Guidebook for Bellingham
Food Scene
Boundary Bay is our favorite restaurant, partially because it's where we met 10 years ago, but mostly because they've got great food, great beer, and a great atmosphere (although on the loud side).
119 locals recommend
Boundary Bay Brewery & Bistro
1107 Railroad AveBoundary Bay is our favorite restaurant, partially because it's where we met 10 years ago, but mostly because they've got great food, great beer, and a great atmosphere (although on the loud side).
D'Anna's Cafe Italiano
1319 N State StThe best Italian food in Bellingham!
Just a few blocks away from the house, Avenue Bread is a great choice for breakfast or lunch.
21 locals recommend
Avenue Bread-James St
2301 James StJust a few blocks away from the house, Avenue Bread is a great choice for breakfast or lunch.
Homeskillet is a Bellingham icon for breakfast. Huge, delicious breakfasts...you'll likely bring leftovers home for lunch! Please note that they can't accommodate more than 4 people at a table.
41 locals recommend
Homeskillet
521 Kentucky StHomeskillet is a Bellingham icon for breakfast. Huge, delicious breakfasts...you'll likely bring leftovers home for lunch! Please note that they can't accommodate more than 4 people at a table.
Just a quick 3 block walk away, Twin Sisters Brewing and Bellingham Beer Garden is a great place for a drink and a meal, and there's a large outdoor seating area that's for all ages. This is Bellingham's newest brewery.
27 locals recommend
Twin Sisters Brewing Company
500 Carolina StJust a quick 3 block walk away, Twin Sisters Brewing and Bellingham Beer Garden is a great place for a drink and a meal, and there's a large outdoor seating area that's for all ages. This is Bellingham's newest brewery.
This is hands-down, the best Mexican food in Bellingham. It's a tiny, family run spot with authentic recipes and friendly service.
Tadeo's Mexican Restaurant
207 E Holly StThis is hands-down, the best Mexican food in Bellingham. It's a tiny, family run spot with authentic recipes and friendly service.
If some of you are looking for seafood but others want meat or other choices, this is your place! Excellent food, great happy hour and fresh oysters from just down the bay!
29 locals recommend
EAT Restaurant and Bar
1200 Cornwall AveIf some of you are looking for seafood but others want meat or other choices, this is your place! Excellent food, great happy hour and fresh oysters from just down the bay!
If you love oysters, we highly recommend a visit to Taylor Shellfish...oysters do not get any fresher than this; they were just plucked out of the bay! If you have time, take Chuckanut Drive on your drive up to Bellingham, or back south; the views are spectacular and enjoy oysters along the way.
73 locals recommend
Taylor Shellfish Farms
2182 Chuckanut DrIf you love oysters, we highly recommend a visit to Taylor Shellfish...oysters do not get any fresher than this; they were just plucked out of the bay! If you have time, take Chuckanut Drive on your drive up to Bellingham, or back south; the views are spectacular and enjoy oysters along the way.
The Filling Station - Sunnyland Station
716 Alabama StreetGourmet burgers to die for, and just a couple blocks away!
Want something more than our little Keurig can offer? There’s a coffee joint 3 blocks away that’s open 4:30AM - midnight.
Cruisin Coffee Alabama
800 Alabama StWant something more than our little Keurig can offer? There’s a coffee joint 3 blocks away that’s open 4:30AM - midnight.
New Mexico meets the Pacific Northwest; the unique and delicious food at Pepper Sisters is one of our favorite and oldest Bellingham restaurants. The decor is colorful and fun and there’s a deck with great bay views.
36 locals recommend
Pepper Sisters
1055 N State StNew Mexico meets the Pacific Northwest; the unique and delicious food at Pepper Sisters is one of our favorite and oldest Bellingham restaurants. The decor is colorful and fun and there’s a deck with great bay views.
Leaf & Ladle
1113 N State StA local favorite for vegetarian fare…great sandwiches and soups.
Wanida Thai Cuisine
1213 Dupont StBellingham’s favorite Thai food!
Soy House
400 W Holly StBellingham’s favorite Vietnamese food!
Drinks & Nightlife
An easy walk, Kulshan has great beer and a revolving list of food trucks for most lunch and dinner times.
86 locals recommend
Kulshan Brewing Company
2238 James StAn easy walk, Kulshan has great beer and a revolving list of food trucks for most lunch and dinner times.
Another brewery in our neighborhood, a little further walk than Kulshan. Wander typically has food trucks for dinner and on the weekend, also for lunch.
47 locals recommend
Wander Brewing
1807 Dean AveAnother brewery in our neighborhood, a little further walk than Kulshan. Wander typically has food trucks for dinner and on the weekend, also for lunch.
Quench your thirst after biking to Fairhaven at this beach-vibe, relaxed brewery with indoor and outdoor seating and food trucks to accompany your pints.
42 locals recommend
Fairhaven Stones Throw Brewery
1009 Larrabee AveQuench your thirst after biking to Fairhaven at this beach-vibe, relaxed brewery with indoor and outdoor seating and food trucks to accompany your pints.
Love bourbon, whiskey, gin, or vodka? You simply must check this place out! Take a tour (schedule in advance) and/or sip a flight of their lovingly prepared spirits.
7 locals recommend
Chuckanut Bay Distillery
1311 Cornwall AveLove bourbon, whiskey, gin, or vodka? You simply must check this place out! Take a tour (schedule in advance) and/or sip a flight of their lovingly prepared spirits.
Parks & Nature
Easy walk along Bellingham Bay, including the iconic Taylor Dock . There's a great coffee shop in the park where you can watch the water on a stormy day or get a coffee to go on your walk.
40 locals recommend
Boulevard Park
470 Bayview AveEasy walk along Bellingham Bay, including the iconic Taylor Dock . There's a great coffee shop in the park where you can watch the water on a stormy day or get a coffee to go on your walk.
This is Bellingham's largest park, with miles of trails for walking, biking or running. You can easily spend hours in this park exploring all the trails...but don't get lost!
124 locals recommend
Whatcom Falls Park
1401 Electric AveThis is Bellingham's largest park, with miles of trails for walking, biking or running. You can easily spend hours in this park exploring all the trails...but don't get lost!
This trail starts just a few blocks from our house and can take you all the way to Whatcom Falls Park. The trail has very gentle elevation gain and is well groomed and wide so it's great for biking as well.
Railroad Trail
Railroad TrailThis trail starts just a few blocks from our house and can take you all the way to Whatcom Falls Park. The trail has very gentle elevation gain and is well groomed and wide so it's great for biking as well.
A great place for a swim, and a lovely 2.5 mile trail around the lake with only about 100 foot elevation gain.
100 locals recommend
Lake Padden Park
4882 S Samish WayA great place for a swim, and a lovely 2.5 mile trail around the lake with only about 100 foot elevation gain.
Get out on the water by renting a kayak, paddleboard, rowboat or dinghy!
18 locals recommend
The Community Boating Center
555 Harris AveGet out on the water by renting a kayak, paddleboard, rowboat or dinghy!
Escape to the Sehome Hill Arboretum, a 175.5 acre oasis located on the south side of Bellingham adjacent to the Western Washington University Campus. Wander along the trails through the native mature tree canopy.
18 locals recommend
Sehome Hill Arboretum
600 25th StEscape to the Sehome Hill Arboretum, a 175.5 acre oasis located on the south side of Bellingham adjacent to the Western Washington University Campus. Wander along the trails through the native mature tree canopy.
An excellent place for a walk along the Bay! Zuanich Point Park and Squalicum Harbor are connected by a paved and beautifully landscaped path (approximately 2.5 miles round trip).
37 locals recommend
Zuanich Point Park
2600 N Harbor Loop DrAn excellent place for a walk along the Bay! Zuanich Point Park and Squalicum Harbor are connected by a paved and beautifully landscaped path (approximately 2.5 miles round trip).
Sightseeing
There's no more iconic Bellingham event than the Saturday Farmers Market. Stop here to pick up picnic items, eat lunch, or just people watch. Check their website for current hours, as their COVID response is evolving. At my last check they were open 10-2 on Saturdays. There is also a new Wednesday market which I'll list separately.
73 locals recommend
Bellingham Farmers Market
1100 Railroad AveThere's no more iconic Bellingham event than the Saturday Farmers Market. Stop here to pick up picnic items, eat lunch, or just people watch. Check their website for current hours, as their COVID response is evolving. At my last check they were open 10-2 on Saturdays. There is also a new Wednesday market which I'll list separately.
Enjoy the new Wednesday Farmers Market at the waterfront! During June, July, August and September,
Wednesdays from 4-7 pm
73 locals recommend
Bellingham Farmers Market
1100 Railroad AveEnjoy the new Wednesday Farmers Market at the waterfront! During June, July, August and September,
Wednesdays from 4-7 pm
The stunning views along Chuckanut Drive make this a must do experience, and it only adds about 15 minutes to your trip north or south. If you enjoy oysters, you need to visit Taylor Shellfish Farm along Chuckanut Drive.
26 locals recommend
Chuckanut Drive
Chuckanut DriveThe stunning views along Chuckanut Drive make this a must do experience, and it only adds about 15 minutes to your trip north or south. If you enjoy oysters, you need to visit Taylor Shellfish Farm along Chuckanut Drive.
Jack's is a great place to rent a bicycle to get around town or explore our many miles of trails. They have many options, including e-bikes. Call to discuss options and reserve yours as early as possible; they sell out in the summer.
7 locals recommend
Jack's Bicycle Center
1907 Iowa StJack's is a great place to rent a bicycle to get around town or explore our many miles of trails. They have many options, including e-bikes. Call to discuss options and reserve yours as early as possible; they sell out in the summer.
Enjoy the new waterfront park, which is the start of Bellingham’s waterfront redevelopment project. The project is ever-changing, but currently includes a small beach, playground, pump track, tiny brewery and relics of the original pulp factory that stood in its place.
10 locals recommend
Waypoint Park
1145 Granary AveEnjoy the new waterfront park, which is the start of Bellingham’s waterfront redevelopment project. The project is ever-changing, but currently includes a small beach, playground, pump track, tiny brewery and relics of the original pulp factory that stood in its place.
This is a lovely pedestrian and bike-friendly link between downtown Bellingham and the Fairhaven neighborhood.
South Bay Trail
South Bay TrailThis is a lovely pedestrian and bike-friendly link between downtown Bellingham and the Fairhaven neighborhood.
City/town information
Miles of beachfront to wander, and if you like oysters, you must visit Drayton Harbor Oyster Company!
36 locals recommend
Birch Bay
Miles of beachfront to wander, and if you like oysters, you must visit Drayton Harbor Oyster Company!
Neighborhoods
Lots of cute shops and restaurants in this buzzing historic neighborhood on the south side of Bellingham. Rent a bike at Jack's and take the South Bay Trail along the water, across Taylor Dock and into downtown Fairhaven. There are breweries on both sides of the trail, which is flat and easy peddling or walking.
122 locals recommend
Fairhaven
Lots of cute shops and restaurants in this buzzing historic neighborhood on the south side of Bellingham. Rent a bike at Jack's and take the South Bay Trail along the water, across Taylor Dock and into downtown Fairhaven. There are breweries on both sides of the trail, which is flat and easy peddling or walking.
Museums
A must visit for science and technology-minded folks! Fascinating exhibits!
47 locals recommend
SPARK Museum of Electrical Invention
1312 Bay StA must visit for science and technology-minded folks! Fascinating exhibits!