Visit Vashon

  ​You’ve pictured it: waking up to the sound of silence, driving down a winding road with no stoplights, and grabbing coffee from a local shop where everyone knows your name. That’s Vashon Island. But there’s an elephant in the room, or perhaps, a very large, steel ferry in the Puget Sound. ​For those considering the move, the single biggest obstacle—and the topic of countless debates—is The Commute Conundrum. ​On one hand, you have a slower pace of life, a tight-knit community, and a sanctuary away from the mainland grind. On the other, you have the tyranny of the ferry schedule, the cost of the ticket, and the mandatory wait time. Is the island life worth the undeniable "hassle" of the boat? ​The common mistake is to compare the time spent waiting for the ferry to time sitting in traffic on I-5. But for Vashonites who thrive here, the secret is this: Ferry time is not lost time—it is reclaimed time. It’s a mandatory pause, an opportunity to decompress, co...

​I recently had a conversation with my elderly neighbor, a true Vashon native. Her childhood stories paint a picture of a vastly different Vashon—one where she and her friends treated horses like bicycles, traveling the island long before they could get a driver's license, enjoying a level of unsupervised adventure most modern kids can only dream of. ​But one moment in our chat really stood out. ​We were talking about the modern necessity of online shopping, and she declared her strong dislike for Amazon. ​"Why?" I asked. "It feels like a necessary evil these days. We're so limited on what we can get locally. What if you need a specific bulb for your car headlight? Or a niche plumbing part that isn't stocked at the hardware store?" ​Her answer was beautifully simple, and profoundly Vashonian: Growing up here meant learning to live without. ​Separating Wants from Needs ​She explained that island life, historically, forced a different kind of a...

​The ferry line on any given weekday morning tells a story. Amidst the usual commuters, you'll see a steady stream of trucks, vans, and utility vehicles—each one representing an off-island contractor heading over to Vashon. ​But why? ​Recently, a friend building a new home on Vashon had one unwavering stipulation for his project manager: "Absolutely no island contractors!" ​It sounds harsh, and the truth is, it’s a bit muddy. There are, without a doubt, exceptionally talented and reliable tradespeople who live and work right here on Vashon. Yet, the demand for off-island help remains high. ​What would drive an islander to make such a blanket statement about their neighbors? Here’s a look at the core reasons why many Vashon homeowners look across the water for their building and repair needs. ​1. The Low-Supply, High-Demand Pricing Problem ​Simply put, competition is the greatest lever for fair pricing, and on Vashon, competition is scarce. ​Because the...

Vashon Island is famous for its tranquility and natural beauty, but few of its hidden corners hold as much history and charm as Klahanie Beach . Once a bustling waterfront resort destination, it is now a quiet, private neighborhood that offers residents and lucky visitors some of the most spectacular views the Puget Sound has to offer. ​🕰️ From Klepo Beach to Klahanie: A Glimpse Back in Time ​Before it was the serene stretch of waterfront it is today, this area was known as Keplo Beach . Its destiny changed when it transformed into a popular resort destination in the early to mid-1900s. ​Imagine the scene: visitors from the bustling cities of Seattle and Tacoma would board ferries, eager to escape the urban grind. Their destination? This very beach, where they would spend time in nature , enjoying the fresh air and stunning marine environment. It was a classic Pacific Northwest getaway. ​The name "Klahanie" itself has a connection to this history of leisure ...

​Vashon Island is home to many unique communities, but few are as captivating—or as private—as Spring Beach . Unlike many of the neighborhoods we've explored, Spring Beach is on a private road, making it largely inaccessible to the general public today. To truly understand its charm, you have to look back at its fascinating origins as a bustling vacation resort. ​A Destination Only Reachable by Steamer ​Imagine a time when the only way to reach this spot was by water. Spring Beach was initially developed as a summer vacation destination. Its centerpiece was the magnificent Miramar Lodge , a grand log structure built in 1905. Though it’s a private home now, this building once served as the resort's dining hall, general store, and even the local post office for this planned getaway. ​Back then, the only visitors making the trek were arriving on the wooden steamer Tourist , which would leave from Point Defiance. In the height of the summer s...

​Nestled on the quiet, southern tip of Maury Island , a dense forest gives way to the charming, sometimes secretive, community of Manzanita Beach . This neighborhood is a fascinating blend of history, quirky beachside living, and a tug-of-war over public access—a true Vashon Island treasure, if you can find it. ​A Past Shaped by Yachts and Sanctuary ​Manzanita’s origins are surprisingly grand for such a remote spot. It was originally developed in the early 20th century by the Tacoma Yacht Club as a dedicated destination for its members. This history is why, even today, if you look at a King County parcel map, you'll see a spiderweb of small public access points and strips of land that hint at a planned, open waterfront resort area. ​But Manzanita’s most profound historical connection is much more somber. The area provided sanctuary for Chinese laborers fleeing the violent anti-Chinese riots in Tacoma in 1885 . Its extreme isolation—at the dead end of a ...