Llama Happy Hour and Fried Watercress: What to Eat and Drink on Quirky Vashon Island

A 20-minute ferry ride from West Seattle, rural Vashon Island and its artisanal, arty spirit are forever saved from suburbanization by the lack of a bridge. But that shouldn’t stop you from visiting. There’s a vibrant cluster of high-quality restaurants, bakeries, shops, and cafes in Vashon Uptown (only mainlanders call it “downtown”), which is only a seven-minute drive (or bus ride) from the ferry terminal. You can also commune with camelids at Llama Happy Hour and visit Oscar the Bird King, a giant recycled wood sculpture by Danish artist Thomas Dambo. Dubbed a haven for people too eccentric to live in Seattle, it’s the only Puget Sound island without