Enjoy the Fall Season Visiting Vashon and Maury Islands
The ferry crossings are short and you’re there before you know it. Then you roll off the dock, the road curves under a canopy of maples going gold, and the city feels like it’s a world away. You’ve landed on Vashon Island. Wood smoke, farm stands, and breathtaking views beckon as you head into a fun adventure – island style!
Grab our handy island maps before you go, then check the ferry schedule, head out, and leave the city behind. This day trip starts in Dockton, the old shipbuilding town on Maury Island, and works its way across the island to Vashon town.
Before You Go
Fall weather here on Vashon, like anywhere in the Pacific Northwest, is a coin flip. You might get a crisp, sunny day, or a rainy one. So don’t hesitate to bring an umbrella. If it’s a day of mixed rain and sun, keep an eye out for incredible rainbows!
Dress in layers in case a cool day turns warm by midday, or the wind picks up and the temperature drops. And if a beach walk or park trail is on your list, be sure to bring sturdy walking shoes.
Start at the Pumpkin Patch: Langley Fine Gardens
Drive out toward the Dockton area of Maury Island and go straight to Langley Fine Gardens Nursery and Farm. Their seasonal pumpkin patch and farm stand is open 9AM to 6PM, Thursday through Sunday, and it carries the largest selection of winter squash on the island. It’s the kind of place where you arrive for one pumpkin and leave with an armload of unexpected delights.
The farm grows dozens of heirloom squash varieties and a good number of heritage, unique, sculptural gourds, in addition to their pumpkin patch. Squash may come in shades of white, pink, blue-gray, and more that don’t look real until you pick one up. There are also dried flower and corn arrangements created from the farm’s own gardens.
Wander, take your time, and ask about the goods. The people who grew it all also know how to cook it, and each variety is described with helpful signage. If you feel like wearing a costume, go for it. If you don’t, they have fun photo stand-in boards, so nobody misses out on the picture.
A few practical notes: Bring cash or use Venmo. Leave the dog in the car or at home. There’s no restroom at the farm, but there’s one at Dockton Park about a mile away. The patch runs through the end of October, or until the inventory is gone, which is usually right around Halloween. The best squash varieties sell out earlier in the season, so don’t wait for the last weekend.
Dockton Park and Forest: Marina, Playground, and Trails
With pumpkins, squash, and other goods loaded up, drive back to Dockton Park and Marina for a quick stop. Small recreational boats come in off the water here, and you can look across the water to the entrance of Inner Quartermaster Harbor for a view of the Fall colors along the shoreline.
Traveling with kids? This area has a great nautical-themed playground. And that restroom mentioned in the previous section.
Local tip: Across the street from the Marina area is one of the access points to the Dockton Forest and Natural Area. The Dockton Forest has one of the best trail systems on the island, including hiking trails, horse trails, and newly refreshed bike trails. If you have plans for a trail ride, this is a really fun spot!
Maury Island parks are included in detail in this article. Other Vashon parks also offer great recreating options, just please do watch for signage! Especially look for signs indicating protected areas, no dog zones, or in-season deer hunting when visiting our island natural areas.
Maury Island Marine Park Overlook
Drive back from Dockton, then turn right on 248th to get to the Maury Island Marine Park overlook platform. It’s an incredible vista, and it makes a great stop for a picnic or to quickly admire the expansive view that opens up across the Puget Sound’s East Passage.
On a clear day Mt. Rainier fills the horizon and the city of Tacoma can be seen down the channel to the right. Container ships may glide past below on their way to or from the Port of Tacoma. It’s rare but possible you might even spy a pod of orca whales coming up the channel or the occasional humpback whale passing by.
Fun fact: The Maury Marine Park overlook also happens to be a stop on the UFO Mysteries Trail, a Seattle Southside sponsored free interactive journey focused on the UFO mystery known as The Maury Island Incident.
What is the Maury Island Incident? As it’s told, on June 21, 1947 while fishing just offshore of this location, Harold Dahl claims to have seen six flying saucers hovering over Puget Sound. There’s more to the story, most notably the very first modern report of “Men in Black”.
While some may call the Incident a hoax, others see it as a key part of the historic wave of UFO sightings in the United States during the Summer of 1947. Enthusiasts have created the UFO Mysteries Trail map including ten locations that begin across the water in the town of Des Moines and end right here at the Maury Marine Park at the beach down below!
Local tip: Point Robinson (described below) has some of the same views and easier beach access than Maury Marine Park.
Point Robinson Park: Oscar the Bird King, the Lighthouse, and the Beach
Next up in your Maury Island adventure is Point Robinson Park, which is really two stops in one. The park is open during daylight hours, and the gate shuts at dusk. Leashed dogs are welcome! Local tip: on your way in or out of the park, keep an eye out for the Flora Hill Farm popsicle stand on the south side of Pt. Robinson Road about a mile before the park entrance. More on that in the “Hungry?” section below.
Start out at the upper parking lot through the gate when you arrive at Point Robinson Park. From there, Oscar the Bird King is an easy walk on a gravel path. Oscar is one of six permanent trolls in the Pacific Northwest made of recycled materials by the artist Thomas Dambo. Considered to be the King of this group of trolls, Oscar is the one not to be missed! Be sure to walk slowly in front of him and watch his eyes as they track you. It’s a super cool effect!
After taking pictures with Oscar, then head down toward the beach to see the Point Robinson Lighthouse. Don’t skip this part of the adventure! Weather permitting, it’s a stunningly beautiful location and a great spot for taking more pictures or a beach walk if you’d like. If needed, the lower parking lot closest to the lighthouse is available for drop-off or for accessible parking. (Also if needed, portable toilets can be found next to both the upper and lower parking lots.)
Local tip: Point Robinson is also an important stop on the Washington Whale Trail, a public network of shore-based viewing sites and interpretive signs to help spot orca whales and other marine mammals from land. On a lucky day, you may spot wild whales sometimes passing very close to shore here. You’ll know they’re expected if many people are gathering on the shore and excitedly scanning the water. It’s also rare, but possible, to spot a surprise, unexpected whale cruising by.
On any given day at Point Robinson you may also spot a variety of birds including bald eagles, ravens, shorebirds like gulls or blue herons, and more, plus other marine mammals like seals, sea lions, or harbor porpoise. On beach walks in the Fall you may find seashells or discover jellyfish on shore, just don’t touch the orange ones because they sting! Low tide events can reveal even more sea life.
Local tip: If you choose to take a long beach walk from here, be aware if it’s a rising tide, because you’ll want to make it back before the high tide.
Hungry? Here Are the Options on Maury
Part of the charm of the Maury Island is its many wild spaces; as a result food purchase options are few on this part of the island. Consider two places worth stopping by on Maury or plan ahead by bringing snacks to picnic:
Flora Hill Farm has a self-serve stand on the south side of the road on the way to Point Robinson Park, and it’s not to be missed if you love a sweet treat. The popsicles are excellent and come in unusual flavors, and many use ingredients grown right on the farm. Visitors and locals both love them. Open 24/7/365!
Sandpiper Cafe at the Vashon Island Golf and Swim Club is open to everyone and can’t be beat for the views. On a nice day there’s covered outdoor seating, and inside there’s plenty of comfortable space. In the Fall season they’re usually open Noon to 7PM Wednesday through Saturday, and 11AM to 4PM on Sunday (closed Monday and Tuesday). Be sure to check their days and hours before you make plans.
Want options for a picnic spread? Best bets depends on how you arrived on the island. If you’re coming from the south end on the Tacoma boat, stop at the Harbor Mercantile in Burton. Locals still call it “Sandy’s Store” in honor of its previous long-time owner. If you’re coming from the north end boats (from Seattle or the Kitsap side), you can stop in town at Thriftway. It’s the island’s grocery store with the best selection for quick grabs.
Okay to wait a little longer for snacks or a meal? Locals rave about Lunetta Pizzeria across the street from Vashon Center for the Arts (listed further down below in this article at Island Center), or save your appetite for one of the variety of restaurants or cafes available in Vashon town.
Farm Stands for Seasonal Produce and Flowers
Fall is peak farm stand season, and Vashon has plenty to discover. Select your produce and then leave the money in the box. Cash works, and many take Venmo or similar payment apps. On Maury Island, the Pacific Crest Farm stand on Dockton Road just north of 240th is loaded with an array of finds including many kinds of tomatoes and peppers, an abundance of veggies in the fridge, and seasonal flower bouquets. The sign by the road lists what’s available today.
Look closely around this farm stand and you may also find jars of local honey for sale or the simply delicious fresh bread from Fernhorn Bakery featuring wild yeasts and Washington grown grains.
Local tip: If the yellow “BREAD” sign is atop the Farm Stand Open sign, then Fernhorn Bakery bread is available! And if you happen to get the last loaf of the day, be sure to pull down the bread sign and put it in the bread box.
Want incredible flower arrangements? Check out the Olive Farm stand on the west side of Dockton Road just north of 248th for freshly wrapped mixed bouquets and delightful jar arrangements.
For a list of other notable farm stands on the island, check out the Vashon Island Grower’s Association farm stand map.
Also keep your eyes open for farm stand options as you drive around! The Fall season is when hyper-local family farm stands are stocked with seasonal bounty, and sometimes the best ones have just a hand-painted sign at the end of somebody’s driveway.
Why Is This Part of Vashon Called Maury Island?
Curious why Maury has its own name when it’s attached to Vashon? A narrow channel once separated the two, and an isthmus built in 1916 joined them. To learn more, read the full story on our Maury Island page.
Once you’ve finished your circuit of Maury Island, cross the isthmus back to Vashon. The second half of your day is about to begin…
The Country Store, and Agnes & Chloe Vintage
Once back on the Vashon side, take 204th up to Vashon Highway and turn right. Don’t miss The Country Store and Farm on the west side of the highway; it’s a charming piece of island history with quality gifts, clothing, and toys.
Upstairs in The Country Store building, you’ll find Agnes & Chloe Vintage, the only vintage clothing store on the island. The inventory is great, with lots of deals on stylish, well-preserved pieces from the past. With so many finds, it’s quite likely you may walk in browsing and walk out with a timeless new special something!
Island Center: Singer the Whale at the VCA
One of the island’s most fabulous new attractions is just to the north in the Island Center area, at the crossroads of Cemetery Road and Vashon Highway. Inside the Vashon Center for the Arts (VCA), a 40-foot, 3,000-pound kinetic (moving) whale sculpture hangs from the atrium ceiling. Its name is Singer, and it’s comprised of actual recovered bones of an adult gray whale that washed up on the eastern shore of Vashon.
The whale was prepared and reconstructed by the Vashon Nature Center along with island students and then built into a moving sculpture by island artist Ela Lamblin. It’s permanently installed and quite stunning, it’s free to view, and it has a story to tell.
The VCA atrium is open daily from 12PM to 5PM, or peek through the windows if you’re at Island Center when the VCA is closed. When the atrium is open, be sure to also check out the current art exhibits! The shows are well curated, showcasing the breadth of amazing island artists’ work. The exhibits usually change monthly to coincide with the island’s First Friday open art gallery tradition, so what you see today may be different next month.
Coffee, Hot Chocolate, and More at The Vashon Island Coffee Roasterie
While you’re at Island Center, don’t miss a stop at the Vashon Island Coffee Roasterie, open 8AM – 4PM daily, except Sundays open 9AM to 2PM. You’ll find great coffee in a historic building, cozy cafe seating with lots of locals, plus delicious hot chocolate, fresh baked goods, and a wall of loose tea to choose from.
Local tip: They also roast the most amazing nuts in house in the coffee roaster. The hazelnuts especially can’t be beat, if you can get them fresh before they’re snapped up by the locals who know. Or bring home a fresh roasted bag of coffee beans; you can ask at the counter for the grind of your choice and the bag to be resealed.
Wander through to the north side of the same building to find Minglement, a grocery and small shop with fantastic local honey, crafts, snacks, produce, books, and more. While on Vashon don’t miss a visit to the Roasterie and Minglement; order something warm, browse for gifts, and enjoy the ambiance.
Head Uptown to Vashon Town
Save the last stretch for Vashon’s centrally located town. Locals call it “uptown,” as in “I’m running uptown, need anything?” It’s small-town in a good way, where you’ll find shops, cafes, restaurants, galleries, pinball, and a movie theater that’s been showing films since 1947.
Park south of the only four-way stop (at Bank Road and Vashon Highway). The town is very walkable, so you can leave the car where it is while you browse. Discover artisan souvenirs and fun gifts while wandering the shops, and grab another snack or perhaps an early dinner.
Do note, many island restaurants are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, although you can always grab a slice at O Solo Mio (known as Mario’s Pizza by the locals), open 11AM to 9PM most days.
Here’s more info on what else you can find in Vashon town.
Heading Home
When the day winds down, it’s time to head back to the ferry. The north end dock is around a 10-minute drive from town, while the south end dock is 15+ minutes from town, so give yourself plenty of time before the next boat in case there are end-of-day lines. Check the ferry schedule and plan for one of the next few departures.
Then roll onto the car deck with the day behind you. You’ll have unexpected squash in the back seat, some sea air in your lungs, great pictures and memories of the day, and possibly even a new-to-you vintage piece or some other souvenir of your fun Fall day on Vashon Island.
The mainland beckons, but the delights of Fall on Vashon have a way of pulling you back. So do come again!
In case you’re staying longer, here’s more to explore on Vashon Island. Thanks for visiting!
Author: Vashon Island
Vashon is an Island located between Tacoma and West Seattle. This account manages the vashon-maury.com website full of useful information for both residents and visitors of the Island.