By Karen Pruett

For The Beachcomber

Well, the question remains: “How would we brand ourselves?”

After watching Seattle change from the Queen City to the Jet City to the Emerald City, it is important for Vashon to be thoughtful about branding. The visual will stick in the mind for a long time to come.

So, given the opportunity, how would one brand a place that has foiled all attempts to be something other than a pretty, little Island? And as we morph from an agricultural culture to a bedroom community, even the Strawberry Festival may need a renovation in the coming decades. If we must choose, then we must choose wisely.

If I branded Vashon’s identity and uniqueness, it would be “A neighborhood where we can drive from Seattle to Tacoma with no traffic lights.” If I branded Vashon as a tourist destination, it would be “Getaway to the Heart of the Sound.”

Of course, many of us have a tale to tell about impolite tourists, but they are here whether we want them or not. So, while it’s important to cater to Islanders for the cake, we can use tourist money for the frosting.

Since we are a ferry ride from three cities and folks will spend $20 on gas to get to the mountains or the ocean, why not a ferry ticket to the next-door Island? And visitors that have a place to stay will not be frantic to catch a ferry.

But to be successful we have to get organized — we don’t even have a directory that lists all the business and professional entities on Vashon. What is currently available has most, but not all, of the information in a single place. Many business owners are already paying to be part of existing directories, but we would love to be part of an all-inclusive directory that would benefit Islanders as well.

Personally, I’m on the side of packaging our B&B’s with existing businesses. Many Islanders are already voicing this view, and it seems to be the logical choice, plus the ways we could mix and match are endless. Even the realtors have mentioned that open houses attract folks looking to spend the night. Create fun getaways using the restaurants, music, art, spas, tours and shops. The beaches, with their parking issues, are a challenge, but could also be worked in as long as the neighborhoods are respected.

Weekend getaways at a B&B coupled with a meal at one of our fabulous restaurants and featuring a tour or event sounds like paradise for those seeking respite from city life. Animal lovers would enjoy a birding tour by Ed Swan or a few hours petting the kitties at VIPP’s Purr-fect Palace or horseback riding at one of the stables. Add in a trip to Pandora’s Box and that’s a fun day.

Or how about a weekend class in history at Vashon College, a trip to the museum and an Island tour — everybody wants to know where the Jesus Barn was. And we are so good at the music, art tours and gallery openings that it’s a piece of cake to package them with a B&B and dinner.

A busy couple would love a massage, bottle of Vashon wine and box of chocolates by Barbara Stratton. The Quartermaster Inn is a package all by itself, music included. And don’t forget agriculture: Off-Islanders love the lavender tours; what about the organic farms or historic barn tours?

Everything is already here and the world wants us — our weirdness, our wonderfulness and all that comes with it. Cha-ching!

— Karen Pruett is an Island business owner.