One of my favorite places near Seattle is Bainbridge Island, and I always recommend that if you’re visiting the city to be sure to pay Bainbridge a visit. It’s a short 30 minute ferry ride from downtown and it’s a fabulous foodie destination. You can walk on the ferry (no need for a car), and the views of Mt. Rainer, the city and the water are speculator and you can actually enjoy them even on a cloudy day. Downtown Bainbridge is a just quick 5 minute walk from the ferry terminal and boasts plenty of restaurants, bakeries and wine tasting rooms!

I love the eleven winery, it’s a small husband and wife team, their tasting room offers great pours and delicious wines, plus they give all their after tax profits to charity. They also serve their “Sweet Sarah” port in these really cool (and most importantly, delicious!) chocolate cups.

Chocolate wine tasting cups! Chocolate + wine = Genius!

Downtown Bainbridge is adorable with great shops and restaurants. I always stop at Mora ice cream for their famous “Dulce de Leche” ice cream. It’s worth the trip since Mora was actually named one of Food and Wine Magazine’s “Best Ice Cream in the US”.

Downtown Bainbridge Island, then back on the ferry to Seattle.