Bellingham, WA

About Bellingham

Founded in 1903, Bellingham is located on Bellingham Bay on the Puget Sound, a half hour south of the Canadian border. It is a vibrant urban community with easy access to a wide range of local interests, including the Bellingham Bay marina, boardwalk and parks, Whatcom Lake activities, urban shopping and dining areas, Whatcom Falls Park, hiking, kayaking, boating, snow skiing, ferry trips to nearby islands, and short trips into Canada.

• Discover Bellingham
• Neighborhoods
• Bellingham History

Transportation

• International Airport (10min)
• Amtrak Train Station (10min)
• Cruise Terminal (10min)
• Island Ferries (1hr)

Shopping

Shopping Areas

• Downtown Bellingham
• Historic Fairhaven
• Barkley Village
• Bellis Fair Mall

Garden Centers

• Plant nurseries
• Big box stores (e.g. Fred Meyer)
• Hardware stores

Local Character

Local Activities

• Located on Bellingham Bay
• Marina and Cruise Terminal
• Boulevard Park and boardwalk
• Waterfront Revitalization
• Fairhaven District
• Breweries and Distilleries
• Parks and hiking
• Whatcom Lake and Sudden Valley (15min)
• Chuckanut Drive
• Mt. Baker—hiking, skiing, scenic views
• Bellingham Snow (occasional)
• Northern lights in Bellingham

Markets & Dining

Restaurants & Cafes

• Restaurants
• Coffee shops
• Food trucks
• Fast food

Grocery Stores

• Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, and Haggen, Safeway, WinCo, Community Food Co-op, Fred Meyer

Farmers Markets

• Downtown Bellingham
• Barkley Village
• Fairhaven

Day Trips & Excursions

Day Trips

• Sudden Valley, Ferndale, Blaine, Birch Bay, Mt Vernon, and La Conner (15-38min)
• Deception Pass and Whidbey Island, Coupeville, and Oak Harbor (45min-1hr)
• Mt Baker hiking trails, vistas, and ski resort (1hr)
• British Columbia—White Rock (35min), Vancouver (1hr), Victoria and Vancouver Island (3hrs)
• Seattle Area—downtown Seattle, Woodenville, Ballard, Fremont, University Village, and Bellevue (1.5hrs)
• North Cascades, Diablo Lake, Snoqualimie Falls, or Leavenworth (2-3hrs)
• Olympic National Forest, Lake Quinault Lodge, and Ruby Beach (3-4hrs)
• Portland and Mt Rainier (4hrs)

Excursions (charters, ferries, and trains)

• Charters and ferries to surrounding islands, such as Lummi, the San Juan islands, Bainbridge, Victoria BC, or Port Angeles
• Themed cruises around the bay
• Whale watching charter
• Amtrak train north to Vancouver BC or south to Seattle, Portland, or San Jose
• Ferry along the Alaska Marine Highway to Ketchikan, Juno, and beyond