where we can spend our precious time, surrounded by the kind of people and landscapes that resonate with us.

But you already know all this! That’s why you’ve decided to find your new home on Bainbridge Island. Here’s how I believe Bainbridge Island can meet all of your needs and more:

Bainbridge Island is a wonderfully diverse place

Bainbridge Island combines its rural, commercial and cultural charms to create a unique experience that offers everything a person could wish for. It’s covered in lush greenery and forests, and where the trees are thinnest, majestic Puget Sound can be seen shimmering in the distance. The trees are dotted with the occasional bald eagle nest, and the patient whale watcher will be rewarded with a unique sight of killer whales leaping in the distance. The radiant colors of the famous Bainbridge Gardens change with the seasons, providing the perfect retreat for nature lovers.

The wide selection of local businesses among the abundant commercial areas provides all the standard amenities, with an elegant touch of class and a dedicated focus on the community. With access to one of the most popular waterways in the country, canoeing, kayaking, sailing, or cruising the waters on an Argosy boat is just a stone’s throw away. The Bainbridge Island Parks and Recreation District maintains more than 1,400 acres of parkland, providing more than 23 miles of hiking trails and many volunteer opportunities.

Art lovers and skilled craftsmen will appreciate Bainbridge Seattle’s active arts scene. Budding cosmopolitans will enjoy a stroll through the shops of the historic district, downtown Winslow, to experience a bit of cultural charm. Nothing explains the importance of the Bainbridge Island community more than the Bainbridge Community Foundation, a non-profit philanthropic organization dedicated to community fundraising and grant-making to improve life on Bainbridge Island. It is obvious that Bainbridge Island, WA has a tight-knit community of passionate people, all working together for the benefit of their peers and their environment.

The Bainbridge Island School District is one of the best in the state, with higher-than-average test scores and an admirable graduation rate. Public schools are available to all grade levels, while high schools and private schools provide more options for parents dedicated to finding the perfect school for their children.

It’s hard to believe that so much culture and experience can be brought together on one island, but Bainbridge Island has it all. As if that wasn’t enough, just off Bainbridge Island are some of the most incredible places in the country.

Seattle is right next door

Just 35 minutes by ferry outside of Bainbridge Island is Seattle, the Emerald City itself. Seattle has always been a center of culture and industry, with a steady supply of jobs from heavy construction to cutting edge computer technology. Seattle has earned a reputation as a haven for creative thinkers, and many of Seattle’s creative thinkers quit work and board a Bainbridge-Seattle ferry to Bainbridge Island, where their peaceful home awaits them. Seattle has been named the most educated city in the US, and most of all adults over the age of 25 have a college degree.

Seattle attracts a host of colorful people, devoted environmentalists, and quirky thinkers. For Bainbridge Island residents, Seattle can provide a workplace, creative and social fuel for the aspiring entrepreneur, or just a nice place to visit on the weekends. Whether you commute to Seattle or not, having such a rich treasure trove of shops, rides, industry, and restaurants on hand is an undeniable advantage of living in the Pacific Northwest.

When you think you’ve had your fill of the big city and need a quiet getaway, there’s no better place to be than the Pacific Northwest. Perhaps it is time to visit the impressive Olympic Peninsula.

Hiking through the Olympic National Forest

The Olympic Peninsula, home to the Olympic National Forest, is just an hour’s drive west of Bainbridge Island. Washington state has three national parks, nine national forests, and 100 state parks, but the Olympic Peninsula contains some of the most spectacular sights in the country. Backpacking through the lush wilderness is like therapy for the soul. The Hoh Rainforest, a moss-covered patch of centuries-old trees dating back more than 500 years, has been named the quietest place on earth, the most free from man-made noise. The peninsula also features beaches and tide pools, which stretch far enough to accommodate a multi-day backpacking trip along the coast, surrounded by nothing but pristine nature.

A vacation on the Olympic Peninsula is enough to calm even the most tense workaholic. The centuries-old forests and vast landscapes will lull the most fragile soul into a warm and peaceful state. This peace emanates from the region and seeps into the hearts and minds of all residents of the Pacific Northwest. This unique, nature-oriented mindset has shaped the entire Bambridge Island community, creating a strong cultural neighborhood that goes above and beyond to meet the needs of all residents and visitors.

These are just a few of the reasons we love Banbridge Island. If you’d like to learn more, feel free to peruse the community links below. Otherwise I guess you have to see it to believe it.