Visit Vashon

Did you know Washington state’s biggest tourist attraction isn't Mount Rainier or the Olympic Coast? It’s actually our humble ferry system. In fact, more tourists list riding a ferry as their top experience—even above visiting Pike Place Market. ​This is a double-edged sword for Vashon Island. Not only do we rely heavily on tourism, but as a ferry-dependent community, we’re a package deal. Visitors get to explore a charming island using Washington's most iconic form of transit. Like it or not, the ferry provides both the first and last impression visitors have of Vashon. That’s why it’s especially frustrating when things go sideways. ​Last week, a local community leader was dropping off two out-of-town visitors when a completely avoidable conflict unfolded. The driver pulled up to the handicap loading area, only to find all the designated spaces full (despite having a valid handicap placard displayed on their rearview mirror). Knowing local traffic patterns well—a...

  ​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...