When planning our summer I envisioned tons of camping and hiking however Neil’s new job and the travel that comes along with it has required us to be a bit more flexible with how we use our time. Since work required him to be in Seattle for a large chunk of the summer, we decided to join him and use it as an opportunity to explore more of Washington. We had three nights free and had the choice of staying in Seattle or setting off on an adventure in a nearby area. Due to hotel costs we landed on Bellingham.
Prior to our trip, I didn’t really know much about Bellingham besides that it is about 1.5 hours (more like 2.5 with rush hour traffic) north of Seattle and is surrounded by nature. Going on that alone (and an inexpensive room on Hotwire) we decided to embark on an adventure to a new place. What I didn’t imagine is how much we would fall in love with Bellingham. Edith and Alder are already asking when we will be returning and I have to agree I am looking forward to going back as well.
Stay
We used Hotwire to find our hotel. My basics for choosing is it must be at least 3 stars, liked by 90% of people and have a 4+ review on TripAdvisor. With the kids in tow, I wanted a pool as well. Luckily Hotwire was able to find a hotel that fit our wants and we ended up with the Four Points by Sheraton Bellingham Hotel & Conference Center.
Overall it was a nice hotel within walking distance to Whole Foods and Fred Meyer. It was close to the downtown area and it had a restaurant and a pool. I would say the only two cons that this hotel had for us was that the pool as only available for those under 18 years old from 10am-8pm. I know not a huge deal we just had a few times where we would have liked to use the pool in the morning or around 8pm after returning from our adventures. The one pro with the pools however was that they had small soaking pool perfect for non-swimmers like Alder.
The other con that we found was that there were absolutely no kids channels on the TV. Again not a huge deal at all but sometimes mama and dada need a break, especially after a full day of activities. Instead of including the kids channels you had to pay extra for them. In the grand scheme of things neither of these cons would prevent us from staying again.
Eat/Drink
Rocket Donuts – There is a rocket ship out front and donuts and ice cream inside. Basically it’s a kid’s dream come true. If you’re vegan, like us, just ask for the vegan selection of the day when you go in. I highly recommend the maple donut.
Electric Beet – Juice, smoothies, smoothie bowls, toasts and the most amazing cacao pancakes you’ll ever have.
Pepper Sisters – Southwestern food at it’s best. They have a wide selection of food options but I highly suggest the enchiladas and the rice and beans. The sopapilla and hominy that came with the entrees were great additions as well.
Boundary Bay Brewing – We grabbed a veggie burger and a beer here just as a snack but it has a pretty good looking menu. The thing that sold us was the outdoor picnic table area complete with a play structure for kids and a relaxing spot for us.
Camber – We may have visited Camber every day on our visit. It’s some of the best coffee in the PNW and it has a great simple breakfast selection including a variety of toasts, breakfast potatoes and pastries. Tip: stop in and grab a coffee before heading across the street to grab a few donuts from Rocket Donuts.
Leaf & Ladle – Before heading to the beach stop in and grab wrap, quesadilla, salad or panini. We loved the vegan tempeh caesar wrap and the vegan panini.
Big Juice Love – Another great spot of Juice, smoothies, acai bowls and a huge toast selection. We highly recommend the artichoke cream toast – it was amazing.
Do
Bellingham Farmers Market – Farmers markets are a great way to experience anywhere you visit. We found vendors selling all kinds of artisan products from ceramics to body care to clothes. We came across the most incredible olives, snacked on berry popsicles, sampled chocolates, sauerkraut, bread and beer. We listened to incredible young people sing and play their instruments and were able to feel like we were a part of the community.
Larrabee State Park – I am not sure if it is or not but this spot felt like a hidden gem. There is a day use beach that is a short hike down from the parking lot and it is one the most beautiful beaches. So clean, clear and the view is incredible. We went around lunch time and despite the warm, sunny day it was fairly quiet. Opposite the path to the beach is a short hiking trail that promises beautiful views of its own and back up by the parking lot are picnic tables, restrooms and a playground.
Whatcom Park – We found this thanks to google and our desire to see waterfalls. This was a wonderful easy hike that featured waterfalls and bridges. There is also a playground and picinic tables near the parking area.
Ruckus Room Arcade – Not something I thought I would have added to the list but I promised Edith a trip to the arcade during our time away and this is where we ended up. We had low expectations and we all ended up having a great time playing arcade games.
Have you ever visited Bellingham? What are your favorite things to do/see/eat/stay?
Where in the PNW should we visit next?
Only have 48hours in Bellingham? Find out what we would do over on Naturally Lindsay.
