Things To Do
Maury Island Marine Park
Point Robinson Park / Lighthouse
There is a lighthouse, gorgeous views of the Salish Sea and a giant troll!
Vashon Adventures / Watersports
Kayaking on Vashon
Lisabuela Park
Formerly the site of the Lisabeula Resort, it is now a 5.5-acre shoreline park and terrestrial conservancy located on the west side of Vashon Island overlooking Colvos Passage at the end of Southwest 220th Street. The area was named Lisabeula by Postmaster Brink after his two daughters, Eliza and Buelah. The east end of the property conserves a wooded ravine and hillside. The shoreline area has been improved with a grassy play area, picnic tables, hand hand-carry boat launch, and designated primitive campsites for the Washington Water Trails system. The winding road is owned and maintained by King County. The site is located directly north of Christianson Cove – a sensitive estuary that supports eelgrass. Park Hours: 7:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. weekends and holidays.
Shinglemill Creek Preserve
The 190-acre Shinglemill Creek Preserve in northwest Vashon Island encompasses the length of Shinglemill Creek as it flows north from Fisher Pond to Puget Sound at Fern Cove. The Preserve is co-managed with the Vashon-Maury Island Land Trust. The Vashon Park District manages a historic lighthouse at Point Robinson. At the south-end of the park, the Shinglemill Creek Trail is a 2.5 mile walk through the forest along the ridge of a lush forest ravine descending 400 feet to become a path along Shinglemill Creek until it empties into the estuary at Fern Cove, a favorite spot for viewing shorebirds and catching a glimpse of coho salmon returning to spawn, typically in November and December after heavy rains. At the half-way point, Shinglemill Creek Trail meets Bill's Trail, creating a steep trail loop that climbs up the side of the valley.
Vashon Island Growers Association
The Vashon Island Growers Association (VIGA) promotes growing, farming, and food production on Vashon Maury Island, while working to build a local agricultural economy that is equitable, accessible, and sustainable. Check their map for a farm stand near you! Farmers Market: Saturdays 10am-3pm: May 2-September 26 in downtown Vashon village (17519 Vashon Highway SW, Vashon, WA 98070) This is the your one stop shop to find out about all things local produce and farm products on Vashon!
Mind + Set Apothecary + Restoreum
Herbalist, botanicals, infrared sauna + outdoor courtyard with clawfoot tub. Discount Code: Welcome
Sugar Shack
Great food truck and DIY outdoor music venue in the heart of Vashon village. Check their Instagram for shows.
Den of Pin
An electromechanical interactive pinball museum. Great selection of pin ball machines. Perfect for the kiddos and adults. Hours of operation are: Wed, Thurs, 4-8 Friday-Saturday 2-10 Sunday 2-8 Ages 7 and under FREE! Kids 8-80 $10. Adults 81+ Free! All games set to free play with admission. Play all day, explore the island, and pop in and out as you please. Your pass is good for the entire day. This is a digital decompression zone. Cash or Card. No WIFI available. No TV's. No Jerks. Free Parking!
The Ruby Brink
The Ruby Brink is a bar & butcher shop on Vashon Island whose values align with tradition, agriculture and craft. Equally a public house for gathering as a destination for casually spectacular food and beverages. The Ruby Brink focuses on whole animal butchery, thoughtful sourcing of all ingredients, preservation & curing in the kitchen and comfortably exciting cocktails, cider, wine & beer. Open Tuesday thru Sunday……… Closed Monday LUNCH MENU: 12:00 - 4:00pm DINNER MENU: Tues thru Thurs 4:00pm - 8:00pm Fri & Sat 4:00pm - 9:00pm BUTCHER SHOP - 12:00pm - 5:00pm T-Sat - 10:00am - 3:00pm Sun SUNDAY BRUNCH HOURS - 10:00am - 3:00pm
Country Store and Farm
The store is nestled in a historic building and serves as a hub for visitors seeking quality local goods, home items, and fresh produce. The vision behind the Country Store & Farm is to create a space that brings together the community with unique offerings that reflect the culture of the island. From locally sourced gifts to gardening supplies, visitors are treated to an array of products with a personal touch. This establishment is perfect for those who appreciate artisanal crafts, farm-to-table freshness, and exceptional customer service in a warm, welcoming environment.
The Hardware Store (restaurant)
The Hardware Store Restaurant stands as a cherished landmark on Vashon Island and is proudly listed on the National Register of Historic Places. With much of its original charm preserved, it continues to be a place where the community gathers to enjoy Great Good Food in a setting rich with history and heart. Open 7 days a week Monday thru Friday 11:00am - 8:00pm Saturday and Sunday 9:00am - 8:00pm
Snapdragon Cafe and Bakery
Wonderful! We have been there multiple times and love it! Vegetarian cafe and bakery with great ambiance, delicious baked goods, sandwiches, salads and more. Hours: 9-3 Thursday-Monday. the bar is open at night when they host shows.
Vashon Bookshop
Vashon's local, independently owned book shop! We highly recommend them. They carry a wide variety of new and gently used books for readers of all ages, including a large selection of local island authors. Also featured are greeting cards, seasonal calendars and journals. OPEN MON-SAT 10:00 - 5:00 SUN 11:00 - 5:00 CLOSED TUESDAY
Thriftway Vashon
There are a few places to get your groceries on the island. Thriftway Vashon has the best selection in the Vashon village.
May Kitchen and Bar
Highly acclaimed and awarded Thai restaurant and chef, May Chaleoy. Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday 4:00PM – 8:30PM Friday & Saturday 4:00PM – 9:00PM
Glass Bottle Creamery
Small batch ice cream and retro arcade games. Need we say more? Monday Closed Tuesday - Thursday, 11:00 am - 8:00 pm Friday, 11:00 am - 9:00 pm Saturday, 11:00 am - 9:00 pm Sunday, 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Pop Pop Bottle Shop
Wine, craft beers and delicious teriyaki bowls. We had lunch here with Paris' parents a couple years ago and we all loved it!
Mount Rainier National Park
There are multiple entrances to the park with incredible hikes throughout the park. Choose your own adventure and you can't go wrong! You will likely need to apply for a timed entry day use permit to hike within the park., so plan your trip accordingly. Weekdays are less busy on the trails. Let us know if you have questions about adventures on Tahoma!
Alpine Lakes Wilderness
Alpine Lakes wilderness is a vast area of the Cascades mountain range with so many amazing hikes we could recommend. Go ahead and explore some of the hikes that look right for you and feel free to ask us for specific recommendations! Most of the hikes are within the Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest, so you will not need to make reservations, but you will need a Northwest Forest, or America the Beautiful pass to park at the trailheads.
Olympic National Park
The Olympic Peninsula is a giant land mass northwest of Olympia, WA, where we live. the vast majority of the Olympic Peninsula is part of the Olympic National Park and Olympic National Forest, including almost the entirety of the interior of the Peninsula.. Additionally, much of the Pacific coastline of the Olympic Peninsula is included in the National Park boundaries. Olympic National Park is comprised of the Olympic Mountain Range which includes alpine, subalpine forests and meadows at higher elevations that give way to lowland river valleys of old growth temperate rainforests with some of the largest trees in the world! There are so many hikes to recommend here and we know and love many of them across the region. Check out the ones that sound good to you and check in with us for specific recommendations.
Glacier Peak Wilderness
Glacier Peak Wilderness comprises a large area of the Cascades north of Alpine Lakes Wilderness. This wilderness area surrounds the ice giant known as Glacier Peak. There are innumerable incredible alpine and subalpine hikes within alpine meadows and glacier fed lakes here, most with a scenic view of Glacier Peak and surrounding glacier-capped peaks.
Mount Baker Wilderness
The North Cascades of Washington State is home to Kulshan (Mount Baker), the tallest mountain within the North Cascades, a region of year-round snowcapped peaks that looks like a formidable mountainous wall from the coastal estuarine floodplains of the Skagit Valley below. Again, there are so many incredible hikes here to explore! Please feel free to reach out to us for recommendation.
North Cascades National Park
The North Cascades of Washington State is a land of enormous ice giants spanning the horizon in every direction. In the western part of the region, water is pouring down glacier-capped, jagged peaks. In the eastern part of the region, the tree-line gives way to rolling tundra in the alpine zone. The North Cascades is one of the most spectacular mountain ranges in North America. If you are here for a few days before, or after the wedding, plan an adventure to the North Cascades while you are here! Reach out to us for specific recommendations.
San Juan Islands
The Salish Sea is the larges estuary by volume of water in the USA. There are islands all throughout this amazing place to explore, one of which is Vashon Island where we are having out wedding! To the North of Vashon, the San Juan Islands can be found rising up from the Salish Sea, clad in coniferous forest and wonderful coastal ecosystems and small towns. Each island has a different feel, Orcas Island has the most hiking opportunities, but San Jaun Island has some great hikes as well. If you have the time to island hop across the San Juans while you are here, this is highly recommended. There are ample wildlife viewing opportunities from the ferries for fellow birders and whale watchers. Plan your itinerary via the WA State Ferry system and please reach out with questions and for recommendations.
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument
Mount Saint Helens erupted in 1980 and is a geological wonder of pyroclastic volcanic activity. Additionally, the plant and animal communities that have restored the ecosystems of Mount Saint Helens provide a riveting look at the regenerative power of the plan and animal communities that are recovering throughout a vast region that was completely decimated by a cataclysmic volcanic eruption less than fifty years ago. There are a number of amazing hikes and multiple approaches to the park. Please reach out to us with any questions and we can provide specific recommendations if you plan to visit the park before, or after the wedding.
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge
The refuge is very close to our home in the Olympia area and is a restored estuary of the Nisqually River Delta. This is a premier destination for birding and wildlife viewing and a great way to experience the glory of the Puget Sound ecosystem.
Tacoma Art Museum
Tacoma Art Museum is wonderful! They are a premier modern, contemporary art museum with an impressive collection and impressive rotating exhibits. We highly recommend checking our the TAM while you are here.
Seattle Aquarium
Seattle Aquarium is a world renown aquarium and environmental education center in the heart of Seattle's downtown, right on the waterfront. The Seattle Aquarium is a great place to learn more about the Salish Sea and its plant and animal communities while you are in the region.
Museum of Pop Culture
Check out the MOPOP while you are in Seattle!
Point Defiance Park
Point Defiance Park is a beautiful nature park in Tacoma. It is a great place to walk the shoreline and view the glacial till in the strata along the bluffs, or scan Dalco Passage for whales, shorebirds, seals and more. There are forest walks as well, throughout the interior of the park.
Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture
We have an incredible, world famous natural history museum in Seattle. If natural history museums are your thing, you will not want to miss the Burke.