Looking for guidance on how to get outdoors during the pandemic? Check out the #RecreateResponsibly guidelines and learn how to protect the people and places you love while you get outside: https://www.recreateresponsibly.org/.
Travel Tip: Check out the City of Bellingham’s Summer Playbook for insider-tips on which Whatcom County outdoor recreation activities are available in each phase of Washington State’s Smart Start Covid-19 re-opening plan.
Bellingham and Whatcom County are full of outdoor recreation, festivals and events during the summer. With most days being in the mid 80 degrees, the hardest part of your trip will be deciding how to spend your sunny day.
Go for a hike or take a scenic drive along Mount Baker Highway or Chuckanut Drive. Head out to Bellingham Bay for a day of boating, paddling and kayaking. Visit Galbraith Mountain to bike or attend one of Bellingham’s famous bike races. Or stop by one of Whatcom County’s 12 (10 public/2 private including one that just reopened in Point Roberts) golf courses for a day on the green.
Use our daily event calendar and list of annual events to find more fun summer events including Downtown Sounds, the Northwest Raspberry Festival, or Birch Bay Discover Days. You can also stop by our Visitors Center locations for maps, guides and even more ideas on things to do.
Farmer’s Market
Check out one of Whatcom County’s many markets for local produce, gifts and more.
- Bellingham Farmers’ Market happens every Saturday at the Depot Market Square in Downtown Bellingham. This is the largest market in the area with locally produced delights and produce.
- The Blaine Gardeners Market is also every Saturday and can be found at the H Street Plaza located in Blaine.
- Ferndale Public Market is every Friday from 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- The Lummi Island Market is just a short walk from the ferry terminal and happens every Saturday from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
- The Lynden Farmers Market happens every Saturday at Centennial Park from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Get Out On The Water
- San Juan Cruises offers daily whale watching.
- Wednesday evening beer tasting cruises
- Thursday evening wine tasting cruises
- Friday and Saturday evening crab dinner cruises
- Sunday bird watching or picnic cruises to Sucia Island
- Schooner Zodiac offers multi-day cruises, as well as Friday night salmon dinner sails, with an opportunity to assist in sailing maneuvers.
- The Community Boating Center offers fun sailing and paddling lessons, guided trips, youth camps, and rentals on Bellingham Bay. Open seven days a week during the summer, in Fairhaven, the CBC is your place for boating adventures.
History Tours
- Get a walking tour of Downtown Bellingham and Fairhaven with The Goodtime Girls
- Sin & Gin Tour – Tour both Downtown Bellingham and Fairhaven
- Holly History Tour – Tour only Downtown Bellingham
- The far northwest corner of the continental U.S. participated in active frontier life in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and still lives close to its roots.
- Take a summer history tour to learn about log cabin life at Pioneer Park in Ferndale.
- Get a look at immigrant farm life at Hovander Homestead Park in Ferndale.
- Early salmon fishing at the Alaska Packers Association Museum on Semiahmoo Spit in Blaine.
- The Drayton Harbor Maritime Society in Blaine operates the 17-passenger Historic Plover as a foot ferry. Tour the local waters between Blaine Harbor and Semiahmoo Spit each summer from Memorial Day in May to Labor Day in September.
Go Kart Racing
- Miniature World Family Fun Center near Birch Bay has Kidz Karts, racing carts, a miniature train ride, petting zoo and miniature golf.
- Sumas International Motorsport Academy is a world-class racing facility featuring kart rentals, kart racing, and lessons for any occasion.
Outdoor Music and Movies
- On Wednesday evenings, Bellingham turns into a live music venue. Downtown Sounds hosts a concert every evening from July to August. Come down and enjoy what Downtown has to offer with a great soundtrack in the background.
- On Saturday evenings, bring your blankets to the Fairhaven Village Green for the Fairhaven Outdoor Cinema featuring live music and a great outdoor movie.
North Cascades National Park
Located in western Whatcom County with lodging inside the national park, and summer adventures for people of all ages, the North Cascades Institute is a must see.
Adventures include family getaways, Diablo Lake Boat Tours, Base Camp and classes on everything from the geology of Mount Baker to birding on Bellingham Bay. The Institute — an environmental education nonprofit founded in 1986 — hosts programs in the field as well as at their green-built Environmental Learning Center on Diablo Lake.
Take Them Out To The Ball Game!
- Get the most out of your summer months by going to the ballpark and cheering on Bellingham’s baseball team The Bellingham Bells.
Waterslides
- Birch Bay Waterslides – Take the kids for some fun at the water park! This five-acre park features nine slides, a large whirlpool, four-foot deep kids activity pool and a small kiddies area, along with hot showers, a pizza restaurant, full concessions, covered picnic areas, locker rentals, life jacket rentals and lounging chairs.
Disc Golf
Whatcom County is home to five disc golf courses all playable for those new to the sports while also capable of challenging even the most experienced players. Many even host tournaments and other events throughout the year.
- Cornwall Park, Bellingham: Nine holes
- Vanderyacht Park, Ferndale: Nine holes (two tee locations each for 18 total holes)
- Mossy Roc Disc Golf Course, Sudden Valley: 18 holes
- Blaine Disc Golf Course, Lincoln Park: 18 holes with short and long tees available
- Frost Creek Disc Golf Course, Maple Falls near Silver Lake: 20 holes