We’re so excited you’re coming to our adopted hometown and hope that you’ll spend some time experiencing all the great things there are to do (and drink) here. Here are some videos to show off what you have to look forward to in and around Bellingham.

Local Hikes

Oyster Dome hike – start down on Chuckanut Drive/Hwy 11 and hike a pretty steep 3.5 miles up to Oyster Dome for a magnificent view of the Chuckanut Bay and the San Juan Islands (7 mi roundtrip).

Fragrance lake hike – the trailhead is on Chuckanut Drive/Hwy 11 right across the road from Larabee state park. This is a pretty walk through old growth forest, followed by some switchbacks. It’s 2 miles up to the lake, but just one mile up to a nice lookout if that’s all you’ve got time or energy for. Suitable for kids (4 mi roundtrip).

Rainy Day Activities

Spark Museum of Electrical Invention – such a cool collection of really old electronics stuff. You can even see one of only 3 surviving Thomas Edison lightbulbs. Remington volunteers his skills here as well! Wednesday – Sunday, 11am to 5pm.

Wander around Fairhaven – the Victorian village of Fairhaven, on the water south of downtown Bellingham, has lots of shops, restaurants, and some great book stores where you can easily lose yourself for a few hours.

Drink Beer!

If Bellingham is known for anything, it is beer (and increasingly cider too). For a city with a population of only 87,000 we can apparently support one brewery per 20 adults. Here are some of our favorites:

  • Aslan Brewery – a very popular downtown spot with both indoor and outdoor seating, and a delicious food menu. Great for dinner or just drinks.
  • Twin Sisters Brewing – A newer operation in the Sunnyland neighborhood with splendid indoor and outdoor seating, plus a full bar for those who aren’t super stoked about beer.
  • Stone’s Throw Brewery – An adorable little place tucked away in Fairhaven, often has live music.
  • Elizabeth Station – near the Heliotrope Hotel has a truly dizzying array of bottled beers and ciders, plus a few on tap. Food trucks and limited seating.

Things to do with Kids

Hovander Homestead Park in Ferndale is an awesome park with historical farm equipment exhibits, a petting zoo, a river walk, and plenty of space for your insane offspring to roam.

Lightcatcher Museum in downtown Bellingham is home to the Family Interactive Gallery, a space where little ones can touch everything and play. Wednesday – Saturday, 10am to 5pm.

We also highly recommend the new Waypoint Park playground downtown Bellingham on the waterfront, and Star Park in Ferndale. Some seriously cool play structures (not that we’ve vetted them personally, but they have been endorsed by several 4-year-olds we know).