Whatcom County, and specifically, Bellingham and Fairhaven - the sister towns that sit adjacent on scenic Boundary Bay - is our favorite spot for a quick getaway. Whether for a few nights' stay, an overnight, or even just a day trip, Bellingham and Fairhaven are a short just-over-an-hour jaunt from Seattle, but thanks to the laid-back lifestyle and easygoing beachtown vibes, you will feel like you're miles away from the hustle and bustle of Seattle.
The first thing you'll notice is that life is just slower up north. The residents of Whatcom County are warm, friendly folks - the kind who wave and wish you good morning when you're on a coffee run to Tony's or The Woods (our two fave local coffee spots). Maybe we're partial as former residents, but Bellingham and Fairhaven are a breath of fresh air and a lovely respite any time of the year. Along with the love of our lives, our Miniature Schnauzer, Sadie, we love to explore the two towns, the running and walking trails, and Western Washington's campus. Here's our guide from our most recent trip.
Where to Stay
The Chrysalis Inn & SpaThe Chrysalis Inn & Spa is now part of the Hilton hotel family, but it still holds that family-run vibe from the many years that it was a locally-owned and operated hotel. Situated in downtown fairhaven with sweeping views of Boundary Bay, it's the perfect bed-and breakfast vibe with upscale service. Keenan's at the Pier is the hotel restaurant, open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The hotel's best kept secret is the Keenan's Happy Hour. You can order drinks and snacks for the hotel's living room on a cooler day, or you can opt for dockside seating in better weather. They are incredibly accommodating to vegans. I had a grilled vegetable plate with quinoa and pea puree and we shared the tempura veggies as an app. Truly, the food rivals any fine dining restaurant in Seattle, and best of all, you can order anything from Keenan's restaurant as room service!
Oh, and did I mention, the hotel is dog friendly too! You can hop right onto the dock from the restaurant and walk or run through Boulevard Park which connects on a gravel trail to downtown Bellingham. If you cut through town, you can follow the water and loop around the Bellwether Hotel and back for a 7-mile run.
Views from the dock and Boulevard Park
Room service from Keenan's
Sadie's favorite lookout spot and my favorite room amenity - the window seat!
Dinner on the deck at Keenan's
Safety first. The hotel felt very Covid-aware. I never felt endangered and observed the hotel taking every precaution to keep guests safe.
Owned by local owner Peggy Platter, this boutique is my favorite place to shop in all of Whatcom County. It's like a curated, capsule collection of my favorite causal brands including 7 for All Mankind, Free People, Sanctuary, and Z Supply. Owner Peggy is taking every precaution during Covid, including sanitizing dressing rooms before and after each use, as well as holding clothing for a period of time post try-ons. I snagged a couple of great basic, versatile tops, a pinstripe denim jacket, and a great pair of Aztec patterned skinny jeans that I'm envisioning with a felt hat, oversized sweater, and suede ankle boots for fall.
In my grad school days, Boundary Bay was the high-end watering hole you took your parents to when they visited town (because what college student can afford beer anywhere but the Up and Up?!), but nowadays Boundary Bay is a fab spot for a sunny afternoon lunch in their beer garden patio area. Even Sadie was given the royal treatment with a prime bench spot in her carrier - love that they're dog friendly! The menu has had some great updates, including the plant-based Bahn Mi sandwich with tofu and their tempeh salad with a Thai vinaigrette. I would return for a meal in a heartbeat.
WWU's campus is a lovely spot for a self-guided art walk thanks to the number of sculptures that line the campus grounds. Though getting to campus requires an uphill walk or drive no matter which direction you're coming from, the campus itself is a plateau and is relatively flat with well-paved paths. If you wander over toward Viking Union (the bookstore and cafeteria area), you can catch gorgeous views of the bay.
The Community Food Co-Op in downtown Bellingham is the perfect place for grab-and-go lunch from the deli counter. A vegan (or meat eater's) delight, there are a number of main and side dishes that are pre-prepared. We love to take a picnic down to Boulevard Park, or fill up a cooler with our faves to bring home at the end of a trip. Featured below is the Pad Thai with Tofu (along with my own sriracha cauliflower and broccoli with hot sauce). Their tofu cutlets are my favorite way to eat tofu.
