A COLLEGE TOWN with true Northwest flair makes for adventure in Bellingham.
Fairhaven
This historic district, located south of downtown, is bustling with cobblestones and brick buildings left over from the late 1800s, when the city was a hub for men heading north to hunt for gold. Today, the historic brick buildings house boutiques, galleries, toy stores, salons, restaurants, and much more, including the region’s first Carnegie-funded library, built in 1903. Here too is Village Books, an independent bookstore on steroids.
Old Town
On the waterfront just west of downtown, Old Town houses a bevy of quaint shops and homespun eateries, such as breakfast- and lunch- favorite Old Town Cafe. Antique-hunters won’t want to miss the Old Town Antique Mall, featuring three floors of vintage furniture, jewelry, pottery, records, hats, and clothing. A brisk walk up Prospect Street brings you to the Whatcom Museum (whatcommuseum.org), resplendent with Victorian cupolas and a central clock tower.
Chuckanut Drive
The 21-mile scenic route between Bellingham and the Skagit Valley winds a dramatic cliff-side drive above the rocky shoreline of Chuckanut Bay. Along with sweeping views of the San Juan Islands, you’ll find secluded beaches and challenging hikes. Those in search of something more serene can cozy up to a table (and a spectacular view) at Chuckanut Manor or the Oyster Bar. —DIANE MAPES
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