Just a 35-minute ride on a fantastic ferry from the edge of downtown Seattle, lies the magical Bainbridge Island – the only place in the world that I enjoy driving! The town is SMART – no chain stores, only individually owned shops and cafes, and is very walkable. With a car you can take the roads slowly, for hours, through trees galore with peeks of Puget Sound at every turn. (OK, a mile north, three chain stores got let in, ick). There is still a range of housing, though less since A**zon built it’s ridiculous facility in Seattle and ruined both towns. There also used to be a real mix of bohemians, families of 8 children, and high-tech daily commuters via ferry, but artsy folk are getting well priced out. Still has a terrific local live-stage theatre, and is know as the GARDENING center of the PNW – with three fantastic nurseries serving this community of 23,000!
- Bainbridge Island
- Washington