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| 04/07/2023 | Updated | Family Fun, Summer, Trails, Water Adventures |   

Waypoint Park: The Perfect Place to Start Your Waterfront Adventure in Bellingham

Waypoint Park in Bellingham is one of the first tangible signs of the city's waterfront redevelopment of the former Georgia-Pacific paper mill site, and an exciting harbinger of things to come for the property. It also adds to the already long list of parks available to kids.

Arguably the most eye-catching part of the park is the Acid Ball, a public art sculpture created from a retired piece of paper mill equipment that was once used to help break down timber into wood pulp. 

A studio in Seattle transformed the piece of industrial equipment into a work of art by coating it in tiny glass beads. The new exterior coating reflects light in the daylight and night time, allowing it to change colors for different occasions. 

For the best experience, visit the Acid Ball at night with a flashlight or phone camera - and snap a photo. 

Alongside the Avid Ball sculpture is grassy area to run and play, as well as a beach where you can skip rocks or look for sea life. Landscaping includes benches and well-placed rocks for perching upon and enjoying the sun and the waterfront scenery.

Recently the park has won two awards for its design: 2019 Local Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement Award from the Seattle section of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and a 2019 Best Restored Beach award from the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association (ASBPA).

The playground at Waypoint Park is unique in its design. It has a working waterfront vibe with tall logs sunk into a spongy cyan play surface, making it look like pilings rising up out of the water. The equipment appeals to toddlers and elementary grade ages alike. 

Adjacent to the playground is the historic Granary building, which has been refurbished and is beginning to fill with retail and other businesses. 

Walk or Bike to Zuanich Point Park

Start at Waypoint and bike along Roeder Avenue and head toward the Bellwether and Zuanich Point Park. Along the way, stop near the Coast Guard station to explore the Waterfront Trail and maybe take a break at the small pocket beach before pedaling down to Zuanich Point Park to watch some kite flying, play on the playground or check out the boats in the marina.

On the return trip, make a stop at a hidden gem, the Marine Life Center, to explore the touch tank and peek in on the marine creatures in residence there. If you’re lucky, they’ll have a Giant Pacific Octopus among their “guests.”


Find Food & Drink in the Granary Building

Adjacent to Waypoint Park is the Granary Building, a new retail and office space center that offers stunning views of the waterfront in east reach of downtown, all in a renovated historic building. 

Businesses in the Granary Building include Artivem Mead, where you can taste and purchase an assortment of locally made craft meads. You'll also find a coffee shop, an ice cream parlor, a yoga studio, and a salon. 

Visit the Portal Container Village

The Portal features five local businesses creatively operating out of metal shipping containers. It's also family and pet friendly! 

  • Rent a bike from Sun-E-Land bikes
  • Kick up dirt at the waterfront pump track
  • Enjoy coffee and pastries from Our Kitchen
  • Grab a specialty scoop of Selkie Scoop ice cream
  • Find food and cocktails at the *new* Rain or Shine Riviera Club
  • Sip a cold pint at Kulshan Trackside Beer Garden
        We acknowledge that Whatcom County is located on the unceded territory of the Coast Salish Peoples. They cared for the lands that included what we’d call the Puget Sound region, Vancouver Island and British Columbia since time immemorial. This gives us the great obligation and opportunity to learn how to care for our surrounding areas and all the natural and human resources we require to live. We express our deepest respect and gratitude for our indigenous neighbors, the Lummi Nation and Nooksack Tribe, for their enduring care and protection of our shared lands and waterways.
Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism
Visitor Center Located at I-5 Exit 253 - Check Hours
904 Potter Street, Bellingham, WA 98229
Phone: 360-671-3990
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