i’m also trying to figure out if it’s worth it to take a car… i’m leaning towards just doing the walkon ferry – unless someone can convince me otherwise?

Hi Stacy,

The walk on ferry is convenient, but bus service mainly just runs down the main highway. You might think about bringing a bike if you want to get around a bit more without a car. The hill from the North end ferry dock is pretty steep. You might want to “cheat” by having loading your bike on the bus if the timing is convenient. Then you can have a walk around town center.

I’d recommend walking some of the beaches and trails. KVI beach is the only beach with “sand” but there are lots of other places you can go for a quite view of the water. Point Robinson has a lighthouse. Liza Buela has a rope swing (though I haven’t been there in a while). There are a couple of nice preserve areas that are open to the public – Wingehaven and Fern Cove are two of my favorites. Get a good map before you go (islanders aren’t known for giving great directions – we tend to expect visitors to know the landmarks.) Walking or riding “the Burton loop” – road or internal trails on the Burton peninsula – is one of my favorite things to do when I’m home.

Vashon also has a hostel if you’re thinking about an overnight. It’s a good idea to book ahead although now that it’s raining again, I wouldn’t expect the demand to be as high. It’s nice as hostels go. Best for people who appreciate the chance to sleep in a teepee or covered wagon. B&Bs are another option, but I can’t really recommend since I usually stay at my Mom’s.

Hope you have a great trip! : )

Hey, Stacy. I’m an island native. I really suggest going to KVI if you are interested in sandy beaches, a nice walk, and a nice dose of the stereotype of an island. There are Kyak rentals in the Burton Loop, along with Vashon’s oldest store, the Harbour Mercantile. The Bike Shop in town also offers cheep bike rentals and sales. I always love going to Point Robinson, where there is an infamous lighthouse, beautiful views, and wonderful beaches.

There’s a lot of quaint shops on the island. If you are looking for pricey but nice clothes, check out Constantinople in town. Thriftway is the top place for anything from groceries to christmas gifts. Cafe Luna is a wonderful coffee shop in town that you can get wonderful coffee and lots of good music.

I suggest you drive over, the hill is pretty hard to walk up, and the buses are a little unreliable. :D

Good luck!

For a daily updated view of what’s happening on Vashon, I highly recommend visiting VashonPages.Com. VashonMusic.Com, and the rest of their network of Vashon-related websites.

You can get a great idea of what’s going on before choosing to drive of walk-on.