Bellingham Technical College just unveiled a new $650,000 grant to strengthen their STEM programs. In 2019 Bellingham Technical College will be offering 12 students a free ride to study engineering and change their lives. “Whenever you say ‘Hey! I got a bunch of money for you to go to school.’ Students are like yeah! I […]

Western Washington University is working to ignite local kids’ interest in STEM careers. “Our state lags behind in the number of kids with bachelor degrees, in the stem fields, and just generally in higher education.” Paul Cocke, Director of Communication WWU explained. WWU is working to bring students in Whatcom County above those statistics, using […]

From the busy bees to the rabbits along the shoreline, Squalicum Creek already draws a lot of visitors. Construction partially wrapped up on Phase Two to reroute Squalicum Creek — a project to create a better habitat for salmon. “The point of this project was to put it in a more confined channel and put shade over […]

From the moment boaters arrive at 5,000-acre Lake Whatcom inspections begin. “We’re looking for any animals, plants, mud, water,” said Teagan Ward, Coordinator the Lake Whatcom’s Aquatic Invasive Species Program. Read the full story here. 

Three days of derby all come down to this — the weigh in. Empty trailers sat ready and waiting in a packed parking lot at Squalicum Harbor Marina for hundreds of boaters to return Sunday after three days of fishing. Crab season officially opened up this weekend and anglers — marked by green flags — […]

Roslyn McNicholl started Rabbit Fields as a senior project before graduating from Western Washington University. It seems only fitting that she used her college idea to connect with that of fellow WWU students from the 1990’s who had a dream, too. That dream? To start a Farmer’s Market in Bellingham. Read the full feature here.  […]

Bella is the Hotel Bellwether’s canine concierge. She greets the staff who prides themselves on customer service. “We’re proud of our guest loyalty. We’re closing in at about 50% of our return guests and our occupancy is very high,” says General Manager Jim Haupt who goes on to explain Bella’s responsibilities. Read the full feature […]

This summer, on an increasingly crowded planet, we looked for places to get away from the crowds uses woods, water and wine – the basic elements of the Pacific Northwest – as our refuges. If you want to run with the in crowd, then follow the noise to your common destination. If you want to […]

On a windswept bluff overlooking Rosario Strait sits a creative retreat where tall hemlock and Douglas firs share space with a series of arresting bronze sculptures. The haunting pieces of art are set on mossy embankments beneath trees and on stretches of grass, and as you walk among them they feel like timeless artifacts from […]

Bellingham is farm country. In fact, Whatcom County ranks in the top 3-percent of farm production in the entire US according to the city, port and county’s Choose Whatcom project. But who is doing that farming may surprise you. Q13 News visited one farm and met one person who could be the face of the new farmer. Check out […]

People in Bellingham now have access to something they haven’t explored in more than 100 years: The downtown waterfront. The former Georgia-Pacific site is finally being unveiled as a new place to play and, work, and live. The port and city had to redevelop nearly 300 acres, much of it contaminated, so it’s been a lot of […]

Bellingham is a great place to visit with easy access to mountains and the water. And beer? In just the last few years, there has been an explosion of breweries popping up in Bellingham, and many of them are now international award winners. Check out the written piece here. Also,  if you would like to see […]

Depending on the destination, some canoe pullers will travel so as 800 miles. Traveling such long distances requires mental and physical discipline, and the journeys are fraught with challenges of raw ocean climates, tide and fatigue. Check out this feature of Lummi Nation and the canoe journey here. 

The history of Whatcom and Skagit counties comes to life in G-gauge and O-scale glory at the Bellingham Railway Museum. The facility is home to two model-trail layouts that visitors can help operate. Check out this feature of Bellingham’s Railway Museum, here. 

Planning a visit and looking for where to stay in Lynden? Or need a stop on your way to or from Canada? Whether you’re looking for a luxury stay for less or a bed for the night, here are the best places to stay in Lynden. Learn more about Lynden here. 

Planning a visit to Whatcom county and looking for the best craft beer in Bellingham? What makes these breweries the best in Bellingham? When you start with good ingredients you get good beer. Plain and simple. Check out Debra’s trip to Bellingham breweries and see which ones she loved! Full article here. 

Bellingham has found a new identity over the past few years as a destination full of great craft breweries, but its connection to the outdoors remains as timeless as nature itself. With numerous parks in and around town and Bellingham Bay on its doorstep, the area is packed with activities for the outdoor enthusiast. Read […]

Bellingham, Washington is in a league of its own when it comes to natural beauty, ample outdoor activities, and most importantly, insanely good beer. The small coastal city of roughly 90,000 people is less than a two-hour drive from Seattle. Located a stones throw from the Canadian border, this picturesque, easy-going city boasts 15 road […]

Lynden is a short drive from Bellingham, 2 hours from Seattle and 5 miles from Canada. Yet the moment you arrive, you’re transported to the Netherlands. As Yoda would say, “The Dutch is strong with this one.” The Dutch influence is everywhere: from murals of people wearing Dutch traditional clothing, Dutch colonial buildings on Front […]

North Cascades National Park was the perfect destination for a recent road trip that involved pulling a sporty Airstream Basecamp that I got to take on a three-day test drive. I headed that northeasterly direction—a three-hour drive from Seattle—because it’s home to some of the best wild-ish campgrounds that can easily accommodate a trailer. Gotta love those […]

With many different places to explore along the Canadian border, you should make a trip to Blaine, Washington! Check out this list of border cities and the fun stops along the way, and see what’s fun in Blaine, here. 

Though it doesn’t have any well-known tourist attractions likely to draw people from around the world, Bellingham was one of 14 towns included on Forbes’ recent list of “Coolest towns for your summer vacation,” which it said included “quirky, character-filled small towns that are anything but sleepy.” Read the full story here. 

It’s an ambitious endeavor, as evidenced by the fact that Twin Sisters Brewing recently announced plans to hire 100 people to work at its soon-to-be-open brewery and restaurant in Bellingham. It’s hard to imagine a new brewpub needing to hire that many people right out of the gate. By all indications, this will be more than a […]

Theses article appears in print in the Seattle Magazine June 2018 issue, as part of the “85 Best Outdoor Adventures” cover story – these are the Whatcom County mentions. SITES FOR PRIVACY Mount Baker–Snoqualmie National Forest If you like the convenience of car camping but hate the crowds, blaze your own trail in a “cowboy” campsite in […]

I wake up to a brilliant azure sky, with a fresh scent in the air. Mornings like this are why I adore summer in the city of Bellingham in Whatcom County. The days are warm, but rarely hot, and the late-evening sunsets that come at this northern latitude seem to go on forever. In addition […]

A well-crafted beer should be enjoyed like a carefully poured Jazz Age cocktail – with refinement and ease. Sip back in time with Aslan Depot, Bellingham’s lasted shrine to fermentation. Not one to do things halfway, founder Jack Lamb spent more than a year scouting Craigslist for furniture fitting this 1922 streetcar depot, which he […]

Oh, college. It’s the best four, five, or eight years of your life as you gain the education and social skills necessary to become a functional, contributing member of society in the post-graduate world. While your parents and professors might assume you’re going to college to get a degree, chances are you’re hoping to spend […]

A basket of shiny red Washington-grown apples on the front desk greets me as I step into the lobby of the Inn at Lynden on a cold, rainy afternoon. My eyes travel from the apples to the flickering fireplace, the thick timber beams, and the rough wooden floors, and I feel squarely in the Pacific Northwest. The tall, […]

Sometimes, hotels are attractions! These funky hotels for families aim to please with hip and cool amenities and services, plus a little dose of nostalgia and sophistication. Check out to see where Bellingham’s Heliotrope Hotel placed on this list here. 

If you have trouble agreeing on what activity to do, then Ski to Sea in the race for you. Launched in 1973, Ski to Sea is a multisport relay race (May 27 this year) that brings at an elevation of 7,300 feet at Washington’s Mount Baker ski area in the Cascade Range. Read full story […]

Bellingham/Whatcom County: An area known for its outdoor adventures, Whatcom County offers everything from whale watching to mountain climbing. Bellingham has an exciting microbrew scene and charming waterfront promenade. Semiahmoo Resort offers spa treatments, kayaking and golf; and the Mount Baker Scenic Byway boast wonderous views of mountains, forest and meadows in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie […]

After being involved with a brewery startup that never made it off the ground and working in the industry for years, Josh Smith yielded to the call of self-employment. He approached his parents about opening a brewery on their property, the family farm where he grew up in Blaine, Washington. Everyone was on board with […]

What activities comes to mind when considering a summer day on Bellingham Bay? Paddling, whale watching and sailing are among the more popular options. And if your preferences skew toward happy hour, Bellingham’s slice of the Salish Sea offers several bayside bars and bistros. All told, there are endless ways to play on the bay. […]

Whenever I visit a small town I am always on the lookout for the best places to eat, drink and savor mouth-watering sweets. If you are heading to Lynden, you’ll find there are plenty of ways drink and dine your way around town for it has plenty of restaurants, cafes and bakeries to choose from, as well as, […]

I had my lightbulb moment in college. I was taking a queer theory class, and one day the professor invited two graduate students to talk about a writing space they’d created for LGBTQ kids. I’d noticed this disconnect between my queer friends and my outdoorsy friends, so being 20 years old and thinking I could […]

We tried to hike to Hidden Lake Lookout in the North Cascades one May, but the road was closed due to snow. A few weeks later, my friend Eric and I tried again, driving three hours from Vancouver, B.C., to the trailhead. Our two-wheel­drive Subaru made it up the bumpy old logging road, albeit slowly. […]

Certain destinations are on everyone’s wish lists: New York, San Francisco, the Grand Canyon. And those places belong on those lists. But it’s a big country, and there are so many more places to see—including, increasingly, quirky, character-filled small towns that are anything but sleepy. I asked several high-end travel designers about their favorite rural retreats. […]

Bellingham Beer Week is a 9-day celebration of the city’s beer and brewing scene. This year it runs from April 20th thru April 28th with dozens of events around the city. Find out more about Beer Week and the events on the official website. In recent years Bellingham, Washington has earned a reputation as a great beer town, […]

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 […]

Traveling with kids comes with its own set of challenges. Cost shouldn’t be one of them. Vacationing with children can be the best and the hardest thing in the world. The upside? Experiencing new wonders through their eyes. But then there are the meltdowns, the exhaustion, the endless stream of “Are we there yet?” With […]

Talk to folk in Bellingham about the annual Ski to Sea event and the excitement is palpable. Dubbed the original adventure race, this team relay from the Mt. Baker Ski Area to Bellingham Bay comes steeped in history (it had its first run in 1973) and enveloped in beauty. With a stunning course that winds through […]

Sustainability is a buzzword these days, but when Appliance Depot started in 2005 it was one of the early pioneers of the movement. The goal of the Bellingham-based nonprofit is to convert trash to treasure by refurbishing old appliances or, when that’s not possible, to strip their reusable parts and put them back to work. Refurbished […]

What’s better than good food, good wine, good cocktails and good times? The answer is not much. And lucky for those near Bellingham, Washington — the Historic Fairhaven District has two new spots adding to the burgeoning array of food and beverage locales in the hood. Gainsbarre and Swim Club, from local restaurateurs Laura Swift and Tom […]

“It’s a big statement meant to be a big statement,” says Nasty Woman Wines founder Meg Murray of her McMinnville, Oregon, a brand that’s main products have names like Pantsuit Pinot Noir and Boss Lady Bubbles. In November 2016, Murray reclaimed the infamous “nasty woman” insult from the 2016 presidential campaign intending to make a […]

Check out this list featuring various flavors around the Pacific Northwest, and see where Atwood Ales is featured here. 

Living in the Pacific Northwest we are surrounded by the diversity of thick growth forests, expansive deserts and scenic coastlines, and we have the opportunity to make decisions that preserve and honor the sacred land that gives us life. Across the region, sustainably minded beverage processors are taking a holistic approach when it comes to managing […]

The small town of Lynden, Washington makes for an ideal getaway. Founded by Dutch and Scandinavian settlers and surrounded by farm fields with mountain views, its historic downtown has a windmill, unique inns, restaurants, shops, an art center, a museum, and nearby are parks, ice cream shops, and a distillery. This small town most certainly deserves […]

Sea to Sky Rentals announced an expansion of its luxury vacation rental inventory into North Puget Sound and Bellingham, Washington. adding 14 high-end vacation homes located in and around this idyllic waterfront college town and recreation hub. The expansion is the result of a partnership with Bellingham local operator Barbara Browne, founder and owner of One […]

That little corner of the country jammed between California and Canada is something to be seen. The Cascade Mountain Range stands tall with snow-covered peaks, and the coastline is carved by an active Pacific Ocean, leaving sheer cliffs that offer some of the best vistas around. The Pacific Northwest is one of the most beautiful […]

Former Bridgette Bar chef de cuisine heads to Washington state to work at one of America’s top restaurants Chef Garrett Martin might only be 27, but he certainly has an impressive resume that his peers and plenty of chefs his senior would love to call their own. To date, said resume includes time spent at the once […]