At 2:30 on a recent Sunday afternoon, the Steilacoom gently nudged into the Anderson Island ferry landing.

Driving off the boat, I entered a 7.7-square-mile get-a-way from the hustle of the Pacific Northwest and into history.

The southernmost island in Puget Sound, Anderson Island, received its name in 1841 from Navy Capt. Charles Wilkes, leader of the United States Exploring Expedition.

Given a warm reception at Fort Nisqually by Alexander Anderson, the chief trader of the Hudson Bay Company, and William McNeill, captain of the HBC's steamship Beaver, Wilkes named two islands after them.

He also held the first 4th of July celebration west of the Mississippi in what is now DuPont, Washington.

"This island is the best kept secret in the Puget Sound area," Danielle Wyman told me as my children and I enjoyed drinks at the Anderson Island Café, next door to the Anderson Island's only General Store.

"And it's gorgeous as well."

Two-lane roads meander through the island, making it easy to explore by bike or car.   

Fifteen minutes after leaving the Steilacoom, I pulled into a driveway leading to the Anderson Island Vineyards.  

Eighty yards later, I found a piece of heaven.

Barely a year old, this micro-sized winery anticipates a production of about 300 cases of the juice of the grape.

"Everything we do is done by hand," commented Alan Buckley, who co-owns the vineyard with his wife, Gayle TenBrink.

Only quality here.

"We grow our own grapes on 2.5 acres to make our wine, and that alone puts us in a select group of wineries."

The quiet setting only added to the absence of the noise found on the other side of the water.

Along with the winery, Buckley and TenBrink also operate one of the island's vacation rentals.

"It's good here," added TenBrink, as she showed me a map highlighting Anderson's two fresh water lakes, parks, bed and breakfasts and rental cabins.

Outside in the yard, a half dozen visitors enjoyed conversation and wine in the warm afternoon sunlight.

"The kayaking in the Sound is tremendous, and I think the best swimming hole anywhere is in Lake Josephine," added Buckley.

I left the vineyard for the Steilacoom to begin the trip back to the mainland.  Once aboard, I asked one of the ship's deckhands what he thought of the island.

"It's quaint and quiet, and that's hard to find anywhere."