I realize there have been a few posts debating routes recently, but we know we want to go via Bainbridge Island. However, I'd like to throw out a few questions to those of you familar with the area.

We'll be coming from Sequim on a Friday afternoon in August. Have to be at Sea-Tac by 8:30 am on Saturday. Prefer not to stay in Seattle itself. For one night, we thought we could stay at an airport hotel, but now I'm wondering if there might be something nice on Bainbridge. The part that makes advanced planning a must is that there will be 14 of us...did someone say "Elvira?"

My questions:
Is it likely we'd have problems with the ferry either Friday afternoon or early Saturday morning? If we left Saturday,to arrive at airport by 8:30 am, how early would you suggest leaving?

Have eaten at Salty's Alkai and love the view. If we did walk on to Seattle, is the water taxi to Salty's within walking distance of the ferry?

Perhaps someone has a different (better) dining suggestion for Bainbridge Island than going to Salty's.

Any ideas for a place to stay on Bainbridge with at least 6 rooms, if you don't think staying there is a foolish idea with an early flight? I'm thinking it may be difficult to reserve just Friday night on a weekend.

There are very few lodging choices on Bainbridge - only one with enough room for you that I can think of is the Best Western on High School Road.

Frankly, trying to make a ferry early enough to get to the airport by 8:30 seems a little rough - you'd need to take the 7 AM boat at the latest, which means getting to the dock by 6:45, which means getting out of the hotel by 6:30, which means getting up... ick.

If you decide to stay on the island for dinner, the Harbour Public House is very good, with a nice view of the ferry system boneyard in Eagle Harbor. http://www.harbourpub.com/Pub/index.html If you do walk on the ferry, the water taxi to West Seattle (for Salty's) is walkable from the ferry dock.

If you decided to stay at the airport (which is what I'd do) you could have dinner in town and then head to the airport, drop the car(s) and use hotel shuttles in the morning (saves money.) Or, you could go to the Salty's at Redondo - http://www.saltys.com/seattle_south/ - which is quite close to the airport and has great views of the Olympics at sunset.

I would stay by the airport and go out to dinner somewhere in Seattle.

Getting to SeaTac from Bainbridge all on Saturday morning, seems kind of a chancy plan imo.

When we were visiting friends in Sequim, we had made arrangements to fly from Port Angeles to get to SEA-TAC. The night before we were to leave the small airline called us with the news that the plane was in the shop and would it be O.K. if we went by seaplane? Never having traveled on such conveyance we jumped at the chance. Our friends took us to PA and we took off from there and flew to a lake near the Space Needle, then they took us to SEA-TAC. the seaplane landing was the smoothest landing we have ever experienced. I realize this is not what you're looking for - and I do not know if you could get an early flight to make it to SEA-TAC by 8:30. (BTW, there's a great Thai restaurant in Sequim called Sawadee!))

Thanks for your comments. I realize that you're right that it would be hectic to get to the airport Saturday morning from Bainbridge, especially with 14 people.

Should the ferry be relatively uncrowded Friday afternoon going to Seattle?

To avoid rush hour from Seattle towards Sea-Tac area on Friday, we could either explore the city or head to Salty's. Suggestions for a place to park after coming from Bainbridge.

Will Pike Market be closing up late on a Friday afternoon?

I live on Bainbridge and for a flight that early I'd stay at the airport. Weekend before last I came in on a late evening flight and stayed at the Marriott and was very pleased. We ate in the bar using the dining room menu and the food was really very good.