As you stick your toes in the sand, water sparkles from a warm sun that gently hits your face. A fresh breeze tousles your hair and the worries of the University of Washington escape you.

It’s the perfect island vacation — and you don’t have to go far for it.

The Puget Sound region is home to a number of stunning islands. Whether you’re looking for a state park adventure, a fun shopping trip or a relaxing getaway, crossing the water could be your best bet, especially if you don’t have a car.

But having a set of wheels is essential. It’s time to get behind those handlebars and pedal your way to the ferry dock. Braving the city hills will be worth it once you start rolling on the island shoreline.

A bike will allow you to explore a large area of an island without the price tag of a ferry ticket for a car, and you’ll be cutting down on carbon emissions. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Grab a few friends with bikes (and helmets) and head for the Sound. Your island adventure awaits you.

Vashon Island

Two things come into sight as you roll off the ferry dock: the hill of death and the hill of near death. There’s nowhere to go but up — but don’t let that scare you away. Even an inexperienced cyclist (me, for example) can make it. After the one-mile uphill ride, it flattens out until you arrive in the town center, which will take about 45 minutes. Here we stopped for some lunch before coasting downhill to KVI Beach, where we skipped stones and enjoyed the warm weather.

We followed the map we picked up on the ferry and rode the coast to the Point Robinson Lighthouse. Lucky for us, it was a Sunday, the only day the lighthouse is open for visitors (during the summer). Retired Coast Guard Capt. Joe Wubbold will show the historic landmark by appointment. For more information on lighthouse tours, visit www.lighthousefriends.com.

From here we rode up another grueling hill to get to Burton, a small section of the island that has one mom-and-pop grocery store, a bed-and-breakfast, and some homes. Its charm added to the rural feel of the island. We devoured our packed lunches and then took a 7-mile ride down the middle of the island to catch the last ferry back to Seattle.

Vashon is for those who are looking for a challenge. The ride is grueling but the incredible sightseeing makes it worth the pain.

GETTING THERE:

Because the ferry to Vashon from the Pier 50 Terminal is passenger only, you’ll have to travel to the Fauntleroy Terminal in West Seattle. Since you’ll want to save your energy for the island, I recommend taking the 70, 71, 72 or 73 downtown and transferring to the 54, which will take you to the terminal. For bus schedule information, visit tripplanner.metrokc.gov. For ferry schedule information, visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries.

Bainbridge Island

The exit from the ferry dock sets the tone for the ride: fairly mellow with a little bit of a challenge. From the boat, you’ll ride a slight incline for about half a mile until you roll into the town center. There, you can stop at the Bainbridge Island Cycle Shop where you can pick up a map of the island and any gear you may have forgotten. The employees are helpful and can point out some good cycling routes and some sightseeing opportunities.

We started out along the coast and took a break to view the Seattle skyline from a new perspective. It was an uphill climb to get back to the middle of the island, where we visited the alpaca farms, most of which are northwest of the ferry. From there, it was a long enough (and moderately hilly) ride back to the town center that stopped for lunch as soon as we arrived.

If you want to bike the whole island, it’s about 12 miles from the ferry dock to the opposite end going straight through. If you do take this route, I suggest moving to the coast for your ride back so you can take in some of the shoreline beauty.

Bainbridge is a pleasant ride for any skill level — and it’s perfect for a day trip.

GETTING THERE:

Ride downtown taking the Burke-Gilman Trail to the Fremont Bridge. Pass through South Lake Union and head southwest to get to the Seattle waterfront. You can also stick your bike on a Metro bus bike rack and take the 70, 71, 72 or 73 from the U-District. Go to the Pier 52 Terminal and ride to the car-loading zone to buy your ticket and roll aboard. For scheduling information, visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries.