Try quirky Bellingham for a quick getaway to the north
Published 1:30 am Friday, November 18, 2016
For most graduates of Western Washington University, a day trip to Bellingham is a sweet homecoming.
Decades after I finally left, Bellingham still appeals. The city has retained many of its best parts and added even more opportunities for fun.
To get to Bellingham from Everett, allow about 90 minutes. (That’s how long it took when, as a college kid, I got on the Greyhound bus at Pacific and Hoyt and rode the “milk run” through Marysville and Mount Vernon.)
You will want to take the extra time so you can get off I-5 at Burlington to drive northwest on scenic Chuckanut Drive.
Stop along the way to play on the beach at Larrabee State Park, or enjoy a walk along the shores of Lake Padden before you head over to the Fairhaven neighborhood.
In historic Fairhaven, which was once a town of its own, several must-do activities await.
Buy a cup of coffee at Tony’s, stroll around and peek into all the crafty shops in the century-old buildings. Stop at Village Books, 1200 11th St., easily one of the best independent book stores in the state.
Fairhaven has a number of fine restaurants. Check out Skylark’s Hidden Cafe or one of the great pizza places.
Now go downtown, but don’t drive there. Walk. It’s only a couple of miles.
Across the street from the Fairhaven Village Green, find the South Bay Trail to Boulevard Park on Bellingham Bay. Part of it stretches right over the water. Look for birds and interesting humans. Along the way, read the historical markers and breathe in the scent of the Northwest as autumn advances.
Once you are downtown you’ll have to pick and choose, because there is much to see and do. One of the first things you’ll run into is the Bellingham Farmers Market, which is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays through Dec. 17 at 1100 Railroad Ave.
Downtown Bellingham has a great (some say snobby) craft beer scene, and a lot of artistic shops, new-music clubs and good restaurants.
It also has several fine museums. SPARK: The Museum of Electrical Invention, 1312 Bay St., is one of a kind. The staff and volunteers who run the museum like to say that lightning strikes several times a day at the interactive museum, where visitors can experience the history, science and power of electricity. My favorite exhibit is about the golden age of radio.
Around the corner, see the Whatcom Museum, which is divided between the beautiful, iconic Old City Hall and the post-modern Lightcatcher building just down the street, which houses art exhibitions.
Behind the 125-year-old Old City Hall, which is home to the museum’s historical exhibitions, is the pretty Maritime Heritage Park. Take a look at the art, and follow Whatcom Creek as it flows down to the bay.
Eating is always an important part of any visit to Bellingham. One of my favorites is the brunch mecca of Bellingham, the Old Town Cafe, which is owned by one of my college buddies. Highlights include the stuffed breakfast burrito. Get it with black beans, avocado and a side of home fries for around $10 or so.
Mount Bakery Cafe, Bayou on Bay, Rock and Rye Oyster House and Pepper Sisters are among the best, along with Aslan Brewing, Boundary Bay Brewery and Chuckanut Brewery.
After all this good grub, walk back to your car in Fairhaven and then drive up to Whatcom Falls Park, 1401 Electric Ave. The falls are especially beautiful now that the fall rains have boosted the power of the water.
Before you leave Bellingham, drive over to see the nationally recognized outdoor sculpture collection at the university. Walk the campus and end up at Mark di Suvero’s huge steel sculpture titled “For Handel.” If you’re lucky, your visit will be accompanied by a sunset over Bellingham Bay.
