Attractions
local area
Attractions
Though Bellingham is smaller than neighboring metropolitan areas such as Seattle, Vancouver, or Victoria, the city and its surrounding region offer many attractions that are popular for both residents and visitors.
The Whatcom Museum of History and Art sponsors exhibits of painting, sculpture and local history. It is an active participant in the city’s monthly Gallery Walks which are walking tours of the historic buildings of the city. The Whatcom Museum of History and Art offers history and art lessons for local schools and adult groups, and historic cruises on Bellingham Bay.
The Bellingham Railway Museum is where you’ll find educational displays explaining the history of railroading in Whatcom County, as well as model trains, and a freight-train simulator.
The American Museum of Radio and Electricity is a unique local establishment that features a collection of artifacts from 1580 into the 1950s, providing educational resources about the history of electronics and radio broadcasting. The AMRE also operates a low-power FM radio station which broadcasts a number of old shows popular many decades ago, as well as programming of general interest to the local community.
Mindport is a privately funded arts and science museum, and is sometimes involved in the Gallery Walks.
The Bellingham Farmers Market is open on Saturdays from early April through late December. Originally opened in 1993, the Farmers Market now features more than 50 vendors, music and community events. There is a tradition that on opening day a cabbage is thrown by a city official to a long-standing vendor. The association also operates a weekly Wednesday market in nearby Fairhaven.
The scenic splendor of Bellingham and Whatcom County is appreciated by residents and tourists. Whatcom Falls Park is a 241-acre public park encompassing the Whatcom Creek gorge, running directly through the heart of the city. It has four sets of waterfalls and several miles of walking trails, and is a hub of outdoor activity connecting and defining several different Bellingham neighborhoods. Popular warmer-weather activities include swimming, fishing, and strolling along the numerous walking trails.
Mount Baker Ski Area is home to many of the world’s first snowboarding champions, and it holds the world record for the greatest amount of snowfall in one season (winter 1998 -1999). During most years the depth of accumulated snow exceeds 12 feet and results in the closure of the ski area before the end of the winter months.
Chuckanut Drive (Washington State Route 11) offers cliffside views of the sea, the San Juan Islands, the hills and forests of the Chuckanut mountains, and several small picturesque bays along the edge of the Salish Sea.
Lake Whatcom is a beautiful natural resource which provides the local public water supply and is the source of Whatcom Creek. Around Lake Whatcom and the region of Lake Padden there are several large foothills of the Cascades, including North Lookout Mountain, known locally as Galbraith Mountain. Several miles from Bellingham in the southern part of Whatcom County there are many places enjoyed by vacationers and outdoor enthusiasts, including: Larrabee State Park (popular for hiking), Lake Padden (popular for swimming, fishing and golfing), and Lake Samish. In the waters of the Georgia Strait and Puget Sound it is possible to go whale watching. Several pods of orcas (killer whales) are known to travel from the open Pacific Ocean into the area, and these huge aquatic creatures can be seen swimming and hunting near the local bays and islands.
