Vashon Island
Vashon Island is golden in the crown of the Washington Puget Sound that is rather hidden behind the hustle of Seattle and Tacoma. It poses a rare blend of natural beauty, history and artistic culture as well as countryside. We shall now elaborate on its geology and its accessibility, dark history (Indigenous, colonial, modern), culture and community life, economy (agriculture, arts, tourism), places to visit and do along with practical information to visit or stay there along with some factual comments on the nature thereof.
Geography & Access
Vashon Island is found to the south of Puget Sound in the state of Washington that is between Tacoma and Seattle. Of concern is the fact that (Wikipedia) it has no connecting bridge to the mainland and this has served to nurture its character of being somehow isolated. (Wikivoyage)
The Vashon Island in fact is also the Maury Island, having been united by an isthmus that connected them with each other at Portage. This is a landmass normally referred to as Vashon-Maury Island. Probably the land area is approximately 37 square miles (or so) according to one source. It boasts of varied topography: Hills of forests, farmland, shoreline, beaches, inlets, and rural roads.
Access
Because of the lack of bridge, the connection to the Vashon Island would largely rely on the ferry. Indicatively you can take the ferry at Fauntleroy (Seattle) or at the point of Defiance (Tacoma). Car on the Island (Vashon Maury Island Vashon-Maury.com) It is quite convenient to have a car on the island and be able to travel far, however, biking and walking can also be done in case of short visits. (Visit Seattle)
Ferry ride is scenic and because of the remoteness of the island, it has a leisurely and escapist feel. (Tripadvisor)
Climate & Nature
It is inclined to mild and wet climate of many months, evergreen forests, coastal ecosystem, as well as good opportunity of outdoor recreation because it is situated at the pacific northwestern region. The landscape popular with the forests and relative isolation of the island prefer both forested and agricultural landscapes.
Check: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vashon,_Washington
Historical Overview
The history of the Vashon Island is complex: Settlement of aboriginal population thousand years ago; arrival of Europeans and Americans; civilisation and development of the community; further alterations of the community in the 20 th century and the modern development.
Indigenous Era
Their (The Native people) appearance on the island preceded the European invasion. The main human activity of the Island has existed 10,000 to 12,000 years ago but not much is known about it. The island has records of the native inhabitants like the Marpole culture (c. 7000 years ago), Coast Salish peoples (c. 1000 years ago), and the S’Homamish (also spelled S’Homamish) circa 500 years ago. These individuals hunted, gathered and travelled in a canoe and exploited the marine resources in the Sound. (Wikipedia)
European Discovery & Naming
In 1792, a British naval officer, George Vancouver was surveying the island and named it the Vashon Island after his friend, Captain James Vashon of the Royal Navy. The naming is a pointer of what the Europeans had to do to name geographies after the Europeans and not the local names.
Early Settlers & Development
The population of the European and American people started increasing since the mid 19 th century. Logging began–first logs were cut in the Vashon Island, in the year 1852. Roads: Founded in the 1880s (e.g. the King County built what was denoted on the map as roads 116 and 117 in 1883). (HistoryLink)
There was the emergence of agriculture: e.g., at the end of the 19 th century Japanese Americans began cultivating strawberries and at the turn of 20 th century some of them were widely known in barrelling strawberries to the far markets. (Wikipedia)
20th Century
Japanese in the 20 th Century, the community in America, the war, transformation.
The Japanese American farmers made one of the most significant contributions in the life of the island. Since around 1900, Japanese migrant workers and families established themselves on the Vashon Island and made their tight-knit societies, whose borders, societal as well as social, were broken with social fences. In World War II, the Japanese Americans were forced out of the island and interred, and this affected the agricultural culture of the island (Reconsider Washington). (Wikipedia)
Others were ship-building, dry docks and logging. This can be seen in the case of the drydock that was towed to Dockton in March, 1892 and during June a group of men were employed there. (vashonhistory.com)
Modern Era
The island is not that urbanistic these days the artistic and cultural currents are strong and well-read community but the place is characterized. The Vashon Heritage Museum is constructed on the island that conserves and explains the history of the island. Demographic: The size of the population is about 10,400, 97.1 percent of whom are American citizens (5.7 percent foreign-born). (Data USA)
Culture, Community & Economy
Vashon Island has its own sense, country and fantasy and self-sufficing. Below are some of the themes.
Agriculture, Agriculture and Food Culture.
Farming has been used to describe the island. The land is fertile, with the late 19 th -early 20 th Century berry fields and greenhouses becoming farm stands, organic food, orchards and successful local-food movement. (vashonhistory.com) Indicatively, the island is being marketed as a culinary hot spot that is nurtured by the chefs, farmers and entrepreneurs. (Food & Wine)
Arts, Alternative Culture, Music.
Vashon has always been an art haven, a maker and a place that people enjoy a slightly off-beat and independent lifestyle. The first Chautauqua of 1885 presupposes the cultural inclination. Nowadays, galleries, concerts, crafty shops and artistic business are constituents in the image of the island. The island has also been reported to have imbalanced good food and culture concerning the size of the island. (Substack)
Tourism & Visitors
Vashon Island is not a very touristic destination like the highly tourist-friendly resorts however it does have tourists which pay a visit to the Vashon Island to enjoy nature, tranquility, local food, agricultural pursuits, arts and to get away out of the city. It is an excursion tour out of Seattle that lasts a day or a weekend outing by the various guides.
Economy & Local Life
There are also some small businesses and service ventures, local craft and creative industry, besides agriculture and tourism, on the island. The fact that it lacks the bridge can be a drawback but it is also a design- it is not so refined, more informal. The life of the residents gives center to a close paid-in community and this is typified by sharing of resources, cooperation as well as a strong civic society.
(e.g. a rural tool library is also featured in the news recently). (The Guardian)
What to See & Do
These are some of the top attractions on Vashon Island sorted by theme.
Outdoor & Nature
Point Robinson Lighthouse: This is located on the east side of the Maury Island (which is a part of the Vashon-Maury landmass) in a park overlooking the shore, and has excellent views to offer. (Ashley Margaret May)
Maury Island Marine Park/Natural Area loop trail: located east of the Maury Island; provides over a mile of the shore, cliff side, prospects of Mount Rainier and the cascades as well as woodland paths. (Ashley Margaret May)
Beaches, forest trails, farm road and biking: As an example, one of the guides suggests a 25-mile ride around the island. (Visit Seattle)
Tour farmland orchards, pick berries or farm (e.g. lavender farm in season). (Ashley Margaret May)
Food, Drink & Shopping
The object of various food-related articles: a farm-to-table island, remarkable restaurants, cafes, bakeries. (Ashley Margaret May)
Winery and cidery tours Tour local wineries or local craft beer producers. (Ashley Margaret May)
In downtown Vashon (also known as Vashon Uptown), there are shops, art galleries, vintage clothing stores, local food. (Tripadvisor)
Arts & Culture
Vashon Heritage Museum is a place worth visiting just in case you are interested in exploring the local history. (Vashon Heritage Museum)
The island life is dotted with local festivals, music events, art galleries; many of them specifically focused on the small-community, alternative arts spirit.
Scenic routes, photography (and filming in particular of Sound, forest, farmland, historic buildings).
Relaxation & Getaway
A large number of tourists make the island a day outing or weekend getaway out of the mainland. (Wheatless Wanderlust)
Be on a farm-stay, cottage or on one of the boutique lodges; there are calm roads, forests, beaches and sights.
Very beneficial in being able to slow down and go on your own time.
Panorama Tours and Tickets. When to Go
The island can be accessed all the year round and the different seasons provide a varying mood:
Spring: The new tree growth, farm products, farmers markets, etc. (lodgesonvashon.com)
Summer: the days in the beaches, picking, outside concerts, more daylight.
Autumn: bitter cold, the yellow trees, lower traffic.
Winter: dark walks in the forest/coast, less number of tourists, greater privacy. (Wheatless Wanderlust)
Getting There & Around
Ferrying schedule indispensable: coming by ferry, either out of Fauntleroy (Seattle) or of Point Defiance (Tacoma). In most cases there is no reservation and it is first come first serve with ferries; wait time especially on weekends and summers can be long. (fodors.com)
A car is really convenient when you arrive on the island as long as you intend to cover a long distance. When you just stay around downtown, you may get along by walking, biking or by local bus. (Ashley Margaret May)
It has also a small public airstrip, and a private airstrip, but it does not have any regular commercial flights. Secondly, the company must endorse its products within the United States to grow its market share.<|human|>Secondly, the firm should promote its products in the United States in order to expand its market share.
Where to Stay & Eat
Cafes, bakeeries, restaurants of good credentials; local farmers markets, artisan restaurants. Examples include: any Thai restaurant that is popular, a coffee roastery, fresh produce farms. (Food & Wine)
The types of lodging include farm-stays, boutique lodges, cottages. A reservation is recommended beforehand, particularly during the high season. (lodgesonvashon.com)
Things to Note
Due to a relative isolation of the island, the services can also be weaker compared to big cities: not many taxis/Ubers, no nightlife, etc. Some guides report that the only thing that you can use is rideshare which may not be available often. (Ashley Margaret May)
Waits in the ferries may increase your commuting time-do plan.
The speed is deliberately reduced. This comes with the beauty of it, and you are not supposed to hurry: wonder and be ready to go off-road and, instead, enjoy the sightseeing.
Appreciation of nature, surrounding people, and slower pace will reward you more of the experience.
Character & Sense of Place
The attraction of the Vashon Island has been its other worldliness in comparison with the mainland urban life, although it is relatively accessible. It is an Island where farm and forest collide, and artists live among trees, and shoreline sunset and sound of waves, and the ride on the ferry still means some sort of change between “everyday” and escape.
A lot of tourists are greeted by the speed, the landscape is relaxing, the people are friendly. In illustration one of the travel guides reports that Vashon is the kind of destination where one must have snail pace as one must linger and enjoy everything there is to see. (Then We Walked)
On the cultural side, the island is inclined towards the free, imaginative, and intellectual. Its agricultural background and arts as well as food-culture makes it a hybrid identity: it is partly a rural farmland, partly a colony of artists, and totally a community.
It is also very place-conscious: they reject a bridge, maintain country roads, local farms and business, embrace slower connectivity. Such, however, it is not entranced, but it develops, it welcomes creative enterprise, it has its visitors–but on its own conditions.
Challenges & Considerations
Accessibility: Due to ferry dependency, you need to consider the schedules, potential delays and possibilities of being trapped when making a haphazard decision to make a “hop-over” before not bothering to inquire about the return ferries.
Price and accommodation: During weekends or high season the island is often crowded fast.
Weather: As And like most of the Pacific Northwest, weather can be unpredictable; it may require flexibility in some of the out of doors plans.
Infrastructure: being an island with limited access, certain services (high capacity night-time, shopping, transportation) are not as abundant as a city. However, to most visitors that becomes an advantage instead of a disadvantage.
The Reasons To Visit / Why To Think about Living There.
For Visitors
Nature and scenery: Vashon features diversity in stunning locations since there is a coastline, woodland, farmland, and hills.
Relaxation and discount: Only a few minutes on a ferry boat off big cities and it has the impression of being on a retreat.
Food & local culture Fresh farms, good restaurants, artisan shops.
Uniqueness: The lack of a bridge, less speedy lifestyle, community-based living create a special atmosphere within its islands on the one hand, compared to other islands adjacent to big metros.
Visitable within a day-trip or weekend: A lot of guides testify to the possibility of a one-day visit to Vashon, but of course that is going to be less fun. (Wheatless Wanderlust)
For Residents / Movers
It may be the high quality of life: nature, community, creativity, space.
But there will come trade-offs: ferry dependence; may become isolated; cost of shipping goods; lack of public transportation.
Vashon can seem like a utopia to independent-minded culture lovers, community members, and nature lovers who despise the city life.
A Sample Visitor Itinerary
An example of one day or weekend stay would be as follows:
Day Trip (One day):
Morning: On the ferry with Fauntleroy to Vashon Island. Move and walk around the downtown Uptown Vashon: shopping, eateries, bakery.
Noon: Go to farm stand to stock up on fruits and vegetables; go to winery or another cidery and have a tasting.
Afternoon: Select one outdoor activity, which includes one of the following: walk the Natural Area Loop Trail that is on Maury Island or tour the beach and Point Robinson Lighthouse. Picnic over Puget sound.
Late afternoon: See something more coast or woodland road; visit some other cafe or gallery of art.
Evening: Return via ferry.
Weekend Stay:
Included in there is a nice morning, say a more extended walk or (easy as you please) bike tour about the island (25-mile route proposed). (Visit Seattle)
Go to places that are far and have dinner in a great restaurant, maybe even stay overnight in a cottage, a lodge, eat local food items.
Tour museums/historic places (e.g. Vashon Heritage Museum).
Take up slower moments: in a cafe reading; shorelines sunset; spending time on the farm roads.
Reflections & Final Thoughts
The Vashon Island is both close and distant, small and huge, silent and noisy. It is also near enough to Seattle to be reachable, but it is also far enough (and also isolated) to create a sense of an escape. It is big enough to become familiar with it, cover all its points, and to find some private nooks in it, which seem like your own. It has the layers of various dimensions; you may hike, walk along beaches, taste wine, purchase fresh produce, take a show, browse artwork or just sit and have a cup of coffee and listen to birds.
Among the time-tested attractions is the fact that it does not succumb to over-development. Not having a bridge is not only infrastructure, but a symbol of maintaining difference-of the fact that it is good to be a little out of touch with some places. That assists in the formation of the speed and nature tourists go.
When you are attracted to such traveling such as co-existing nature and artistic culture, countryside and coffee restaurants, beach and museums, Vashon Island offers a lot.
Should you arrive (or even consider arriving), I can assist in digging out ferry service, the best time of year to visit lodging, farms stand maps, hiking trails, or events previously held during your time on-island. Should I draw that together, then, on behalf of you?
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