Bellingham, WA Road Trips

Its status as the northernmost city is not widely known, as the state of Maine in the Northeast often appears to be further north on many maps. The historic Fairhaven District at the south end of the city is probably the most tourist-oriented area, with a number of nice shops and restaurants. Many of the buildings in Fairhaven date back to the late 19th and early 20th century. Beautiful historic homes overlook the bay from the South Hill neighborhood, just north of Fairhaven. Western Washington University on the flank of Sehome Hill boasts an outdoor sculpture garden and adjoins the Sehome Hill Arboretum, with a number of trails and a lookout tower at the top. Downtown lies to the north of the University. Although less touristy than Fairhaven, it is still vibrant during regular business hours, and caters to college revelers at night. The city was formed in 1903 when the cities of New Whatcom and Fairhaven consolidated from what were once four separate settlements. The local economy got its start in resource extraction, notably coal and timber. The Georgia-Pacific mill on the waterfront, whose site is now being redeveloped into a dynamic mixed-use neighborhood, sustained the local economy for many years. Employment has diversified from heavy industry to education, services, tourism, and retail. Environmentally friendly practices, such as recycling, are part of the culture here. Bellingham is known for being a town that cares for its environment and its residents enjoy the many outdoor activities the region supports.

1 Eldridge Avenue Historical District, Eldridge Ave. (updated Mar 2016) 2 Roeder Home, 2600 Sunset Dr, ☏ +1 360-384-3444. Built between 1903 and 1908, it is recognized on the National Register of Historic Places. (updated Mar 2016) 3 Spark Museum of Electrical Invention, 1312 Bay St, ☏ +1 360-738-3886. W-Su 11AM-5PM. 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. (updated Jan 2018) 4 Whatcom Museum, 250 Flora Street, ☏ +1 360-778-8930. 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. 5 Whatcom Falls Park, 1401 Electric Ave. 6AM-10PM. 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. (updated Mar 2021) 6 Alternative Library, 1309 Billy Frank Jr St. A cooperative lending library and community arts center. (updated Dec 2018) 7 Sehome Hill Arboretum, ☏ +1 360-778-7000. 6AM-dusk. (updated Jul 2019)

Deming Speedway. A 1/6 mile clay oval auto racing track, on the Mount Baker Highway (updated Nov 2024) 1 Hannegan Speedway, 4212 Hannegan Rd, ☏ +1 360-734-8295. Where Mount Baker Motorcycle Club does motocross off-road races. (updated Mar 2016) 2 Mount Baker Theatre, 104 N. Commercial St, ☏ +1 360-734-6080. 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. (updated Jan 2018) 3 Up Front Theatre, 207 Prospect St, ☏ +1 360-200-8697, [email protected]. Th-Sa 7:30PM and 9:30PM. 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. $10 ($8 with student ID). 4 Waterfront Bike Park (Waterfront Pump Track), 1100 Granary Ave. A large bike terrain park amidst industrial relics between downtown and the water, with beginner, intermediate and advanced jump lines. (updated Jul 2025) April Brews Day. Last Saturday in April. 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. Ski to Sea Race. Memorial Day weekend (fourth Sunday in May).

1 The Bagelry, 1319 Railroad Ave (between Holly and Magnolia), ☏ +1 360-676-5288, fax: +1 360-676-9703. M-F 6:30AM–5PM; Sa 7:30AM–4PM; Su 8AM–3PM. 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. Bagels $0.85, sandwiches $4.35-6.05, omelettes $4.85-6.45. 2 The Daisy Café, 114 West Magnolia Street #102 (at Cornwall Street), ☏ +1 360-733-8996. M–F 7:30AM–2:30PM, Sa Su 7:30AM–2PM. Breakfasts (pancakes, omelettes, and the like) and lunches (burgers, pizzas, and the like) in a bright, friendly environment. $7-11. 3 Mallard Ice Cream, 1323 Railroad Ave, ☏ +1 360-734-3884. M-W 8:30AM-10PM, Th-F 8:30AM-11PM, Sa 11AM-11PM, Su 11AM-10PM. In downtown. Serves a wide variety of ice cream and other desserts. Favorite of locals, and the servers are very friendly. 4 The Swan Café & Deli, 1220 North Forest Street (in Community Food Co-op Downtown), ☏ +1 360-734-8158. 7AM-9PM. 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. $8-10. (updated Apr 2023) 5 Taco Lobo, 117 W Magnolia St (downtown). A great place to get fresh, inexpensive Mexican food and many kinds of homemade salsa. It's the best Mexican in town.

1 Gruff Brewing Co, 104 E Maple St #101. Tu-Th 3PM-11PM, F-Su 11AM-11PM. (updated Jan 2018) 2 Boundary Bay Brewery, 1107 Railroad Ave, ☏ +1 360-647-5593. Su-W 11AM-10PM, Th-Sa 11AM-11PM. (updated Jan 2018) 3 Aslan Brewing Co, 1330 N Forest St, ☏ +1 360-393-4106. Su-Th 11AM-11PM, F Sa 11AM-midnight. (updated Jan 2018) 4 Wander Brewing, 1807 Dean Ave, ☏ +1 360-647-6152. M-Th 3PM-9PM, F Sa noon-10PM, Su noon-7PM. (updated Jan 2018) 5 Menace Brewing, 2529 Meridian St, ☏ +1 360-306-3457. M-Th 3PM-10PM, F Sa 3PM-11PM, Su 1PM-10PM. (updated Jan 2018) 6 Vartanyan Estate Winery, 1628 Huntley Rd (I-5, exit 255, Mt Baker Hwy-3 miles, left on Noon Rd-less than 1 mile, left on Huntley Rd), ☏ +1 360-756-6770. 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!

1 MorningGlory Inn & Suits, 3750 Meridian (just off of I-5 at the Bellis Fair Mall exit), ☏ +1 360-671-4600. $59–99. 2 Bellis Inn, 3710 Meridian, ☏ +1 360-738-6000. Part of the Choice Hotels group. $59–99. 3 Four Points by Sheraton, 714 Lakeway Dr, ☏ +1 360-671-1011. A full service hotel including two restaurants, a martini bar, indoor pool and hot tub. "The Lakeway" is often used for conventions and meetings. $99-159. (updated Oct 2018) 4 Comfort Inn, 4282 Meridian St, ☏ +1 360-738-1100, [email protected]. 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. $109-179. 5 The Chrysalis Inn and Spa, 804 10th St, ☏ +1 360-756-1005. 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. (updated Oct 2016) 6 Fairhaven Village Inn, 1200 10th St, ☏ +1 360-733-1311. 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.

Bellingham is about 80 miles north of Seattle and 55 miles south of Vancouver, BC. 1 Bellingham International Airport (BLI IATA) (west on Airport Way from Exit #258 off of I-5), ☏ +1 360-676-6286 (parking information). The major airport for the North Cascades area between Seattle and Vancouver, BC. (updated Mar 2016) 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), and from Seattle (45-50 minutes) with: Alaska Airlines, toll-free: +1-800-252-7522. A major airline in the United States, with flights from nearby Seattle Tacoma International Airport to enable easy connections from national and international flights. (updated Apr 2024) Allegiant Air, ☏ +1-702-505-8888. A low-cost airline operating across the United States of America, primarily targeted at leisure travelers visiting tourist destinations in warmer climates. To Bellingham there are flights from Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Oakland, Palm Springs (seasonal), Phoenix-Mesa, and San Diego (seasonal). (updated Apr 2024) San Juan Airlines, toll-free: +1-800-874-4434, [email protected]. Operates flights to Bellingham from the San Juan Islands such as Eastsound, Friday Harbor and Lopez Island. Also offers chartered air services to British Columbia and the San Juan Islands. (updated Apr 2022) Major national rental car agencies at the Bellingham Airport are: Avis, ☏ +1 360-676-8840. (updated Apr 2023) Budget Rent A Car, ☏ +1 360-671-3800.

You can get around on foot within the Fairhaven district, downtown, and the University, but transportation between these areas is best by bicycle, car, or bus. 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. Downtown Bellingham, though small, is something of a maze, with many odd angles and one-way streets. It may be helpful to have a detailed map handy when navigating this area. Free maps are available at the Visitor Center just off I-5 at exit 253. Some Whatcom County roads outside of Bellingham are referred to by locals with a preceding the: Guide Meridian is "The Guide," and so on. Because traffic is relatively light and parking is relatively easy, most locals get around by car. Many students, some ecologically-minded souls, and other people walk, ride a bicycle, or use the local buses. 6 Fountain Rental & Leasing, 2010 Broadway St, ☏ +1 360-733-7420. A family-run business with multiple types of vehicles for rent at affordable rates. In line with Bellingham's culture, they even offer electric cars for rent. (updated Mar 2016) 7 Whatcom Transportation Authority (WTA), 4111 Bakerview Spur, ☏ +1 360-676-7433. $3 for a day pass. (updated Mar 2016) WTA operates a public transit network through the county, including within Bellingham. Also operates services between Bellingham and Blaine, Ferndale, Lynden, and Sumas. Many routes operate 7 days per week, but many only operate Monday to Saturday.

The crime rate is relatively low for an urban area by American standards. Violent crime perpetrated by strangers is nearly unheard of, but property crime is more common. If you are parked at a trailhead or in a park, keep your valuables out of sight, or better yet leave them where you're staying. There are few areas of the city that couldn't be considered safe at all hours of the day and night. The downtown bar scene sometimes attracts a drunk and somewhat rowdy crowd at night, and a few street corners downtown attract groups of loiterers that have occasionally become belligerent. But overall no unusual precautions need be taken. Certain areas in Alabama neighborhood should be avoided. When hiking in the area, it's not unusual to have to cross the railroad tracks that hug the shoreline south of the city, or in some cases walk along the tracks (though both are considered trespassing). Stay alert: while the many freight trains that pass through make plenty of noise, the passenger trains are surprisingly quiet and can easily sneak up on an unwary hiker. 5 St. Joseph Medical Center, 2901 Squalicum Pkwy, ☏ +1 360-734-5400. Operated by a not-for-profit healthcare system. (updated Mar 2023)