Winter Activities

Visiting Bellingham and Whatcom County in the winter means white capped mountains and so much more! 

Snow-lovers can head up to Mount Baker to enjoy a range of snowsports including skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. Then after a day on the mountain, journey back into Bellingham for incredible restaurants, shopping, theaters, museums, and galleries.

Enjoy playing in our epic amounts of snow! Whooshing down the slopes or navigating the back-country in quiet solitude, Mt. Baker provides ample opportunities for all of your adventure filled winter dreams.

Fly straight into Bellingham...and bring your skis! 

Southwest Airlines lets you checked snow ski equipment as your free bag. This includes skis, snowboards, ski boots, and ski poles. When checking ski equipment as your free bag, they allow you to count up to two bags (containing one set of snow skis, poles, and ski boots, for instance) as one item, even if they're packaged and tagged separately. 

Plus, the airline won't charge an excess size fee for snow ski equipment. However, excess weight charges may apply.

Here are examples of the annual events that take place in Whatcom County during the winter season:

Bellingham Symphony - Listen to traditional carols and enjoy special surprises including a delightful appearance by two very jolly visitors from the North Pole.

Fairhaven Village - Enjoy Christmas shopping, carriage rides, lights, and much more! 

Holiday Port Festival - Bring the whole family for live performances, ginger bread house decorating, arts & crafts, a visit with Santa, and more!

Ferndale's Old Fashioned Christmas - This old-timey Christmas celebration is ideal for the entire family. 

Lynden Lighted Parade - This luminous winter parade is a great way to get into the holiday spirit. 

Resolution Walk/Run & Padden Polar DipRing in the New Year with a brisk walk or run around Lake Padden.

Birch Bay Polar Bear Plunge - Join hundreds of shivering brave souls plunging into the icy waters of Birch Bay.

Legendary Banked Slalom - If your plan is to spend some time at Baker, you may want to watch or participate in this legendary race. It's an extreme snowboarding contest held annually since 1985 at Mount Baker.

        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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