Bainbridge Island, WA

Like NYC’s Staten Island Ferry, this is a great way to eyeball a significant amount of Seattle’s highlights swiftly—and cheaply. Known to locals simply as “The Boat,” the Bainbridge Island Ferry is a 35-minute ride across Elliott Bay from Pier 52. The island itself is the antithesis of the skyscraper-stuffed city, with 150 acres of gardens, ponds and meadows to explore in the beautiful Bloedel Reserve. Before heading back, stop for a treat at one of the West Coast’s finest—and freshest—ice cream parlors, Mora Iced Creamery, where flavors include cheesecake with raspberry jam and whisky with hibiscus.