Bordering Agate Point, Port Madison is generally thought of as the first development on Bainbridge Island. George Anson Meigs arrived in 1854 and eventually bought, and moved, a sawmill from what is Kingston WA to Port Madison. Port Madison is one of several Bainbridge Island communities that was ‘bustling’ in the 1800’s and isn’t as much today. It’s a neighborhood now, steeped in history and mixed with new construction and homes built in the late 1800s. In 2002, we toured a Port Madison home that once served as the town’s jail.

Things to Do

Port Madison of today is a quiet loop drive through some new and classic homes. No sawmill or skid rows are left but you can visit the Kane Cemetery on Lafayette. Just east of Port Madison is the spit community of Point Monroe. Beach cabins and modern homes make up the small community bordering Fay Bainbridge Park.

Fay Bainbridge Park

A place you can definitely spend some time at is Fay Bainbridge Park. It’s a 17-acre waterfront campground with picnic areas, a covered shelter, RV sites, camping sites and cabins. Fay Bainbridge Park is a common gathering place for families with kids because there’s so much to see and do. It’s also a great place for islanders to ‘practice’ camping before actual camping. Forget something or have a crying kid? No problem; get in the car and head home. Failed at breakfast and want a good hot coffee? Simple, head down to Rollingbay Cafe and pick up coffee and pastries. Best time to visit? Probably during the May – July low tides or anytime you want to take a family photo.

Hidden Cove Park

There’s not much to Hidden Cove Park but it is a popular place for kids/families. During the summer months, the cove’s calm surface water heats up enough that kids will spend the day jumping off the dock or just hanging out. We would usually be there during the day and let the older kids take over the late afternoons.

Hidden Cove Baseball Fields and Trails

Another place we spent a lot of time was at the Hidden Cove Baseball Fields. It’s the go-to place for younger Bainbridge Island Little League teams and consists of two ballfields and a batting cage. Ironically, it’s also a great place to walk your dog but please pickup(!). Each season, the outfield grass becomes a minefield of random dog poop.

From the Hidden Cove Baseball fields, you can hike around two miles of trails that includes a path to the Hidden Cove Park waterfront area.

For more info about the Bainbridge Island’s history and Port Madison, be sure to read Picture Bainbridge: A Pictorial History of Bainbridge Island. The stories are very ‘first-person’ by neighborhood and it’s one of our favorite books about Bainbridge Island.