If you’ve never been to Vashon Island, get ready because this place is full of surprises.
This Vashon Island Road Trip has secluded beach walks, forest trails, weird roadside art, and spots so chill you’ll forget you’re just a short ferry ride from Seattle.
Trust us when we say this island has something you didn’t even know you were looking for.
This road trip itinerary will take you all around Vashon and its little sister, Maury Island, with fun stops, cool stories, and plenty of photo ops along the way.
1. Palouse Winery
Palouse Winery is a small, family-run spot on the west side of Vashon Island, just off 12431 Vashon Hwy SW, and it’s known for bold reds like their award-winning Syrah and Cab Franc.
The tasting room is inside a cozy red barn with string lights, a leafy patio, and super friendly staff who’ll pour you samples while you hang out and relax.
They grow their grapes in Eastern Washington but bring them to the island to ferment, age, and bottle right on-site.
2. Shinglemill Creek Natural Area
Just a few minutes drive from Palouse Winery, you can swap wine glasses for hiking boots at Shinglemill Creek Natural Area, a foresty hideout packed with tall fir trees and one seriously peaceful trail.
The 3-mile round-trip Shinglemill Creek Trail follows the creek through ferns, mossy logs, and even a wooden bridge, ending at a secret beach on Fern Cove.
It’s one of the quietest spots on the island, and if you’re lucky, you might spot salmon swimming upstream in the fall.
3. Nashi Orchards Tasting Room
After your forest fix, swing by Nashi Orchards Tasting Room, just a quick drive south, where pears and apples steal the spotlight instead of grapes.
This chill little spot sits on an actual working orchard, and you can sip small-batch perry (that’s pear cider!) and apple cider made from Asian pears and heirloom apples grown right on-site.
The tasting room is surrounded by rows of fruit trees, and if you time it right in spring or fall, the blossoms or harvest views are totally next-level.
4. Vashon Maury Island Heritage
Once you’ve had your fill of fruity sips, head into town and check out the Vashon-Maury Island Heritage Museum, where the island’s past gets way more interesting than you’d expect.
It’s a tiny but mighty museum with exhibits on everything from Indigenous history to farming, ferry life, and even the art of traditional basket weaving from the island’s first people.
They switch up the displays often, so even if you’ve been there before, there’s usually something new.
It’s just a block from the main drag, so it’s an easy pop-in before your next snack stop.
5. The Mukai Farm & Garden
Nearby, The Mukai Farm & Garden is a must-see if you’re into cool stories and peaceful places with major photo ops.
This spot was once a successful strawberry farm that was established in 1926 by B.D. Mukai, a Japanese immigrant.
Today, it’s a restored 1920s home with a traditional Japanese garden and the original fruit barrelling plant.
You can stroll through the garden’s winding paths, check out the historic house, and learn about the island’s Japanese American community, all in one super chill stop.
6. Lisabeula Park
If you’re craving some beach time after soaking up the island’s history, Lisabeula Park is the place to go for saltwater views.
It’s a quiet little park on the west side of the island with picnic tables and a pebbly beach that’s perfect for skipping rocks or just relaxing by the water.
There’s also a short forested path that winds through tall trees before opening up to Puget Sound, so you get both shady woods and sunny shoreline in one peaceful stop.
7. Old Bicycle In The Tree
Next up is the ‘Old Bicycle in the Tree’, and yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like.
This rusty red bike is stuck in the trunk of a tree about 50 feet from the road near the corner of Vashon Highway and SW 204th Street.
The most accepted story of how it got there is that a local young boy named Don Puz left it in the woods back in 1954 and never came back for it.
It’s quirky, weird, and one of those “only on Vashon” things that’ll have you pulling out your camera and saying, “Wait, how is this real?”
8. KVI Beach
After that little dose of island oddball charm, head to KVI Beach for wide-open skies, driftwood forts, and some of the best beach walking on Vashon.
It’s also known as Point Heyer, and at low tide, the sandbar stretches way out into Puget Sound so you can walk right out toward the old KVI radio tower like you’re on some secret island path.
Bring binoculars if you’ve got ’em, as this spot’s a favorite for birdwatchers thanks to all the herons, eagles, and shorebirds hanging out near the tidal wetlands.
9. Oscar – The Bird King
On your way back toward town, swing by to meet Oscar – The Bird King, a giant wooden sculpture straight out of a fantasy movie.
You’ll find him in Point Robinson Park on the eastern shore of Vashon Island, at 3705 SW Point Robinson Rd.
Oscar measures about 20 feet in height, featuring birdhouses atop his head and sitting on a throne crafted from wood.
Oscar is part of a collection of Troll sculptures in the Pacific Northwest by Danish sculptor Thomas Dambo, and there are actually 5 other locations where you can find more of these sculptures.
Related Reading: The Ultimate Pacific Northwest Trolls Road Trip
10. Point Robinson Lighthouse
Keep the magic going with a trip to Point Robinson Lighthouse, where beachcombing meets postcard-perfect views of Mount Rainier.
This working lighthouse on Maury Island has been guiding vessels since 1885 and has been fully automated since 1978.
You can walk right up to it, explore the driftwood-strewn shore, and watch container ships cruise by in the distance.
There’s even a cute keeper’s house you can rent overnight if you want a unique overnight stay next to a lighthouse.
11. Maury Island Marine Park
Just around the corner from the lighthouse, Maury Island Marine Park is the kind of place where you’ll want to pause, breathe deep, and just take it all in.
It’s one of the least crowded parks on the island, with about 3 miles of trails, 320 acres of woods and meadows, and a quiet beach with stunning views on a clear day of Mount Rainier and the Cascade foothills.
The hike down is steep but short (less than a mile), and once you hit the shoreline, it feels like your own private slice of Puget Sound—seals, sea glass, and all.
12. Dockton Park & Dockton Forest
Wrap up your Vashon adventure at Dockton Park & Dockton Forest, a double-whammy of marina views and forested trails.
Dockton Park is down by the water, where you’ve got a boat launch, picnic spots, and a little beach perfect for skipping stones or watching the sailboats bob around.
Just across the road, Dockton Forest offers about 9 miles of multi-use trails for hiking, biking, or just wandering under giant Douglas firs.
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