WEDGED BETWEEN Seattle and Vancouver, B.C., this region stretches from Cascades to coast and includes the little city of Bellingham, the diverse Skagit Valley, and a whole lot of latte.
Bellingham has the most drive-through espresso stands per capita in the country. Actress Hilary Swank hails from Bellingham; the band Death Cab for Cutie was born here. The Bellingham Scottish Highland Games take place every summer, complete with a Scottish Idol singing competition.
All of April is dedicated to the Skagit Valley Tulip Celebration (tulipfestival.org), a 29-yearold tradition.
La Conner’s Quilt and Textile Museum, situated in a 121-year-old mansion, is home to hundreds of historic quilts.
Sedro-Woolley’s Loggerodeo is the longest continuously running Independence Day celebration in the state.
The Henry Thompson Bridge was the longest single-span cement bridge in the West when it was constructed almost a hundred years ago, and is now on the National Register of Historic Places.
It’s said that Mount Shuksan, which can be viewed from stops along State Route 542, is one of the most photographed peaks in the world. —ANNE LARKIN
Read More About North Cascades
A Dixieland jazz band plays on a street corner as I roll down the hill toward Bellingham's Fairhaven district, its red brick buildings glowing in the morning sun.
Don't Miss
Vibrant swaths of red, pink, and yellow tulips flood to the horizon ...
From our Archives
Chuckanut Drive
ONCE A BURGEONING MIDCENTURY RESORT TOWN nestled on Washingtons northern coast, Birch Bay has quietly receded from the limelight like an ebb tide.
An hour-by-hour guide to bustling Bellingham
An edible tour of the Skagit Valley
WEDGED BETWEEN Seattle and Vancouver, B.C., this region stretches from Cascades to coast and includes the little city of Bellingham, the diverse Skagit Valley, and a whole lot of latte.
FEATHERS, FLOWERS, and a sophisticated food scene, all in author Tom Robbins Skagit Valley.
AN ANCIENT OCEAN FLOOR and sweeping mountain views spread out in front of poet Gary Snyder when he manned a fire lookout on Crater Mountain, high in the North Cascades, in the 1950s.
A COLLEGE TOWN with true Northwestflair makes for adventure in Bellingham.
ITS THE PERFECT introduction to the breathtaking North Cascades:a seven-mile loop trail that starts in an old-growth forest of fir,hemlock, and spruce; traverses meadows resplendent with glacierlilies and Indian paintbrush; circles the sparkling green jewel ofLake Ann; and ascends to Maple Pass (6,600 feet) for stunning views of snowcladGlacier Peak and a 360-degree panorama of the American Alps.
Washington grows 92 percent of thenations red raspberries, and most ofthem come from this area. With theSalish Sea to the west and the CascadeMountains to the east, the region providesa distinctly Northwest bounty.
From the Chuckanut foothills to the bay,Bellingham is popular with outdoorenthusiasts. But this medium-size collegetown is also bursting with indie cultureofferings that rival those of big cities.
NICKNAMED THE AMERICAN ALPS, the North Cascades offer a stunning backdrop for outdoor enthusiasts. Here, youll find magnificent 9,000-foot peaks, glistening glaciers, sea-green lakes, and rolling hills eventually giving way to peaceful farmland.
Find Out More
Please visit our Tourism Partners
Bellingham/Whatcom County Tourism
800-487-2032
City of Blaine
800-624-3555
Skagit Tours
877-875-2448