One of my all time favorite Seattle activities is Ferry Riding. I love any excuse to get out onto the water and see the views of our lush green shorelines weaving in and out and around the Puget Sound framed by the water and the blue/grey/cloudy skies. Hopping over to an island for a day makes for an easy getaway. Vashon Island is just a short ride from the Fauntleroy Ferry stop in West Seattle. Within 30 minutes you can take yourself away from the city to a quieter greener island living experience where farms and farm stands are abundant, and traffic jams are scarce.
Winding up the hill from the Ferry, you will encounter an enticing first stop at a wine tasting room. The Palouse Winery offers wine tastings, a Palate Club, and events with wine pairings and fine dining. The grapes are grown in Eastern Washington and handcrafted into award wining wines on site.
The walls of the tasting room are lined with awards and barrels made of french oak.
A beautiful table lines the far wall, a new feature at the tasting room and a lovely centerpiece for dining events.
The garden behind the winery is a delightful place to enjoy a glass of Syrah and take in the sunshine and the views.
Continuing down the road, another sign encourages me to take pause at the Labyrinth in the gardens of theĀ Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit.
There are 3 labyrinths open to the public on the island, the McMurry Middle School and Betty Hawkins also welcome guests to journey on their garden meditation walks. The Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit will be hosting a Labyrinth walk on the Solstice this month, from 7-9 pm on June 21st, including musical performances with didgeridoos and crystal bowls. A wealth of information about Labyrinths in the Pacific Northwest can be found at the Labyrinth Network Northwest.
My tour around the island continued with stops to take in the views along the Vashon Highway.
In the small town called Center, I stopped into the Vashon Island Coffee Roasterie loaded with drink choices and old school character. Seattle’s Best Coffee originated here.
The day wouldn’t be complete without a meal sourced from the local farms abundant on the island. I chose La Boucherie, a restaurant serving food right from their farm, 4 miles up the road. La Boucherie is located in the main stretch of town. Here, owners George and Kristin Page treat their guests to friendly service, whimsical chalk art, photographs of gypsies by a local artist, and an incredible home cooked and home sourced meal from Sea Breeze Farms. The entrance takes you through the full service butcher shop, with meats and charcuterie all from the farm, into a small bistro style seating area. I chose a wine made at their winery Sweetbread Cellars. Meat, Herbs, Wines, Greens all produced within a few miles from my table and transformed into culinary delights on my plate. I will be coming back here.