A couple weeks ago, I celebrated my birthday on Bainbridge Island.

For a few blissful hours, I was on island time.

 

 The ferry to Bainbridge Island is a short passage, about 30 minutes.

And, for me and the Mr., the Bainbridge ferry was also the setting for our first date in 2005.

Once safely ensconced on the island, we headed to Bainbridge Organic Distillery. Our favorite sip, the bourbon, was sold out so I brought home a bottle of Elderberry tonic instead.

Next stop, Perennial Vitners, where it was raining. We sipped wine under a tent that looked out onto this peaceful setting, and bought a bottle of wine made from ‘melon‘ grapes.

And then, Bainbridge Vineyards. It was my birthday after all (but we did spit what we sipped). This was the spot where we went wine tasting on our first date when the winery was called Bainbridge Island Winery. Under new ownership, in the spiffed-up tasting room, we were pleased to find they were still making a few of our old favorites (with new labels).

Our last stop before heading back to Winslow, was Eleven Winery’s tasting room at the winery itself. Eleven Winery has–special–memories for us because I was in their Winslow Way tasting room in 2007 when we got the news our wedding officiate couldn’t make it to our wedding (with less than 3 hours to spare). The winery is nestled serenely in the middle of the island and, aside from delicious wine, has a few really cool vintage bicycles hanging on the walls. The winery’s name was inspired by the modern road bike whose smallest cog in the rear cluster has eleven teeth.

Back in downtown Winslow, with time to spare before our dinner reservation, we headed to Island Vintners for an appetizer and (dare I say it) another wine tasting, followed by a lovely walk as we meandered up and down Winslow Way, checking out a few of the arty frogs painted by local artists (Frogs on the Rock).

Last stop on the Bainbridge Birthday train was dinner at Hitchcock. We noshed on pacific northwest cuisine, brought to our plate by farmers, foragers and fishermen accompanied by–ahem–one final glass of wine.

And then, all too soon, we were back on the ferry sloshing our way homeward bound (in every sense of the word). Bye Bainbridge–it was fun–until next time.

Take the road less traveled, Beth