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City in Washington, United States
Photo: Van Peltekian, CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Bellingham, the "City of Subdued Excitement", is a city of 92,000 people in northwest Washington State, on Bellingham Bay. It is known for its laid-back, progressive style, and is committed to caring for its environment. Western Washington University attracts students from across the region. This keeps the city relatively young and vibrant, and contributes to an unusually rich local cultural scene. Outdoor adventure is a key reason why people live and visit here, as it's within an hour of Mount Baker skiing, the North Cascades and the salt waters around the San Juan Islands.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
Built between 1903 and 1908, it is recognized on the National Register of Historic Places.
Houses a collection of over 1,000 vintage radios and offers visitors the chance to listen to radio programs from the 1930s, and a glimpse into a replica of the Titanic's radio room.
The museum consists of three buildings. The Lightcatcher building at 250 Flora St contains art galleries, a family interactive gallery, a museum store, and a cafe. The Old City Hall, a major red-brick presence in downtown build in 1892 at 121 Prospect St contains permanent and rotating exhibits. Syre Education Center at 201 Prospect St contains photo archives.
A beautiful park at the center of the city with a depression-era sandstone bridge overlooking Whatcom Falls, a cascade of water that drops 20 feet directly towards the city, down to Whatcom Creek. Numerous paths connect to the city's system of bicycle and pedestrian trails. Part of this park was the site of a massive pipeline explosion in 1999.
A cooperative lending library and community arts center.
A 1/6 mile clay oval auto racing track, on the Mount Baker Highway
Where Mount Baker Motorcycle Club does motocross off-road races.
Built in 1927, is listed on the register of National Historic Places; its Moorish style architecture is a vibrant setting for Broadway shows, family programs, and rock acts.
Founded by local improv comic Ryan Stiles, this theatre offers a mixture of improvisational comedy shows by local and touring performers. See the web site for details about current shows. Generally, the earlier show is more kid-friendly. The Up Front also offers classes in improv comedy.
Waterfront Pump Track
A large bike terrain park amidst industrial relics between downtown and the water, with beginner, intermediate and advanced jump lines.
Bellingham's biggest party. This benefit event brings in local brewers (and some not-so-local) for a 5-hour-long beer tasting bash. Nearly two dozen brewers compete for judges' and people's choice awards. Proceeds go to the local Max Higbee Center, which provides recreational opportunities for the developmentally disabled.
A historical race held in Bellingham. The race has been held annually since 1973. It consists of an eight man team that travels 85 miles from Mount Baker to Bellingham Bay, each individual does a different event. The events start with cross-country skiing, then it goes to downhill skiing, running, bicycling, canoeing, mountain biking and sea kayaking. There are many other fun family activities leading up to the race also on Memorial Day weekend, such as parades, art shows, and boat shows. The weekend prior to the main race on is the Junior Ski to Sea Race. This is a wonderful activity for all the kids.
Watch loggers perform daredevil maneuvers and feats of strength, and check out the equipment and truck displays.
A three-day cycling festival, offering world-class mountain biking trails with races, demos, skill clinics, and group rides for both serious riders and casual enthusiasts. The evenings feature live performances from national and regional artists, craft beer, and family-friendly activities.
Motor boats are banned on this smaller lake, so it is ideal for relaxed kayaking, rowing, or swimming. The lake can be circled on shady paths in an hour or so of easy walking. Lake Padden also offers the best off leash dog park in the county with two acres of completely fenced area for dogs to run and socialize.
This lake lies to the east of the City. It is a 9.2-mile long lake that also serves as a drinking water reservoir for about 88,000 local residents. Bloedel-Donovan park offers a swimming area, and the North Lake Whatcom trail offers a good view of the less-developed half of the lake.
This wooded, scenic park covers the west flank of Chuckanut mountain, from campsites at the shore of Puget Sound, via extensive hiking and horse trails, to scenic mountaintop overlooks. There are plenty of roads and parking lots accessible to 2WD vehicles. A south- and west-facing vista near the top of Chuckanut mountain is a popular launch site for local paragliders. There are a couple of picnic sites.
Sailing on the first plug in diesel electric hybrid charter boat on the West Coast.
Whale watching
13 kinds of bagels, baked fresh on the premises. 12 cream cheese spreads. Bagel-based sandwiches and omelettes for breakfast, lunch, and snacks. Plenty of tables for eating with friends, rapid service for take-out. The Bagelry is a great place for a bagel.
Breakfasts (pancakes, omelettes, and the like) and lunches (burgers, pizzas, and the like) in a bright, friendly environment.
In downtown. Serves a wide variety of ice cream and other desserts. Favorite of locals, and the servers are very friendly.
In the Community Food Co-op, the Swan Cafe offers a variety of healthy organic food with numerous vegetarian dishes and an in-house bakery with options for those with allergies or other dietary restrictions. Another branch at 315 Westerly Rd.
A great place to get fresh, inexpensive Mexican food and many kinds of homemade salsa. It's the best Mexican in town.
Don't be unnerved by the curious presence of sushi in a Thai restaurant. The tasty menu has some interesting touches, such as the option of dishes made with Splenda instead of sugar, and a range of vegan and vegetarian items. The large dining room includes a cocktail bar and sushi bar. Rises above the uninspiring standards of Bellis Fair-Guide Meridian area restaurants.
Opens 11AM daily. This brewery, bar, and restaurant is a good place for a drink or food. Minors are welcome in the restaurant. Seafood, steaks, and Mexican food on the menu. Try the beer sampler with a friend to get an idea of all the brews they produce.
Serves soups, salads, sandwiched, and others. Also has great desserts!
On Holly Street since 1886, it's an old-fashioned diner with breakfast most of the day and burgers for lunch and dinner, enough modern sensibility to offer free wireless internet access, and waitstaff that call you "honey" and/or sport the latest piercings. Reasonably priced.
Excellent pizza in loud, friendly environment.
Thai and Lao cuisine, with an emphasis on fresh, local ingredients. If you like Thai food, you will probably like Lao, which emphasises seafood a bit more. Most of the entrees can be made vegetarian. Friendly chef and owner Usanee Klimo combines the food of her childhood, near the Thai-Lao border, with a career in catering in the San Francisco area. The result is Maikham (pron. "my-cam").
A crêperie crossed with a café. Eggs Benedict breakfast $10.55 (served all day), Crepes with soup, salad, or potatoes $8.95, quiche, salads. Family owned and operated by Olivier Vrambout. Their "slow food" approach allows gastronomic pleasure and fun with the waiters, but means a lunch can take two hours. 15% off any one item when you arrive by bike. Cash or checks only, no credit cards.
One of the local hot-spots for weekend breakfasts, they offer a diner menu. A rich assortment of pancakes, omelettes, and home fries for breakfast. Sandwiches and grilled items for lunch. Plenty of vegetarian, organic, and locally-sourced options. They don't take reservations, so sign your name on the wait list and sit on the bench (or at the kids play area) until your turn comes up.
In the historic Fairhaven district serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner and has a late night menu. Courtyard dining next to the fire is a nice option on cool, spring evenings. Sometimes has live music.
Chuckanut Cracked Crab dinner cruises, wine and beer tasting cruises, and a full-day San Juan Adventure tour that includes whale-watching, lunch and a 2-hour stop in Friday Harbor.
5 minutes from exit 255 I-5 there is a boutique winery with its excellent wines to enjoy. Small, women-owned and -operated winery by Margarita Vartanyan produces some of the finest limited edition wines. Share the beauty and the bounty of magnificent Mount Baker view from tasting room/gallery or outside patio with the fireplace. Sample wonderful wines and check the art of local artists!
Part of the Choice Hotels group.
A full service hotel including two restaurants, a martini bar, indoor pool and hot tub. "The Lakeway" is often used for conventions and meetings.
Comfortable rooms for business or leisure travel. Offers and indoor pool, spa, and sauna. Free wireless internet, local phone calls, and local newspaper. Close to Bellis Fair mall.
A waterfront boutique hotel with day spa facilities and wine bar within walking distance to the Fairhaven Historic district. With oversized jetted tubs in each room and one of the most complete spa menus in the Northwest this is the place to go for a pampered stay.
Charming, unique Inn four blocks from the ferry and train stations in Bellingham's historic Fairhaven district. Restaurants, live music, and boutique shopping, all right out the front door, with Western Washington University just over a mile away. Complimentary breakfast, private parking, and wireless internet. Bayside rooms have a fireplace and a small balcony overlooking the harbor. Fresh cookies everyday at 3 and tea and coffee in the library. AAA and WWU rates.
High-end lodging on the waterfront with walking access to fine dining, specialty shops.
Saturdays from April through October, 10AM-2PM. Pick up local fruits, vegetables, and meats (many organics) for a barbeque. Try any of the prepared food stalls for a quick and easy lunch. Though still called a farmers' market, there are several craft and souvenir tables as well.
Bellingham's largest independent bookstore.
Anchors include Kohl's, JCPenny, Target, Dick's Sporting Goods, and Macy's (with a separate Macy's Home Store).
By plane
Flights to Bellingham include from Las Vegas (2.5 hours), from Los Angeles (3.25 hours, from Oakland (2.25 hours), from Palm Springs (3 hours), from Phoenix (3.25 hours), from San Diego (3 hours),…
By car
Interstate 5 (I-5) connects Bellingham to the Canadian border crossing at Blaine/Surrey, and to Seattle and other major Puget Sound cites. It has seven exits for Bellingham.
By train
By bus
Greyhound stops in the Fairhaven Transportation Center. The other bus companies have their regular stops in different locations around town:
By boat
By car
Parking is 75¢ per hour downtown, and notably more expensive at the University. On-street parking is available at most hours, except in resident parking areas, and there are some free lots.
By public transit
Bus routes from other communities include:
By bicycle
There is a network of bike and pedestrian paths. The City maintains an online bike map. Riding a bicycle upon a sidewalk in a business district is prohibited.
By taxi
By powered wheelchair
Powered wheelchairs can give some visitors better mobility, but are difficult to transport on airliners.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Bellingham · Regional · BLI
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