FIVE REASONS TO VISIT BELLINGHAM THIS SUMMER
By Lauren Kramer

Most British Columbians know Bellingham as a pit stop on the way to Seattle or Portland, a place to refuel after a long border wait, do a quick grocery shop at Trader Joe's and then zip south on the I-5. But spend some time exploring this charming university town and you'll find it a place of stunning natural beauty, with a fraction of the crowds that can make BC's natural hotspots feel congested. Bellingham offers tons space to stretch out on a quiet lakeside or ocean beach, spectacular hiking trails on soft forest floors and invigorating bike rides on a network of trails that criss-cross the city and make it easy and fun to get around on two wheels. Here's our top five reasons to cross the border and spend a weekend in Bellingham this summer.

F
The largest freshwater body of water in the county, Lake Whatcom
stretches 22km and offers great swimming, boating, kayaking and fishing.

Lakeside Bliss : You won't see it from the I-5 but Lake Whatcom, a massive body of pristine lakewater that stretches 22 kilometers, is a fabulous place to cool off this summer. Bloedel Donovan park, located just a few minutes' drive from downtown Bellingham on Electric avenue, is the easiest place to access the lake, with a sandy beach, a swimming area separated from boat traffic, an expanse of soft grass shaded by trees, as well as restrooms and a boat launch. Grab a picnic lunch from Da Vinci's Market and a selection of the city's most famous donuts from Feleen's – both stores a couple minutes' drive from the lake on Electric avenue, - and plan to spend a decadent day in the sun and water.

Beautiful Biking : From its city center to its neighbourhoods, forests and beaches, Bellingham is a city of passionate bikers who choose two wheels above four any day the rain holds off. Start your bike ride downtown and take the off-road biking trail to Fairhaven to reach the Interurban Trail. A rails-to-trails route, this six-mile trail takes bikers and pedestrians on a magical, mostly flat path towards Larrabee State Park. The forested trail is upliftingly beautiful and leads bikers above the picturesque Chuckanut Drive, promising stunning vistas of the San Juan Islands, towering evergreens and secluded beaches like Teddybear Cove. Pick up a map at Fairhaven Bicycles before you go.

Booklover's Delight : Most Pacific Northwest booklovers have heard of Powell's Books, the legendary independent bookstore in Portland. Village Books in Fairhaven is Bellingham's version of Powell's, a store with a smaller footprint but no less of a tantalizing selection of books, food and gifts all housed under one historic roof. It shares its three floors with two restaurants: Evolve Chocolate & Café upstairs and the Colophon Café downstairs, both of them much-loved local eateries that focus on homemade food using locally grown ingredients. On its main floor it shares space with Paper Dreams, a store filled with fun knickknacks for the home and tons of exquisite paper in the form of giftwrap, notebooks, calendars, gift cards and beautifully decorated writing paper. In the bookstore a selection of new and gently used books are neatly organized by genre and staff write personal book reviews to recommend their favourite reads. If you relish the hunt for a book that will draw you in and allow you to forget the world, Village Books will answer that call easily.

Birch Bay's long stretches of beach promise soul-nourishing walks, particularly at low tide when the sand flats extend for miles out to sea.

Beach Bums : If you've been dreaming of a long walk on a beach where you're more likely to hear the wind in your ears than the sound of other people, you'll want to drive to Birch Bay. Visiting this small beachside community feels like stepping back into the 1970s, as little has changed here over the years. The stretch of beach remains the principal attraction, and in summer the tide goes out so far you can walk out for miles on the sand, watching gulls and eagles wheeling above. Head to the C Shop for pizza and ice cream after your windswept walk. This longtime family-run establishment is a favourite hang-out for locals and visitors, and its sweet caramel treats are legendary.

One of the best farmers markets in the Pacific Northwest, the Bellingham Farmers Market, held weekly on Saturdays, is a great place to browse, shop for local food and experience the unique, friendly vibe of the city.

To Market, To Market : With hundreds of vendors selling colourful, fresh produce, handmade soaps, ready-to-go food, proteins and pottery, the Bellingham Farmers' Market, held on Saturdays, is a cacophony of fabulous sounds, sights and aromas. This is an inspiring place to plan your week's meals, experience the distinct, friendly vibe of the city and explore the talented work of its many artists, cheesemakers, crafters, chocolatiers and more. Street musicians provide the music, farmers hawk produce fresh from the fields and the sizzle of ready-to-go food promises an irresistible lunch. Info: bellinghamfarmers.org

Images: (courtesy of Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism)