It’s April, and Bellingham is bursting at the seams with a beer buzz. Bellingham Beer Week 2018 takes place April 20th – 28th! The 7th annual Bellingham Beer Week will feature everything from special beer releases and author events to a paper airplane contest and dog walking. With 14 breweries in Whatcom County, 2018 is […]

Earth Day is an opportunity to give back to the planet we all call home. There are several outdoor activities happening in Whatcom County to show some love to the earth and the community. Whether you prefer cleaning up local beaches or getting your hands dirty potting plants, there is something for everyone among the […]

Bellingham and Whatcom County offer an abundance of galleries and museums to showcase the work of a wide variety of local and touring visual artists. This week I had the pleasure of meeting Bellingham’s most prolific street artist, known by many names, including ‘Ruckas,’ ‘PKLZ’ and his given name, Shawn Cass. This Bellingham-based graffiti artist turned […]

The Mount Baker Highway (SR 542) from Bellingham provides access to groomed cross-country skiing trails in the Mt. Baker Snoqualmie National Forest. Salmon Ridge Sno Park is just 13 miles past the community of Glacier, which is the last outpost for supplies before you enter the wilderness. Heads up: To park, a Washington State Sno-Park Pass is required to […]

What do you get when you combine a bottle shop, taphouse, cafe, and catering business under a single roof? Greene’s Corner, of course! If you haven’t checked it out yet, this budding community hub at 2208 James Street should be your next stop for beer in Bellingham. Owners Lance Bailey and Kristine Kager first opened […]

Whether you love craft beer or hiking, you don’t need to decide in Bellingham. Fortunately, we have more than our fair share of both in Whatcom County, with an abundance of trails and lots of cool spots to grab a drink. Since it never hurts to save a few bucks, why not pair your next hike with […]

Mountain biking has taken over Bellingham! You and your kids can too. It’s not just the adults out having fun riding mountain bikes these days. Kids of all ages enjoy the bounty of manicured trails that wind through our fair city. Whether you are a Bellinghamster, or just in town for a couple days – get out […]

By air, sea, car or train, there are so many ways to get to and enjoy Bellingham and Whatcom County! The railway played an integral role in establishing our area as an economic center in the mid-19th to mid-20th centuries. The area was historically mined for coal, functioned as a major timber port, and later […]

Just when your family is complaining there’s nothing left to do in Whatcom County that they haven’t done before, enter the Bellingham Roller Betties. The preseason games take place at the Lynden Skateway, and the regular season takes place in Bellingham at Whatcom Community College. The upcoming games are March 31, April 21, May 12 […]

Whether you love rock, hip-hop, jazz, blues, soul, folk, or classical, Whatcom County has you covered any night of the week with a variety of live music venues. You can dance, bang your head, or sit and enjoy a savory snack and a drink. This list of my favorite venues will sate any music lover’s […]

I was recently introduced to the world of Geocaching and immediately got hooked. My journey actually started at the global Headquarters of Geocaching.com in Seattle, WA. Their office space is a destination for Geocachers worldwide. If you are new to the outdoor activity, this story can give you a taste of what to expect in Bellingham, […]

Interested in walking, but prefer to walk with others? Volkssporting might be the perfect outdoor activity for you. Volkssporting Clubs are a worldwide phenomenon – even up here in Bellingham in the upper left corner (aka “The Fourth Corner”) of the contiguous 48 states. Based out of Mount Vernon to the south, The Northwest Tulip […]

Visiting Overflow Taps was on my to-do list for months. Launched in Lynden in 2016, the socially responsible taphouse donates $0.25 of every pint to charity. But with so many excellent breweries in Bellingham, I’ve never made the drive north to check out their Lynden location. So when Overflow Taps opened a second location in […]

When it comes to celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, Bellingham and Whatcom County know how to do it right! It’s true, there is no place like Bellingham for St. Patrick’s Day. It’s an annual affair that keeps us coming back for the ultimate St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.  From a serious trail run featuring goofy green outfits […]

Regardless of the weather outside, inside the warmth of the Fireplace Room at the Fairhaven Library in Bellingham members of the Storyteller’s Guild transport listeners to far away lands during storytime one Friday each month. I’ve been curious about this monthly storytelling gathering for quite some time, and I have to admit I regret not […]

The new Chanterelle Trail in North Bellingham’s Lake Whatcom Park is destined to become a popular hiking (and mountain biking) destination for locals and visitors alike. As part of a larger plan for trails that are all interconnected, the Chanterelle Trail is the first gem in a larger necklace of trails that will be draped […]

Wouldn’t it be fun if — just for a day — you could waltz into just about any brewery in town and take a tour? Maybe sample some seasonal or barrel-aged brews? And why not go so far as to meet the brewers themselves? Thanks to the Washington Beer Commission and several local breweries, you […]

One of the best ways to get to know a town is through their art. Bellingham and Whatcom County are home to hundreds of artists. From sculptors to painters, photographers and potters, there are so many ways to appreciate the visual arts. One of the best ways to take it all in is through art […]

I am a visitor turned local and I’m biased when I say I love Bellingham. This city is full of character, arts, live music and thoughtful community members. But that is not why I stayed here, it’s the downtown scene. From foodie stops to local shops to coffeehouses and craft cocktail spots, the relaxed nature […]

I love Bellingham in part because of its vibrant music scene that can be appreciated across a variety of Whatcom County music venues. A mainstay in the community is The Shakedown, known for its rocking good time and its adjacent quieter sister bar, The Racket Bar and Pinball Lounge. It’s the place to go for rock and […]

If you’re looking for an introduction to snowshoeing near Bellingham, head for the hills near Mount Baker via east Hwy SR542. At milepost 52, after the swooping curve in the road is the trailhead for White Salmon Road at 3,075′ elevation- just enough to get great snow. The undulating road winds through the Mount Baker […]

I was five years old when I played my first video games on the Nintendo Entertainment System. It only took a few rounds of Super Mario Bros. and Duck Hunt before I developed a near-obsessive video gaming hobby that lasted well into my twenties. Piles of Nintendo Power and PlayStation Magazine stacked up in my […]

One of my favorite things to do in Bellingham—and any town I visit—is to see local bands or musicians. A local show gives you a feel for the area music scene, exposes you to a new venue and allows for a whole lot of dancing and people-watching. I usually check out a song or video […]

Bellingham and Whatcom County are quickly becoming a mecca for film-related activities. A vibrant part of the local film community is the film festivals that occur year round. Some roll out over a long weekend while others span an entire month. I put them on my calendar well in advance so I can get my […]

Some readers may recall attending Bellingham Cocktail Week (BCW) during its inaugural run back in 2015. My muddled memory of the launch party goes something like this: I’m sipping my Manhattan (or was it an Old Fashioned?) at Temple Bar while sampling toothpick hors-d’oeuvres served up by cocktail waitresses. There’s a subdued excitement in the […]

In our Basecamp Bellingham series, we are sharing stories about talented local athletes who choose to call Bellingham “Home”. Jeremy Wolf has a professional hobby known as ultrarunning. (For those who don’t know, ultrarunning is longer than traditional marathons, with lengths that go farther than 26 miles.) He knows how to take life seriously and approaches running intently. […]

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages, step right up to Bellingham’s unusual and delightful Vaudvillingham, presented by the Bellingham Circus Guild. With a combination of acrobatics, comedy, juggling, singing and dance, no two shows are alike by design. In fact, that’s one of the few rules for Vaudvillingham circus performances. Vaudvillingham […]

The beer scene in Bellingham has been a hot topic for a while now, but there’s another beverage in town that is also quite popular for this region – coffee. Coffee is the lifeblood of many in the Pacific Northwest and beyond, and we are fortunate enough to have a robust coffee scene in Bellingham […]

This winter, don’t let the cooler temps keep you indoors. Get out on one of Whatcom County’s numerous trails, many of which are accessible year-round and (mostly) snow-free. You don’t have to go far. In this roundup, I’ve found a few trails close to town — all of which are near a local brewery tasting […]

Many people set goals for how much they are (or not) going to eat and drink over the holidays, especially on New Year’s Eve (aka “Rookie Night”). But it all leads to what many have set their subliminal sights on- “Resolution Day”-  their own personal Day of Atonement if you will, Jan. 1. It’s nothing […]

There are many reasons to go to the mountain (aka Mount Baker) in the winter months: snowboard, downhill ski, sled, special events (like the Annual Legendary Banked Slalom in February), snowshoe or cross-country ski. We combined sledding and cross-country skiing on a recent outing; this is a story of reconnecting with our Nordic heritage and future […]

This blog has been updated from a 2014 post.  The forecast was showing that it was going to be a bluebird day around the Northwest. So, I suggested, “Let’s go play in the snow!” We’re not talking skiing or snowboarding, we’re talking playing. Since we were headed up into the winter wilderness, we needed a checklist […]

“Let’s go ride our bikes along the seacoast today”, my buddy Al suggested on a sunny Saturday afternoon. The bluebird skies beckoned us to get out on and road bike, even in mid-December when the mercury was only pointing to high’s in the 40’s for the day. Seeking roads with no traffic, or very little […]

Here’s a clever idea. Register yourself or someone on your gift list for a cooking class in the Bellingham region and plan a mini-getaway based on learning a new favorite dish from around the world, using local ingredients. Try Afgan Cuisine, African Cooking, Chinese New Year Dinner or Tour de France. Or settle in with new takes […]

The winter weather in the Pacific Northwest doesn’t always cooperate with our best-laid plans. But because Bellingham and Whatcom County have a plethora of invigorating museums and galleries, you can stay cozy while soaking up local fine art and historical artifacts at a variety of venues. From sculpture, paintings and photography to historical collections, fine […]

Bellingham and Whatcom County are blessed with an abundance of hiking trails. Here, trail users can stroll along scenic park pathways, run for miles in the mountains, and hike to soaring overlooks above the Salish Sea. These lowland trails are easily accessible year-round, and you don’t have to go far to find them. They can […]

Video by Jesse Schooler of Action Videography Bellingham’s Deadly D has been sharing their unique style of hip-hop infused with funk, soul, rock and blues since 2011. Their award-winning, feel-good music with a message has appeared at more than 300 shows, at festivals and has toured in 13 states and provinces. While sharing the stage […]

Bellingham’s Fairhaven Historic District is perfect for a cocktail crawl that won’t do too much harm, depending on how many bars you hit. (This post was originally published by Teresa Schmidt and has been updated.) In our quest for truth and cocktails, we made several stops. And in the name of safety, we sampled lightly. […]

Looking for a great meal for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day? Here are some delicious options available throughout Whatcom County. Most require reservations, so be sure to call ahead. Semiahmoo Resort, 9565 Semiahmoo Pkwy., Blaine, WA, 360-318-2000 Christmas Eve, both Pierside Kitchen and Packers Oyster Bar will be open for regular operating hours Christmas Day, […]

With so many craft breweries to explore in Bellingham, WA, a day trip just won’t do. You need an overnighter. Preferably, at a location near beer. Even better if there are a couple cold ones waiting for you upon arrival. Fortunately, a handful of Bellingham hotels (and at least one Airbnb) are here to provide. […]