Vashon Island today is a glimpse of what the Northwest was 30 years ago. Time has stood still for us. Vashon has remained a great, nature first community for one reason.. we are surrounded by water and thus insulated from the fast paced, pave everything way people are living. There are a number of ways to get to Vashon Island. One of the great things about Vashon is that it is surrounded by water. Not every yahoo can just walk on over and start cutting down trees.