Summer festivals are a highlight of the season—and there’s still time for one more summer adventure. Bellingham, Washington is just a two-hour drive from Seattle and an hour-and-a-half from Vancouver, Canada. (Or fly in directly through Bellingham International Airport.) There’s much to do in this Pacific Northwest city any time of year, and Bellingham SeaFeast is one […]

Aslan Brewing Company in Bellingham isn’t named for the well-known character in the Narnia books. Aslan is the Turkish word for lion, and the name is a nod to keeping the art of making good beer wild and untamed. Sant Bryan and Jose Cedeno hosted King5 Evening at Aslan Brewing on Sept. 7, 2018. Read […]

THIS BEER BEGINS LIFE as a regular saison (aka farmhouse ale), a traditional Belgian-style beer originally produced in farmhouses and served to farm workers, before spending about nine months in repur­posed Chardonnay barrels from Woodinville’s Chatter Creek Winery, which is how this brew gains its unique character. Yellowish-orange in the glass, the ale presents myriad […]

Kids of all ages pack these giant water playgrounds-and with each park’s unique personality, you may want to try them all Read full feature article here: Birch Bay Waterslides

Head to Baker Lake in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest for a low-key weekend away from it all. Many of the more than 250 sites in the 10 campgrounds that dot the shores of Baker Lake come equipped with water access and killer views of Mount Baker or other sur­rounding North Cascades peaks. Swift Creek […]

Bellingham and San Juan Islands A sunset cruise is a special way for groups to wrap a day of business in Bellingham. “A benefit of weekday meetings is the opportunity for a relaxing after-hours boat excursion on Bellingham Bay;’ said An­nette Bagley, director of marketing for Visit Bellingham. Several themes are offered by San Juan […]

Every intrepid Chef who strikes out of Washington’s distant pockets and expresses those immediate surroundings in the form of ambitious food furthers a movement that began with a Craigslist ad. Or, more specifically, with a 24-year-old kid from Olympia on a plane back from Copenhagen in 2010, headed to a nine-square-mile island he’d never before […]

Week four and I’m already breaking the one-photo rule, eh, whatever, it’s my site. Plus, I think you’ll appreciate the zoom shot. Bellingham, Washington. I’m on a wonderfully large yacht with four other writers, our hosts, a catered spread of local salmon and all of the delights that go with it. (More about that and them later) […]

The craft-beer craze has never been more accessible, with a neighborhood brewery seemingly around every corner. Here are four ways to bring the fun home. The drink Boundary Bay Citraweisse ($10 per six-pack at New Seasons Market). Keep the summer vibes rolling with this Bellingham brewer’s seasonal citrus, kettle-soured pour. Light-bodied with a kiss of wheat […]

What does that mean? Virgin Airlines did everything in their power to destroy our return flight last September from Boston & Providence. After much back and forth, a $500 credit was offered for future travel. When I attempted to use the credit for a January trip to Houston, I found out that any travel associated […]

On lush, laid-back Lummi Island, about two hours north of Seattle, the weekend home of the food and lifestyle photographer Stephanie Eburah is an idyllic escape. Her shingled house is nestled on five acres and hugged by cedar, maple and alder trees. In the garden, lavender, lilies and lilacs abound, along with strawberries, boysenberries, tomatoes, […]

The campground was fantastic. So was the luxury hotel. Sometimes a city like Bellingham, one of Washington’s very best locations for outdoors recreation, is best explored two ways: from roughing it on the low end to getting pampered on the high end. Larrabee State Park just south Bellingham on scenic Chuckanut Drive, offers excellent camping and hiking […]

An inspiration for the senses, Washington State’s pristine Salish Sea and its intriguing San Juan Islands are spectacular from the deck of the historic Schooner Zodiac. A beautifully restored windjammer with the classic grandeur of a 1920s billionaire’s yacht, the Schooner Zodiac offered us an ideal vintage sailing experience for four days around the San […]

With stunning views at every turn, a laid back, small town vibe, and easy access to oceanfront beaches, freshwater lakes, cascading waterfalls and forest trails, Bellingham is a dream come true for nature lovers and dog lovers alike. Read full article here: Five Fall Getaways (pages 20-21)

What if you could combine your two greatest loves: beer and Bowser? Paws for a Beer located in the historic neighborhood of Fairhaven is Bellingham’s first and only dog friendly tavern. Dogs with memberships are roam freely off-leash inside and outside the premises while their owners sip on refreshing beverages. Read full article here: Paws for […]

I try to make a pilgrimage to Fairhaven every few years. Located just a few miles south of downtown Bellingham, the historic district’s streets are lined with dozens of shops, restaurants and businesses that cater to both locals and visitors. It’s the ideal overnight or weekend escape. And like most neighborhoods, it’s ever changing, with new […]

Whenever you go to the Spark Museum in downtown Bellingham, you will hear someone creating their own music — even without touching a musical instrument. Spark Museum, with an extensive layout of artifacts that showcase the history of electrical evolution, is known for its interactive exhibits that create fun, hands-on experiences for adults and kids alike. Read […]

There are too many great Bellingham breweries to fit them all on this listicle so I will only pick the most important one to visit, and that one is undoubtedly Chuckanut. This German-influenced brewery is one of the best lager breweries in the country; they have won 18 medals in less than 10 years at […]

This Saturday, I got the opportunity to experience the hospitality of the Bellingham Bells. Joining me was our fearless leader Abraham Deweese with his trusty camera and AquaSox beat writer Brian Solack. We had heard of the team before but didn’t know truly what to expect. We had worked out a visit with their incredibly […]

As the saying goes, the journey is just as important as the destination. The same goes for a good road trip. In this case, our adventure took us north from Seattle to Bellingham. Instead of taking I-5, we took Chuckanut Drive. Locals will tell you that while this 20-mile drive is a bit off the […]

As the saying goes, the journey is just as important as the destination. The same goes for a good road trip. In this case, our adventure took us north from Seattle to Bellingham. Instead of taking I-5, we took Chuckanut Drive. Locals will tell you that while this 20-mile drive is a bit off the […]

Fixing the foster care system could be the key to fixing our homelessness problem as well. That’s the type of global optimism Ray Deck brings to the office in Bellingham. “Foster care is, in my opinion, long-term homelessness prevention,” he said. “Bellingham, Seattle has a homelessness crisis today because we didn’t fix a foster care […]

Jennifer Schouten is one of those people. “He really was a joyful boy, his laugh was pretty contagious.” She is a mom there who has faced her darkest hour and chosen to light her world in response. Jennifer is the woman behind a major medical supply recycling clearing house in Bellingham called Dominic’s Closet. Read the […]

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 […]