Unlike the area's Bainbridge Island, Vashon Island isn't accessible via a bridge. This means all visitors have to take a ferry ride and arrange their trip around the scheduled departure times.

Although the ferry can accommodate cars for an extra fee, I didn't bring one with me on this journey.

To get to the Fauntleroy ferry terminal in West Seattle, I took a couple of buses from the Seattle–Tacoma International Airport. When I arrived, I bought a $6.50 ticket at a booth inside the tiny terminal.

Though only about a dozen of us boarded the 1,200-passenger ship, I saw many cars waiting to get on the ferry.

Needless to day, I was glad to be a foot passenger.

The ferry had an open deck with no seats and an indoor sitting area with booths and wooden benches.

During the 20-minute ride, I admired evergreen-clad views of West Seattle and the Puget Sound area (a system of interconnected waterways off Washington's northwest coast).

I also noticed a snack bar stocked with chips and beverages, but I planned on having dinner soon, so I didn't grab anything while on board.

Sure enough, we soon arrived at Vashon Island's docks. Once we docked, I caught a ride to my lodging about 4 miles from the terminal.

The following day, I visited a farm called Vashon Llamas, which offers a reservation-only llama happy hour for only $10.

The 90-minute happy-hour experience allows visitors to enjoy their own snacks and drinks, and pet llamas on the farm.

The happy-hour experience was adorable. One by one, llamas approached my table, and I got to pet them and feed them treats. For dessert, they munched on evergreen needles.

The farm's owner, Kelly, told me about how she transported her herd of 14 llamas from Wyoming to Vashon years ago, so even they have taken the Washington State Ferry.

While on the island, I also stopped at Oscar the Bird King, a large wooden sculpture by Danish artist Thomas Dambo that was installed in 2023.

To get there, I followed signs to the sculpture in Point Robinson Park, located on the east shore of Maury Island, which is connected to Vashon Island.

Overall, I loved my visit to Vashon Island, and taking the ferry there was easy and cheap at only $6.50.

The people I met were friendly — and one local I met even drove me back to the ferry terminal after my three-night stay.

Visiting the island and dining with the llamas was a priceless experience, and I'd recommend it to anyone looking for something to do in the Seattle area.

This story was originally published on December 14, 2024, and most recently updated on December 16, 2024.

I boarded my train at the platform of Messina Centrale in Sicily.

The train arrived in two segments, which passengers boarded separately.

My train had hardly left the station when it approached the waterfront and a special ferry.

It slowly crept down the pier and effortlessly rolled onto the ship, using tracks cut directly into the deck.

After the train was secured on board, the ferry's engines rumbled and the vessel continued on its path across the notorious waterway.

The train doors opened and passengers were allowed to freely walk around the boat.

Like other ferries in Europe and North America I've been on, this boat had plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, a small café serving snacks, and so-so bathrooms.

Train passengers could stay in the car but I found the best part of the trip was taking in the views and fresh air from the outside deck.

The boat traveled through Messina Harbor then made a full turn, giving passengers impressive views of the towering seaside city.

It took us about 35 minutes to cross the waterway.

As we approached mainland Italy, an announcement asked passengers to reboard the trains. The ferry docked a few minutes later and the train cars slowly backed off the boat.

We stopped at San Giovanni station for about 20 minutes while the cars were reconnected. From there, we continued along the coast of Italy, passing long sandy beaches and the aquamarine Tyrrhenian Sea.

Eventually, after a few hours, I reached Naples — the end of my voyage.

The train ticket from Sicily to Naples cost just under $30, which included carry-on luggage I could bring on board. In total, the trip took about six hours.

A flight from Sicily to Naples would've taken about an hour, though it'd likely cost more than double the price.

Plus, if I'd flown I would've missed this unique experience and views of so much of the gorgeous Italian coastline.

The ferry boarded at the Long Wharf pier in Boston's waterfront area. We showed up for our 9 a.m. ferry about 15 minutes early and quickly walked onto the vessel after showing an employee our mobile tickets.

Our ferry had three levels and a mix of indoor and outdoor seating options.

When we boarded, the seats along the windows on the first level were all taken, so we sat toward the center of the cabin.

The first level had a snack bar, a few decently sized bathrooms, and a deck space where some passengers put their bikes.

It was a little chilly outside, but I was glad I got to spend some time on the second-level deck.The trip took a little over an hour and a half, and we had nice views of the Boston skyline and the vast ocean.

Disembarking onto Provincetown's MacMillan Pier took no more than a few minutes.

We walked past artisan shacks lining the pier to Commercial Street, P-town's main drag. There, we stopped at a café for coffee and a bite to eat.

During a previous visit to P-town, I remembered seeing shuttle buses to a nearby beach. After a quick Google search, I learned there was a bus picking up passengers hourly at MacMillan Pier, so we headed back there.

The bus stop was marked and easy to find. We rode the bus for about 10 minutes and got off at Race Point Beach, the northernmost beach on the Cape Cod National Seashore. Despite the chilly weather, there were plenty of beachgoers in the area.

The dune and ocean views were worth the trip, and we even noticed a few seals in the water.

We had a late lunch at The Canteen, an elevated seafood shack with outdoor seating and harbor views, where I grabbed a lobster roll.

No Cape Cod trip is complete without ice cream, so we also got a scoop at The Nut House, a quaint candy shop and ice-cream joint.

Although there's plenty to do on a rainy day in Provincetown — see a drag show, eat at one of the many restaurants, or catch a movie at the theater — I was ready to head back on the 5:30 p.m. ferry.

Because I purchased ticket insurance, the attendant on the wharf was able to change my original 9 p.m. departure time in seconds.

Even with rain rolling in, the ride home was almost as smooth as the first trip. The sunset poked through the clouds as we pulled up to Boston's Long Wharf just after 7 p.m.

The fast ferry is a great option for carless tourists or Boston residents who want to experience Cape Cod for a day or a weekend.

The $120 price tag might be more than what I'd typically spend, but I think it was worth turning a three-hour drive into a 90-minute ferry ride.

Cap's Place, which is located on a peninsula between Lake Placid and Florida's Intracoastal Waterway, ferries customers to the restaurant in a custom-built water taxi that can hold up to 25 people.

To get to the restaurant in time for our 7 p.m. reservation, we drove through winding neighborhood streets until we reached Cap's Dock, marked with a wooden sign next to a marina.

We parked in the lot and made our way to the dock, where we admired the views of Lake Placid.

We didn't see the boat at the dock at first, so we called the restaurant. The staff assured us the captain would be back shortly, and sure enough, the boat was at Cap's Dock within minutes.

When he arrived, the captain told us the boat makes trips back and forth to the dock all evening. If the boat isn't at the port, guests can trust it will return soon.

When we sat down, the boat felt cozy and elegant. The perimeter of the open-air cabin was lined with seating, and the entire area was covered by a small roof.

The ride to the restaurant, which took about 10 minutes, felt like traveling to a tropical island. The restaurant is surrounded by mangroves and just out of sight from Cap's Dock.

Along the way, we passed stately mansions, yachts anchored at private docks, and graceful birds flying above the calm water.

The boat ride was free (though tips are appreciated). We tipped $10 on both our rides to and from the restaurant.

Even before walking up the path to Cap's Place, I felt like I'd arrived in old Florida — a time when the state's natural beauty ran wild. The only sound was the lapping of the water against the dock.

We followed a path made of wooden planks that led directly to the restaurant and bar at Cap's Place.

The restaurant is owned and managed by the three children of Al Hasis, who helped Captain Eugene Theodore Knight, or "Cap," found the restaurant nearly 100 years ago.

At least one of the siblings — Talle, Ted, and Tom — can usually be found at the restaurant during operating hours.

As I walked into the bar, I noticed newspaper clippings, photos, nautical items, and art prints depicting the restaurant's long history hanging on the walls.

I loved learning about the restaurant's construction (it was originally built on a beached barge) and looking at pictures from the owners' childhood.

At the bar, we ordered two drinks and conversed with one of the owners, Tom.

As we drank, he told us stories about the restaurant's success during Prohibition, when smuggling alcohol from Bimini (a district in the Bahamas) was a known service.

He also told us about some of the celebrities — like Joe DiMaggio —who he said dined at Cap's Place.

We spent $30 on a vodka tonic and a glass of wine, including the tip.

When we moved to the restaurant, which is adjacent to the bar, Talle showed us to our table. The dining area, a spacious wood-frame building filled with large glass windows, offered beautiful water views.

We ordered an Okeechobee hearts of palm salad and another glass of wine. Cap's Place specializes in seafood, so we got the Maryland-style crab cakes and yellowtail snapper as entrées.

It was some of the most delicious fare I've ever eaten. For dessert, we split a piece of key-lime pie, which was sweet and tangy.

We spent $150 on our dinner, including the tip.

At about 10 p.m., we headed to the dock and caught the boat back to the port.

Along the way, soft glittering lights from houses reflected on the water, and there was a nice breeze. It was a magnificent evening out.

Since our dinner at Cap's Place, I've been telling everyone how remarkable this historic restaurant was. The boat ride, the food, and the owners of the restaurant were amazing.

Altogether, we spent about $200 on food, drinks, and tips. It's more than I'd normally pay for a night out, but it feels worth it for a place steeped in Florida history.

I can't wait to take the short boat journey and enjoy the delicious food at Cap's Place again.