10 Diverse Things to Do in Bellingham, WA
What to Do, From a Local’s Perspective
Bellingham, Washington is a laid back city that offers a wide variety of activities for visitors and locals alike.
Home to Western Washington University, many residents came here for college and never left. With good reason.
Why live anywhere else when you can have it all? Ocean, lakes, skiing, hiking, quirky shops, music & culture, plus great restaurants? Not to mention being located nearly equidistant between Seattle and Vancouver if you are ever in need of some big city entertainment.
I’ve lived here for most of my adult life. Here are my favorite things to do in Bellingham.
Explore Whatcom Falls Park
This beautiful park features a stunning waterfall, a stone bridge, hiking trails, picnic areas, and a playground. There is also a popular pond where daredevils like to take an adventurous leap from about 20-25 feet above. Use at your own risk.
If you prefer to stay dry, stick to the trails and admire the waterfalls. For a shorter walk through the woods, park in the main lot off of Lakeway Drive. If you want a longer hike, start in the lot off Woburn, just south of Iowa street and hike up a gentle hill before reaching the trails in the park.
Visit the Spark Museum of Electrical Invention
This unique museum showcases the history of electricity and features interactive exhibits and demonstrations. See a Tesla coil in action, learn about the history of radio, and explore 400 years of sound and electricity.
This is a fascinating place for kids and adults alike. Not open every day so be sure to check their website ahead of time.
Take a stroll through Fairhaven Historic District
Once it’s own town, Fairhaven is now part of Bellingham. This charming neighborhood is home to a variety of shops, restaurants, and historic buildings. From pottery to gelato, to the beloved Village Books, there is a variety of independent and locally produced goods to be found here.
Consider walking along the Taylor dock to Boulevard Park. This easy trail takes you along the bay to a grassy park perfect for lazing about. You can continue the trail past the park and walk all the way to downtown Bellingham.
Planning to visit Bellingham? read my ultimate travel guide to Bellingham for everything you need to know.
Enjoy a beer at one of Bellingham’s many breweries
Bellingham is known for its craft beer scene, with over a dozen breweries in the area.
Try Aslan Brewery, Kulshan Brewing, or the longstanding Boundary Bay Brewing. Or head down to the Waterfront in summertime and sip at the Container Village, a collection of food trucks and picnic tables.
Take a scenic drive along Chuckanut Drive
This winding road offers stunning views of the coastline as it hugs the hillside. You can also catch view of the San Juan Islands.
It can be narrow in places, so if you are skittish about winding roads along the coast, take I-5 to Skagit County, get off at exit 231 and return to Bellingham along Chuckanut Drive heading north. This keeps you on the mountain side of the road the whole way.
Be sure to stop at Larrabee State Park and make the short trek to the beach. Words can’t do justice to the rock formations created by years of erosion.
Image Credit: © Cody Logan / Wikimedia Commons / “Larrabee State Park coastline”
Explore the Bellingham Farmers market
The market operates on Saturdays from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. It runs from mid-April to mid-December.
The surrounding area is prime country for berries. Find fresh strawberries in June, raspberries in later June through early July, and blueberries in July and August.
Other local produce, food trucks, and artisan vendors populate this popular market adjacent to downtown.
WWU Outdoor Sculpture Collection
The campus of Western Washington University is a lovely place for a stroll, with a blend of older and newer buildings.
WWU is also home to several outdoor sculptures spread throughout the 10 acre campus. Includes the work of 35 different artists.
You can download a map from WWU here.
Lake Padden
There are three lakes near Bellingham (plus some other smaller ones). Lake Padden is my favorite. There is an easy walking path around the lake (allow about an hour, depending how fast you walk). Chill in the lawn by the lake, take your kayak or rowboat out on the lake (rentals available in summer), or play the peaceful public 18 hole golf course next door.
Image Credit: Robert Ashworth from Bellingham, WA., USA, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
