Bellingham is a coastal city near the Canadian border with so much to offer. Its close proximity to both the water and the mountains makes it a hot spot for outdoor enthusiasts. Downtown, you will find cute cafes, great restaurants, fun shops, and beautiful beaches all right there next to the water.
Healthy Restaurants
Big Love Juice Bar & Kitchen
Big Love Juice in Fairhaven offers organic juice, smoothies, bowls, salads, toasts, and so much more! Their menu items are handcrafted from scratch and free from fillers, flavorings, preservatives, and anything artificial!
Makeworth Market
Makeworth wins for the best vibe. This place has yummy, healthy, gluten-free food options and is huge! You don’t ever have to worry about there being enough seating.
Camber
Camber is a cute little coffee shop in downtown Bellingham. They have salads, sandwiches, pastries, and lots of gluten-free options.
Carnal
Carnal is a restaurant focused on live-fire cooking and is known for its meat dishes. If you are a vegetarian, don’t let that deter you. I dream of their veggie plates. Their grilled broccoli and marinated avocado are hands down some of the best dishes I have ever had. Oh, and their cocktails are on another level as well! So good!
Things to Do
Chuckanut Drive
Chuckanut Drive is a byway offering scenic views all the way to Bellingham. Once you get to Burlington, you can exit onto Chuckanut Drive and drive along the water. With the Puget Sound on one side and the Chuckanut Mountains on the other, this drive beats driving on I-5 by far! You will pass through a cute little town called Edison that has some cute little shops and restaurants. Next time I go, I will be stopping at Mariposa Taqueria which serves Mexican food with farm-to-table ingredients in a garden-like setting. You will also drive through Taylor Shellfish Farms Samish Oyster Bar & Shellfish Market, so if Oysters are your thing- make sure to stop here!
Larabee State Park
Larabee State Park is Washington’s first state park. It’s located right off of Chuckanut Drive on your way into Bellingham and is worth a stop. Larabee State Park has great beaches, hikes, a playground, and places for kids to run and play. Train spotting is also fun as there are train tracks that run right through the park! You will need a Discover Pass to park.
Boulevard Park & Bellingham Boardwalk
Boulevard Park is an expansive park along the water on the east side of town right outside of Fairhaven. Grab a drink at Woods Coffee located in the park, go for a walk along the boardwalk, play at the beach, watch a beautiful sunset, enjoy the views, have a picnic, or let the kids play at the playground.
Fairhaven
Fairhaven is a cute little historic village on the water. It has cute boutiques, yummy restaurants, and great views of Bellingham Bay. It’s a great place to walk around, do some shopping, and grab lunch.
Fairhaven Park
Located just a few minutes outside of town, Fairhaven park is a great place to take the kids! It has a fun playground and splash pad! With over 136 acres to explore, basketball courts, tennis courts, and pickleball courts, there is a little something for everyone!
Whatcom Falls Park
Whatcom Falls Park is a woodland park that has a trail system that follows Whatcom Creek. Don’t miss the beautiful Whatcom Falls!
Shops
Village Books
Village Books is a three-story, dog-friendly bookstore in Fairhaven. This is one of our favorite bookstores… tons of books to choose from! It’s so charming, has great views, and it even has a little cafe upstairs.
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