We found a sweet little breakfast spot just up the hill from our hotel, called Bang Bang Cafe and enjoyed a couple of breakfast burritos there, as well as coffee and scones.
It was very good, so we ate there twice and enjoyed it both times! After a hearty breakfast, it was time to hit Bainbridge Island for a little exploring.
We hopped on the ferry and headed over, with blue skies all around. The ferries around Seattle are so much fun. We are definitely not used to traveling by ferry in Alabama, but out there, it’s a necessity. They drive their cars on the ferry and take off for land.
These ferries are huge and spacious and you can sit outside in the sea breeze or head inside where it’s warmer and less gusty.
With a look back at the city, we were on our way across the water. It’s about a 30 minute trip by ferry. 
And a beautiful sea-faring city it it! 
Nice and peaceful, the journey is that. 
We decided to rent a couple of bikes to take a tour of the island, which is just over 10 miles long. We were ambitious, even after we heard about the hills. You definitely need a bike with gears for this trip, but even though we are middle-aged folks, we huffed a bit and made it pretty well. Even if we did have to stop and rest pretty frequently. 🙂 I think the young guy that rented the bikes to us had a few doubts on our ability to conquer the hills. And conquer we did! 
I had to do some fast shooting with my point and shoot to get a few house shots, as stopping for real estate pics is not high on my hub’s list. This one I loved! 
Many of them are tucked away in the evergreens and you can’t see them all that well. 
But, they are beautiful coastal homes.
We stopped for lunch at this lovely little cafe, which was also a garden center. 
Cute spot and exactly what you’d picture on an island like Bainbridge. 
We sat out under the trees on a picnic table and ate our lunch. 
Hot and fresh paninis were delish!
I took some shots of the garden center too. As I mentioned, the gardens in the Seattle area are just amazing. With all that rain, they can grow some stuff out there in the Northwest! That part is envious. 
The flowers and foliage are breath-taking. So after about a 3-4 hour bike trip, we were tired and ready to head back to rest. We didn’t get to the little town of Winslow, but I’ve heard it’s really special too. We rode past the shops, but didn’t stop at any of them. 
We hopped back on the ferry for the ride back over to Seattle.
Seeing this beautiful view on the way back. Can you imagine living here?
What gorgeousness surrounding them from all sides. 
So, so pretty it all is. We worked up an appetite with all that bike riding (and a few aches and pains too).
So, we spotted Ivars Fish Bar on the way back and stopped in for some fish and chips. 
And some seagull watching. They encourage folks to feed the seagulls here, which might not be the best idea. 
The fish and chips was really delicious too. I ate every morsel and enjoyed it a lot. 
It was fun watching the birds too. They must be so used to getting fed, they practically sit on your table waiting. 
And staring at your food. Sort of like your dog does. 🙂
We didn’t feed them, but plenty of folks did. 
We also managed to find a gelato place and had it 2 nights in a row. I’m a HUGE gelato fan. That Stracciatella up there is one of my all time faves. 
Another pretty sunset in Seattle. Thank you, Lord, for the beauty of your creation.
You can definitely see we had some great weather while we were there and for that I’m grateful! Many of you that live out there mentioned that it’s already gone and the gloomy weather is back. SO glad we experienced some sunshine!
One more post is coming on the whale watching tour.
Great pictures. So glad you had great weather and such a great time. I lived in the Northwest for 18 years, it really is beautiful. Hugs, Marty
You photos are beautiful! What a wonderful trip.
We spent a week on Bainbridge Island two years ago. It was absolutely wonderful! I so enjoyed our trips over to Seattle. The flowers in the market were the biggest bouquets I’d ever seen. I would love to have the selection of fresh fish in our local markets ~ thanks for the happy memories
Jo
what breathtaking scenery, just like out of a book. You can eat all the food guilt free with all the bike riding, I’m impressed!
Can’t wait to see your whale post, they are such fascinating creatures.
Judy
Wow! What beautiful pictures! I have never been to Seattle but I would love to go! And those fish and chips just look yummy! Great post!!!! : )
I am so glad you had wonderful weather! Your pictures are beautiful! I am so glad you shared them with us. It does look like a splended place to live.
Thank you for sharing your photos with us! What a beautiful place!
Wow! You were indeed blessed with great weather.
Great pictures too, they were making me home sick as
I scrolled thru each one.
Thanks for sharing.
You teased us with those few photos from the Ranch…but it’s awesome to see all these photos from Seattle, too!!!
WOW! Your camera is awesome! Such clarity, such color……even you food shots (which are notoriously difficult to photograph) are amazing….panini, fishNchips, GELATO………………………wish I could just jump through the computer screen and get a scoop or two of that gelato and the photo quality’s so good and clear it looks like I can do just that!
Your bike ride on the island reminds me of mine on an island off of Maine called Arcadia National Park……fun, but work, too!!
Well, I’ll run!
Thanks SO MUCH for sharing your wonderful adventures with us! I’m stuck at home with a bum knee so am enjoying vicariously your trips. I hope to be “up and at ’em” soon to go to Bald Head Island in NC in two weeks, though!!
Blessings/hugs,
L
That last pic of the sunset is so familiar to me over the west coast. Beautiful country isn’t it?
Love,
Susan and Bentley
xxoo
What beautiful photos! I love the Seattle area. I’m glad you were able to take a few shots of those homes; how gorgeous.
The food photos were so colorful and yummy. Gelato is a fav of mine.
Blessings,
Debbie
Everything looks so bright, beautiful, clean and fresh there! Your photos are great, and I love seeing the homes in different areas.. those ones were gorgeous! Nice job on the bike ride, I would never have made it…
Flick 🙂
Aren’t you just a little photo bug?? Such beautiful pictures!!
(Amen to thanking the Lord for His wondrous creations! I always try to take time and let His wonderment amaze me…{I think my favorite creation is the pansy flower}).
Thanks for the picturesque tour!…You’re GREAT!!
What a wonderful getaway!!
I love your destination too!!
I agree the ferry’s are so much fun to experience!!
Have a blessed 4th of July too:)
Kay Ellen
This sounds like so much fun and your pictures are wonderful! What a great trip!
xo, Sherry
I used to live in Seattle. Thanks for sharing your trip! Bainbridge Island is one of my faves (and I have family there) and it’s too bad you didn’t stop in Winslow. Super cute town. And Ivar’s! Haven’t been to one in years 🙂
I just have to say that these pictures of my *neck of the woods* are fantastic and make me want to get out more. Ivars has been our family favorite and we still salivate enroute to the pier to have those fish and chips. It was a huge mourning when Ivar died in the Seattle area.
I am lucky that we were raised sailing the San Juans as my father can’t live without a boat. We kept our boat at Roche Harbor on San Juan Island a very lovely quaint must see Harbor only 1/2 hr from Friday Harbor. While flying up to the boat one weekend we spotted the whales and flew in circles around them, what an awesome experience it must have been to be right down there with them. I have learned from you things I need to tell guests to do. Thank you again for making me appreciate what we forget that we have here…it is suppose to be in the 80’s next week, the whole Puget Sound Area is giddy!
How funny. I did used to live there. We moved last August after spending 6 years on Bainbridge. It was very beautiful but we much prefer the climate of Sonoma County. But the thrifting on Bainbridge is incredible. At least the yard sales. How wonderful to see my old home through your eyes.