Guidebook for Bellingham
Parks & Nature
Whatcom Falls Park
1401 Electric AveThe best walking and jogging in Bellingham!
A classic PNW park. Towering cedar groves, large sunny green fields, frisbee golf course, cascading creeks, overgrown trails. Worth checking out and so close!
10 locals recommend
Cornwall Park
A classic PNW park. Towering cedar groves, large sunny green fields, frisbee golf course, cascading creeks, overgrown trails. Worth checking out and so close!
Locust Beach
Locust AvenueBeautiful sunset destination. Feels secret and secluded. Highly romantic. Bikeable.
This is such a great beach and trail between downtown Bellingham and Fairhaven. Incredible at all hours, particularly for sunset walks. If it is raining, try Woods Coffee located right on the water.
48 locals recommend
Bayview Drive
Bayview DriveThis is such a great beach and trail between downtown Bellingham and Fairhaven. Incredible at all hours, particularly for sunset walks. If it is raining, try Woods Coffee located right on the water.
At this point, you probably don't need more hiking options, but this still bears mentioning. A short beautiful hike to a wooden tower where you can view the bay and the cascades. If you have more time, there are tons of trails that criss-cross the arboretum and lead down into the beautiful campus of Western Washington University.
11 locals recommend
Sehome Arboretum View Tower
Huntoon TrailAt this point, you probably don't need more hiking options, but this still bears mentioning. A short beautiful hike to a wooden tower where you can view the bay and the cascades. If you have more time, there are tons of trails that criss-cross the arboretum and lead down into the beautiful campus of Western Washington University.
This is like Seattle's Greenlake on steroids. Beautiful forested hiking/running trails. Fishing/boating options. Swimming beaches. Gateway to some seriously awesome mountainbiking too.
100 locals recommend
Lake Padden Park
4882 S Samish WayThis is like Seattle's Greenlake on steroids. Beautiful forested hiking/running trails. Fishing/boating options. Swimming beaches. Gateway to some seriously awesome mountainbiking too.
The cleanest, purest swimming I have ever found in an urban area. This is Bellingham's water supply, and you can swim in it! Excellent boating options and the start of the Railroad Trail which is a superb running trail.
23 locals recommend
Bloedel Donovan Park
2214 Electric AveThe cleanest, purest swimming I have ever found in an urban area. This is Bellingham's water supply, and you can swim in it! Excellent boating options and the start of the Railroad Trail which is a superb running trail.
Premium hiking. Chuckanut Drive is like Big Sur in California, steep forested cliffs overlooking the glistening water of the Puget Sound. Even just the drive south on Chuckanut Drive into the Skagit Valley is totally worth it.
73 locals recommend
Larrabee State Park
Larrabee State ParkPremium hiking. Chuckanut Drive is like Big Sur in California, steep forested cliffs overlooking the glistening water of the Puget Sound. Even just the drive south on Chuckanut Drive into the Skagit Valley is totally worth it.
Food Scene
Really excellent non-pretentious coffee shop and bakery within walking distance. Great egg sandwiches. Great for breakfast lunch. Beer and kombucha on tap.
21 locals recommend
Avenue Bread-James St
2301 James StReally excellent non-pretentious coffee shop and bakery within walking distance. Great egg sandwiches. Great for breakfast lunch. Beer and kombucha on tap.
Simply the greatest breakfast place. Incredible food, staff, and quirky atmosphere. A must-see! Try all of the hot sauces.
41 locals recommend
Homeskillet
521 Kentucky StSimply the greatest breakfast place. Incredible food, staff, and quirky atmosphere. A must-see! Try all of the hot sauces.
Local kombucha and health food. Live music. Kombucha cocktails. It's all good!
17 locals recommend
Kombucha Town
210 E Chestnut StLocal kombucha and health food. Live music. Kombucha cocktails. It's all good!
Simply the best food and baked goods I have ever had. Absolutely worth the beautiful drive. Farm-to-table vibe. This place is very popular so try to be there right when they open!
40 locals recommend
Tweets
5800 Cains CtSimply the best food and baked goods I have ever had. Absolutely worth the beautiful drive. Farm-to-table vibe. This place is very popular so try to be there right when they open!
Farm-to-table tacos that are unique and incredibly delicious. Worth the stop and worth the wait. Head down to Edison and make a day of it!
22 locals recommend
Mariposa Taqueria
14003 Gilmore AveFarm-to-table tacos that are unique and incredibly delicious. Worth the stop and worth the wait. Head down to Edison and make a day of it!
A really great stop for the oyster lover. The setting is simply the best. It feels like a secret private oyster cove. This is not really a restaurant, but really just a place to buy and eat oysters. Check it out!
73 locals recommend
Taylor Shellfish Farms
2182 Chuckanut DrA really great stop for the oyster lover. The setting is simply the best. It feels like a secret private oyster cove. This is not really a restaurant, but really just a place to buy and eat oysters. Check it out!
A high-end destination restaurant. Closer to our place than you might think, the ferry to Lummi island is so casual and quaint that it really adds to the romance of the whole experience!
17 locals recommend
The Willows Inn
2579 W Shore DrA high-end destination restaurant. Closer to our place than you might think, the ferry to Lummi island is so casual and quaint that it really adds to the romance of the whole experience!
Drinks & Nightlife
Every beer they have is so reliably solid. The most versatile brewery out there. Such a great menu of options! Also, really nice outdoor scene with a food truck. Helps also this is walking distance from our place.
86 locals recommend
Kulshan Brewing Company
2238 James StEvery beer they have is so reliably solid. The most versatile brewery out there. Such a great menu of options! Also, really nice outdoor scene with a food truck. Helps also this is walking distance from our place.
One of the best breweries in Bellingham. These are real pros. Food trucks present.. Also...walking distance!
47 locals recommend
Wander Brewing
1807 Dean AveOne of the best breweries in Bellingham. These are real pros. Food trucks present.. Also...walking distance!
Incredible beers. Unique. Only in a competitive brewery market will you find beers this advanced.
13 locals recommend
Structures Brewing
601 N State StIncredible beers. Unique. Only in a competitive brewery market will you find beers this advanced.
This is a classic Bellingham staple. Good beers, full menu, plenty of space, life music. An institution.
119 locals recommend
Boundary Bay Brewery & Bistro
1107 Railroad AveThis is a classic Bellingham staple. Good beers, full menu, plenty of space, life music. An institution.
Very hip and well-branded. Beers and full-service food also top notch. Still a standout among a lot of really great options.
104 locals recommend
Aslan Brewing Company
1330 N Forest StVery hip and well-branded. Beers and full-service food also top notch. Still a standout among a lot of really great options.
More than a stone's throw from our place, but definitely a worthwhile stop if you are down in Fairhaven. Multi-level intimate sitting/standing zones, food truck, food delivery.
42 locals recommend
Fairhaven Stones Throw Brewery
1009 Larrabee AveMore than a stone's throw from our place, but definitely a worthwhile stop if you are down in Fairhaven. Multi-level intimate sitting/standing zones, food truck, food delivery.
Reliably great music venue. Lots of solid local folksy acts and often some good dancing to be had.
25 locals recommend
The Green Frog
1015 North State StreetReliably great music venue. Lots of solid local folksy acts and often some good dancing to be had.
Sightseeing
This is a great place to start exploring Bellingham. I the fall, you can see the salmon running up Whatcom Creek. Catch a glimpse of the beautiful courthouse building, the waterfront, and the waterfalls in the middle of town.
Maritime Heritage Park
500 W Holly StThis is a great place to start exploring Bellingham. I the fall, you can see the salmon running up Whatcom Creek. Catch a glimpse of the beautiful courthouse building, the waterfront, and the waterfalls in the middle of town.
Entertainment & Activities
I have done a lot of yoga up and down the West, and this is definitely one of the best yoga settings with the nicest staff I have encountered. Come check it out!
3 OMS YOGA
1319 Cornwall AveI have done a lot of yoga up and down the West, and this is definitely one of the best yoga settings with the nicest staff I have encountered. Come check it out!
Essentials
Just in case you didnt know, there is a Trader Joes within walking distance of our place. So convenient!
48 locals recommend
Trader Joe's
2410 James StJust in case you didnt know, there is a Trader Joes within walking distance of our place. So convenient!
This produce stand is an excellent spot to buy the freshest local fruits and vegetables. If you are here during berry season you must visit Youngstocks.
Youngstock's Nursery & Produce
2237 James StThis produce stand is an excellent spot to buy the freshest local fruits and vegetables. If you are here during berry season you must visit Youngstocks.