Back to Travel

Vashon Island

A quirky but fun experience

The Keepers’ Quarters are available for vacation rentals at Point Robinson Park on Vashon Island. Photo credit: Michael Cleveland

Email Article Print Article Share on Facebook Share on Reddit Share on StumbleUpon

On a recent Saturday morning, I traveled to Vashon Island with the family. Within five minutes, we had met a woman who ventured down the Yukon River with her husband and a gaggle of dachshunds. We also experienced our first "Black Lives Matter" protest. That is just the kind of place Vashon Island is.

We choose to take the ferry from Southworth, which puts you out near our first stop - Vashon Village. It is a quick trip with barely enough time to get out of the car. The round-trip fare was $29.50 for one car and four people, and you can leave from two different terminals.

Washington state ferry Info: sdot.com/ferries/schedule

On Saturdays, the Vashon Island Farmers Market, located at the Vashon Village Green, is a hub of activity with a mix of live music, farm booths and interesting people selling interesting things.  My first purchase of the day was the book Dachshund Tales, Down the Yukon, by Marilyn Cochran Mosley, who signed the book for our dachshund, Sam.

Vashon Island Farmers Market, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday; Wednesdays starting June 21, 3-6 p.m., 17519 Vashon Hwy. SW, Vashon, vigavashon.org

From the farmers market, we headed down the street into Vashon Village and encountered a "Black Lives Matter" protest, which was very peaceful and more like a gathering of Grateful Dead fans. It had its own Vashon Island vibe and was a great opportunity to teach our children about the First Amendment. Continuing into the village, a must-stop is the Vashon Island Baking Company.  I haven't had a croissant that good since I was in Paris, France - they really are that good.  The company also offers a unique take on the hot dog with its croissant dog, which was a hit with our group.

Vashon Island Baking Company, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday-Sunday;  7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, 17506 Vashon Hwy. SW, Vashon, 206.463.1441, vashonislandbakingco.com

Next up was Point Robinson Park, which overlooks the East Passage and sits at the end of a road. A short walk from the parking lot brings you to a sandy and rocky beach that lines the point.  On a sunny day, you can see Tacoma and Mount Rainier.  The park has several historic buildings including a lighthouse and two keepers' quarters, which are available as rentals. Proceeds contribute to the park's maintenance and restoration. During the summer, lighthouse tours are available on Sundays, and the Ship's Store Gift Shop is open on Saturdays and Sundays. Insider Tip: The gate opens at 8 a.m. for the road into the park, but if you are walking, the park opens at dawn. The quarters are a great option for a beach getaway without a long drive.

Point Robinson Park, dawn to dusk, daily, 3705 SW Point Robinson Rd., Vashon, lodging manager, 206.465.3180, vashonparks.org

A few miles down the road is Maury Island Marine Park. It is a little over a half-mile hike from the parking lot to the waterfront, and it is steep, which makes for a tough hike out. There was a recent landslide across the trail that requires a climb over a berm of trees and dirt, but I saw people of all fitness levels scrambling across. On a sunny day, it is worth the hike for the incredible views. Note: There are no restroom facilities either at the parking lot or down at the beach.

Maury Island Marine Park, dawn to dusk, daily, 5405 SW 244th St., Dockton, 206.296.0100

You can't go to Vashon Island without finding the old bicycle in a tree. Surprisingly, it is number five on the list of things to do on Vashon Island, according to Trip Advisor. It is a rusted bicycle that a tree has grown around and there is not much left of it, but it is worth a quick stop.  Half the fun is trying to find it. Listed below is the address, and good luck on your search.

Old Bicycle in a Tree, 20200 Vashon Hwy. SW, Vashon

With all the hiking and then hunting for a rusted bicycle, we worked up quite an appetite.  In a family with two teenage boys, that means burgers, which they would eat every meal if I let them.  Zombiez in the Vashon Village was the choice. They like to say they are more Scooby-Doo than Walking Dead. The boys, of course, had burgers while I chose an excellent chicken salad.  There are daily specials, and all the seasonings and sauces are house-made.  The restaurant uses local ingredients and makes all its sausage, chorizo and corned beef, and smokes its own BBQ and jerk meats.

Zombiez, 10 am. to 8 p.m., Wednesday-Sunday, 17705 Vashon Hwy. SW, Vashon, 206.463.7777

With full bellies, it was time to head home.  We drove to the opposite end of the island to the Tahlequah terminal.  The ferry took us to Point Defiance, and after a short drive, we were back to Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

Read next close

Online Newspapers

A general center of support

comments powered by Disqus