It feels counterintuitive, but some of the best early-season hiking in the Cascades is to the north of Seattle. The Chuckanut Mountains near Bellingham are the only part of the Cascade Range in Washington that meets the sea. Topping out at 2,300 feet, they usually stay out of the snow zone, and that makes them a perfect destination for early spring when most of the Cascades are still a muddy mess. Head north, get the season’s first hike out of the way and you can make a side trip to the beautiful Fairhaven District of Bellingham (fairhaven.com), a bustling place filled with history, nice shops, restaurants — and even a few ghosts. Read the full feature about hikes in Bellingham and ways to explore Bellingham's beer scene, here.
