Here’s a list of fun things to do this weekend in Bellingham and Whatcom County. From outdoor activities to theater performances, and everything in between, there is something for everyone. Friday, March 22 Bellingham National 2019 – Bellingham Cristal McQueen @ The Art Market – Bellingham Don Felder Formerly of The Eagles – Bellingham DYO […]

Have you been to the new Illuminati Brewing Company in Bellingham? If you visited before 2019, the answer might be “no”. Illuminati Brewing Co. originally opened in 2017, becoming the 14th brewery in Whatcom County. At the time, it was the only dual winery-brewery in Washington state. Fast forward a couple years, and the taproom […]

My whole family is tired of Clue and Exploding Kittens, well, you know, the whole board flipping thing? That’s why Rook & Rogue, the first “board game pub” in Bellingham is such a breath of fresh air for locals and visitors of all ages. It’s great indoor fun year-round. With bookshelves and filing cabinets chock […]

Seeking to elevate the work of female directors in the film industry, CASCADIA International Women’s Film Festival, is Bellingham’s newest film event, this year on April 11-14, 2019. Its mission and goals are noble and lofty. Now in its third year, the annual film festival showcases films directed by women from around the world while also providing: […]

Bellingham is home to a thriving music and film community. Throughout the year, this creative group hosts a number of Bellingham film festivals. The Bellingham Music Film Festival, this year on April 4-6, 2019, will present a collection of music videos, documentaries, and narrative pieces by regional, national, international and student filmmakers from around the world. […]

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 (or Weekend.) It’s an annual affair, from a serious trail run featuring goofy green outfits to a green-themed grand parade, and lots of green beer, […]

Both growing up and now as the mother of twins, I know how memorable and impactful children’s films can be in expanding and shaping a child’s view of the world. These films educate, bust the limits of imagination and stick with us on into adulthood. Sometimes they even influence us as parents. Filmmakers around the […]

During summer months (July – September), Artist Point at the end of Mount Baker Highway (WA State Route 542 East from Bellingham) is abuzz with hikers, backpackers, families, and photographers. Offering unbelievable mountain views from the parking lot, it’s the jumping off point for many a summer adventure. Winter is another story. When the road […]

Vital Climbing Gym in Bellingham may have saved my kids – and me – from climbing the walls. The winter weather we’ve been experiencing is, in many ways, a kid’s dream: school’s out, there’s plenty of snow for sledding, mom is likely to say “yes” to that request for hot chocolate. Eventually, though, the cold […]

During summer, Bellingham offers abundant outdoor drinking oases. Imbibers move indoors in the fall, and by the time winter and spring come around many of us are itching to get back outside. The cabin fever is real. Thankfully, many Bellingham breweries and taprooms continue operating their beer gardens during the cooler months. Want to warm […]

I’ve been a beginning yoga student off and on for almost 30 years and meditation has helped me relax, clear my racing mind (and fall asleep!) for at least 10 of those. Bellingham and Whatcom County are so fortunate to have a number of options to practice yoga and meditation. It’s become hugely popular among […]

The newest Bellingham Whatcom County Visitors Guide is now available as a digital online version, as well as in print. The visitors guide includes information about How to Get Here, Outdoor Adventures, Entertainment, Local Communities, Restaurants, Breweries, and Lodging options. Click on the image below to flip through the book page by page. To order […]

Heading off to Hawaii, or Las Vegas, or another exciting destination from Bellingham International Airport (BLI)? Wondering where to leave your car? Numerous hotels in Bellingham offer special Park and Fly packages which include extended parking at the hotel, an overnight stay, and free shuttle service when booked directly through the hotel’s front desk. Each […]

Calling all adventurers seeking to see the real Alaska: The best highway is on the water! In fact, the only highway to most of lower Alaska’s villages is by sea. Each Friday, the Alaska Ferry (officially called the Alaska Marine Highway System) departs from Bellingham, WA to access America’s remote north through the awe-inspiring Inside […]

Although the weather outside is frightful, the allure of the islands is delightful, and now is the time to dream of a summer sailing adventure in the Northwest. Bellingham, WA is the perfect place to board a small-ship cruise through the evergreen San Juan Islands. Within view of downtown Bellingham, the San Juan Archipelago encompasses […]

Winter in Bellingham includes a good dose of weather, and we enjoy a lot of outdoor adventure. Yet on a particularly wet Saturday my family decided NOT to brave the elements, instead choosing to be cozy and escape with a trip into virtual reality. Heady is Bellingham’s first virtual reality (VR) arcade. Located downtown at […]

For the nineteenth year in a row, Bellingham Human Rights Film Festival (BHRFF) will present thought-provoking films gathered from around the world. Their mission: to encourage the viewing community to explore and engage in critical human rights issues. Over the 10-day festival held February 21 through March 2, 2019, 23 films will be screened across 13 […]

  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 […]

I’ve been a beginning yoga student off and on for almost 30 years. I’ve seen aerial acrobats perform their strong and graceful routines at the Bellingham Circus Guild many times. But it never occurred to me that you could combine the two until I tried aerial yoga at Sienna Marie Aerial Yoga Studios. Conveniently located […]

Centered in Bellingham’s downtown arts district, the Whatcom Museum campus provides creative, thought-provoking educational programs and exhibitions about our changing cultural, natural, and historical landscapes. After celebrating its 75th Anniversary in 2016, Whatcom Museum continues to bring art, history, and nature to more than 70,000 people each year. Visitors can plan a day or weekend visit […]

Long known as a beer town, Bellingham is becoming a hot spot for craft beverages of all kinds. The latest trend? Craft cider. In 2018, three new cideries opened in Bellingham — joining a long-time favorite and transforming the once-sleepy cider scene into an up-and-coming industry. So grab your Tap Trail map and start sipping. Here’s […]

Throughout the winter in Whatcom County, the Mt. Baker Ski Area gets blanketed in snow, oftentimes deeper than anywhere else in the country. Bellingham locals and visitors alike flock to the mountain for a variety of winter activities. From sledding and snowball fights in the parking lot to chasing friends at light speed in waist […]

Bellingham and Whatcom County are fortunate to be the home of Western Washington University (WWU). The campus art galleries, renown outdoor sculpture collection, installations and exhibitions, performing arts, museums and historical archives deepen the arts and cultural experience of students, visitors and locals. Below is an overview of the opportunities available to appreciate the art, […]

Bellingham, Washington is located in the northwest corner of the United States, within Whatcm County, and 20 miles south of the U.S.-Canada border. The City of Bellingham is just 90 miles (145 km) north of Seattle, WA and 55 miles (88 km) south of Vancouver, British Columbia. As the largest city and the seat of […]

Who’s ready for juice? If you’re a juice-lover or a juicer looking for inspiration, Bellingham is the right place to be. The city is home to two restaurants that celebrate juicing and the consumption of super-healthy food, whether in liquid or solid form. And locals are flocking to their doors. They’re foregoing their caffeine rush […]

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 to make sure we had what we would […]

Here’s a riddle: How do you get teen and pre-teen siblings to agree on something? Great question! Who knows? Actually, I have found a solution: A night at the Upfront Theatre. The Upfront Theatre is Bellingham’s home-grown improv comedy club, owned by an honest-to-goodness funny guy, Ryan Stiles. The Upfront has been entertaining ‘Hamsters since […]

Fans of Hops ‘N Headz — the family-friendly taphouse on Northwest Avenue in Bellingham — may have noticed some changes lately. That’s because the space is under new ownership, with a new logo and rebrand to boot. While the business has a fresh new face, its core elements — 30 craft taps, Asian-inspired food offerings, […]

Full of Dutch heritage, adorable Lynden, WA is just a short drive from Bellingham, only two hours from Seattle and five miles from the Canadian border at Aldergrove. The whole family can appreciate the arts year round in this cute little hamlet. Music, dance, stage productions, fine arts and crafts and an entire museum of Dutch […]

Looking for a great holiday meal? Here is a list of restaurants open for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day in Bellingham and Whatcom County. Most require reservations, so be sure to call ahead. (This post has been updated for 2018.) Semiahmoo Resort, 9565 Semiahmoo Pkwy., Blaine, WA, 360-318-2000 Christmas Eve, Packers Restaurant and Bar will […]

No matter what your age, haven’t you been fascinated by the ‘magic’ of the forces we cannot see and therefore struggle to understand? Wireless technology, radio and television transmission, and magnetism all seem to defy the confines of our physical world. And yet our daily existence takes them all for granted. That’s why my family […]

The holidays are here, and gift-giving time has arrived. Are there any beer lovers on your list? If so, Bellingham breweries offer everything from bottles and cans to swag and seasonal events. Savor the season with these beer gifts and event ideas in Whatcom County. Seasonal Beers Once upon a time, when there were just […]

That jolly old elf Saint Nick is making the rounds to public places throughout Bellingham and Whatcom County to hear the Christmas wishes of all the good little girls and boys. Haven’t caught up with him yet? There’s still time before the reindeer fly! Here’s where you can find him: Olde Fashioned Christmas One of […]

Sustainable Connections Online Gift Guide To make shopping for local gifts in Bellingham easy this holiday season Sustainable Connections has created a new online gift guide featuring a plethora of local businesses from around Whatcom County. Find the perfect holiday gift, and easily sort by gift type or budget. Explore gift ideas for friends and […]

While walking down Bellingham’s Railroad Avenue one day when I notice a sign: El Capitan’s has moved. Suddenly, I’m transported back to 2009. It’s 1:30 am, the bars are closing, and our crew needs some substantial fare. Fortunately, The Captain can always be counted on for a late-night fix. Bring on the cream cheese and grilled […]

I love that I will be in Bellingham for the holidays and get to experience the holiday spirit of Fairhaven Winterfest throughout November and December. I bring the whole family to this event and do my holiday shopping, take a carriage ride, sit on Santa’s lap, hear a variety of live holiday music, get a […]

Bellingham is very fortunate to be the chosen home of many talented musicians and artists. That includes a variety of theater, music and dance performers. Sylvia Center for the Arts, an evolving performance space founded in 2016 in Bellingham’s Downtown Arts District, has recently completed its expansion to include the Lucas Hicks Theatre. As the […]

Although many local businesses close for Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 22, 2018), the following is a list of restaurants open for Thanksgiving Dinner in Bellingham and Whatcom County, along with hours, prices and locations. Most offer special menus or buffet dinners featuring traditional turkey and all the trimmings, to allow you a relaxing meal. Call ahead […]

The historic Bellingham Theatre Guild (BTG), a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization, provides Bellingham broad community theater entertainment with feel-good musicals, comedic farce, and serious dramas. Some are world favorites, which stand in contrast to the avant-garde, irreverent original works offered at The iDiOM, now at Sylvia Center for the Arts, and the touring shows from around the world brought to […]

There are many routes to find your way “from Baker to Bellingham Bay”. One could participate in the annual spring Ski to Sea race, traversing 93 miles from Mt. Baker Ski Area to Marine Park. Or spend a summer’s day hiking near Mount Baker, followed by a sunset at Bellingham’s “secret playground”, Locust Beach. In […]

It’s time to start holiday shopping! Here is a handy list of local craft shows, holiday Bazaars and shopping events  in Bellingham, Lynden, Ferndale and Kendall, WA for the 2018 season. For more holiday fun also see our full list of Holiday Events in Whatcom County. Nov. 2 – 3, 2018 Holiday Bake Sale & […]

Fall is in full swing here in Whatcom County, and it’s the perfect time of year to lace up those hiking boots and get into the woods. With sunshine, cool temps, and beautiful foliage, the mountains are calling Bellingham visitors outside and onto the trails. With the Chuckanuts to the South and the Mt. Baker […]

When the sun dips below the horizon, and the year comes to a close, Whatcom County lights up with festivities for all, in true northern style. Here is a 2018 list of must-see holiday events in Bellingham, Blaine, Birch Bay, Ferndale and Lynden. Bring your camera to capture photos of Santa! Then continue the fun […]

If you love your soups and salads you’ll want to visit Mix, a new restaurant that opened October 10, 2018 at 215 W. Holly Street in downtown Bellingham. Serving build-your-own-salads, (also available as a Mixwich – i.e. in a flatbread wrap) protein topping options (tofu, chicken, steak, falafel or bacon ), soups and frozen custard […]

October wouldn’t be complete without a family trip to the pumpkin patch! With so much agricultural land in Whatcom County, we are fortunate to have plenty of pumpkin picking options. Two of my family’s favorites are Stoney Ridge Farm and Cramer’s Western Town. (For a run-down on some of the other local places to get […]

In our Basecamp Bellingham series, we are sharing stories about talented local athletes who choose to call Bellingham “home”. Angi Weston is living the Bellingham dream. As a professional skills coach and owner of Radical Roots Mountain Bike Instruction, Angi lives and breathes mountain biking. So how did it all start? Angi’s career in mountain biking didn’t […]

We all love Village Books – I know I can browse those aisles for hours. Now there’s a new reason to visit this fabulous locale in Fairhaven district of Bellingham: its new, upstairs eatery, Evolve Chocolate & CafĂ©. Don’t get sidetracked by the chocolate. That’s just a teensy part of Christie and Shannon Fox’s culinary […]

I’ve been fascinated by classical music ever since I heard my first Mozart as a teen—Eine kleine Nachtmusik. I was blown away by the idea that one person could not only compose a moving piece for more than 20 instruments playing simultaneously, but that the universal language of music could be adored around the world, […]

What I like about beer podcasts are their versatility: with a pair of headphones, you can enjoy a good podcast almost anywhere. Podcasts don’t demand your undivided attention like other forms of education or entertainment (such as reading a book or watching a movie). You can listen while driving, walking, or washing the dishes. It’s […]

Halloween has always been my favorite holiday, way more than Christmas, and its never been about the candy. To me, Halloween is about becoming someone else for just one night, in your home made costume, running around silly in the darkness, and sharing that love of all things spooky with your friends and neighbors. Whatcom […]