The calendar still says "July," but since Bellingham schools are starting early this year (August 26!) it's not too early to start shopping for back-to-school duds for the young ones. And besides, my sources tell me it's the perfect time to catch some sizzlin' sales on summer things—and we all know there's plenty of summer to go here in the Pacific Northwest. I found some great stuff for kids from preschool through elementary at two popular kids' stores: Wild Blueberries in Fairhaven and Kids Northwest in Downtown Bellingham. Shirts, pants, dresses, leggings, jeans, shoes, hats, backpacks—whatever your small-to-medium-sized kid needs to navigate the streets, bus and hallways can be found at these two shops. Older kids probably don't need any help from me on where to find their favorite clothes. Just send them to Bellis Fair Mall, where they can have a blast shopping at 30+ stores, including H&M, Forever 21, Gap, Hollister and Aeropostalé.
With 20+ years in business, Kids Northwest is another Bellingham institution. Their Cornwall Avenue location is super convenient, with street or garage parking close by (the Parkade is just behind the store). They feature a broad selection of clothes, shoes and accessories up to size 14/16. 
In this bright and well-lit store, you'll find national clothing brands like Billabong, Roxy, Quiksilver and Columbia, as well as local favorite Red Boots Design (above, hoody and t-shirts). [caption id="attachment_25739" align="aligncenter" width="550"]
Cute girls' styles for fall, and some for summer, too![/caption] [caption id="attachment_25736" align="aligncenter" width="550"]
For older boys, sharp-looking stripes plus a glow-in-the-dark Apollo shirt![/caption] Kids Northwest specializes in fitting high-quality shoes on feet of all sizes. From brightly colored Bogs boots for pre-schoolers, to cool Merrell hikers for older kids, you'll find the right style for any PNW day. Other popular brands include New Balance, Keen, Teva, Toms and Plae, a breathable, washable and durable shoe brand made just for kids. [caption id="attachment_25737" align="aligncenter" width="550"]
How cute are these boots? And colorful Toms shoes are a big hit with any age group.[/caption] When I stopped by Kids Northwest, the store was filled with excited kids choosing jackets for a cool-weather vacation at Whistler, and shoes for a weekend adventure. The happy vibe is cultivated by store owners Janet and Mike, who know their product lines very well, and are ready to help you find just the right thing for a birthday, a vacation and of course, back-to-school. 
Kids Northwest 1319 Cornwall Ave. Bellingham, WA 98225 360-676-6051 Monday – Friday: 10:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Saturday: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Kids Northwest on Facebook
