Patient bird-watchers, looking to fill in their checklists, find a rich variety of viewing sites at Drayton Harbor/Semiahmoo Spit, Birch Bay State Park, Tennant Lake Wildlife Area, Deming Homestead Eagle Park, Whatcom Falls Park and Larrabee State Park – all within an easy, 30-mile span. In addition, the North Cascades Audubon Society lists 15 popular birding sites within Whatcom County.

Drayton Harbor/Semiahmoo Spit is officially recognized as the most northerly “Important Bird Area of Washington.” This pristine, shallow marine habitat with extensive intertidal mudflats is adjacent to the U.S.-Canadian border in Blaine, WA. Loons, Brant, Dunlin, Great Blue Herons, Red-breasted Mergansers, Bufflehead, mallards, ducks, grebes and many other migrating aquatic birds are common here in great numbers, carefully eluding Bald Eagles and Peregrine Falcons who nest high in the surrounding evergreens.

Semiahmoo Bay is noted by Audubon Washington for supporting “large flocks of all three scoter species; Greater Scaup, four grebe species, many duck species, including Long-tailed and Harlequin Ducks; and small numbers of alcids. Up to 650 loons have been counted here in a single day. Five surveys conducted throughout one winter in Drayton Harbor showed a total of more than 15,000 loons. The highest recorded counts of Red-necked Grebes and Horned Grebes on the Washington Coast occurred in this census.”

In celebration of this avian wealth, the bayside City of Blaine hosts its “Wings Over Water: Northwest Birding Festival” each spring. It is scheduled for March 16-18, 2018. The event features wildlife cruises aboard the historic passenger ferry “Plover” and the 50-foot “Salish Sea”, as well as shoreline bird viewing stations at Semiahmoo Spit, Blaine’s Marine Park and nearby Birch Bay State Park. A birding expo throughout the day includes a live raptor presentation, guest speakers, kids activities, food and craft vendors.

Birch Bay State Park features walking trails on 1.5 miles of saltwater shoreline and 3 miles of freshwater shoreline on Terrell Creek. Acrobatic Dunlin flocks can number in the thousands each winter, alongside Black-bellied Plovers. Brant migrating from Mexico to their arctic breeding grounds also stop here to refuel on the plentiful herring that spawn in the shallow seawater.  www.washingtonbrant.org Birch Bay was named for its black birch trees by Archibald Menzies, a member of the 1792 Vancouver expedition. The park’s sweeping views look north to the Canadian Gulf Islands. For more details about Birch Bay State Park click here.

Tennant Lake Wildlife Area in Ferndale, WA offers visitors their own “birds-eye view” from a 50-foot tower over looking a shallow lake surrounded by extensive wetlands, open fields, forest and riparian zone. The 150 species frequently observed here include honking Canada Geese, stately Great Blue Herons and majestic Bald Eagles, as well as multiple species of owls, hawks and woodpeckers. Trails at Tennant Lake include a one-mile long, wood-plank boardwalk loop over the water, meandering under a canopy of Alder and five species of water-loving Willow trees. Listen carefully for Chickadees, Red-winged Blackbirds and Virginia Rail. In the tall water grasses, Marsh Wren use cattail fluff to build their nests. Washington’s state bird, the American Goldfinch, is a common visitor in summer months. For more details about Tennant Lake click here.

In the winter months, snowy-white Trumpeter Swans are also common at Tennant Lake.  In fact, Whatcom County joins the Skagit Valley as home to the largest concentration of wintering Trumpeter Swans in the lower 48 states, taking advantage of the open, agricultural landscape www.swansociety.org.

Located along the Nooksack River on the Mt. Baker Highway, Deming Homestead Eagle Park is a 100-acre preserve owned by the Whatcom Land Trust and known locally for its spectacular access to wintering Bald Eagles, as five species of salmon use the river for spawning. The cedar-lined river banks are also home to Evening Grosbeaks, Steller’s Jays, American Dippers, Harlequin Ducks and Yellow-rumped Warblers.

Whatcom Falls Park in Bellingham features five miles of wide trails through 209 acres of conifer forest and freshwater wetlands, including Scudder Pond — an urban wildlife preserve owned by the North Cascades Audubon Society and located inside the park. The pond is surrounded by tall grasses and cattails, sheltering Wood Ducks, Hooded Mergansers, Green and Great Blue Herons, Black-crowned Night-Herons, Virginia Rails, and Soras. Look carefully for ducklings, which are a common spring delight.

Rounding out Whatcom County’s best birding locations is Larrabee State Park, spanning 2,683 acres, including 8,100 feet of saltwater shoreline on Samish Bay, tidelands, coves and two freshwater lakes. Established in 1915 as Washington’s first state park, Larrabee occupies most of the west side of Chuckanut Mountain and is connected to Bellingham city limits via the well-maintained Interurban Trail. The park’s topographic diversity from sea level to 1,940 feet elevation supports a variety of bird habitat. Great Horned, Western Screech, Northern Pygmy and Barred Owls are year-round residents. This is common territory for Pileated Woodpecker and Red-breasted Sapsuckers, as well as wintering Bald Eagles. Marine birds include Double-crested and Pelagic Cormorants, Great Blue Herons and colorful Harlequin Ducks. For more information about Larrabee State Park click here.

Have you ever stood in two countries at the same time? Give it a try at the Peace Arch State Park in Blaine,WA (I-5 exit 276). Look for the obelisk that officially marks the U.S. – Canada border running right through the middle of the grassy park. The unmistakable centerpiece of the park is the 67-foot tall, white classical structure known as the Peace Arch, which straddles the border. It bears two mottos, “Children of a Common Mother,” and “Brethren Dwelling Together in Unity.” It was built in 1921 to commemorate the first 100 years of peace between the U.S. and Canada (1814 – 1914). Peace Arch State Park hosts an annual outdoor sculpture exhibit, scenic gardens and a children’s playground area.

Blaine is also home to a classic, family-friendly Old Fashioned 4^th of July Parade through the business district on Peace Portal Drive. Bring your American flags and bucket to store your treats! www.ci.blaine.wa.us.

To the west of Blaine is Birch Bay – a fun seaside community with lots of activity for kids. Check the tide tables before you go at www.birchbayvillage.com/tides/tidetables.jsp. A negative tide of three feet or more during daylight hours means a massive beach has been exposed giving kids acres of room to roam and dig in the sand. The C Shop is a fun pit stop in a bright yellow building on Alderson Rd. Kids love the old fashioned snow cones, ice cream and homemade candy, as well as the pizza and sandwiches. Just across the street is the Bay Café Espresso and Deli serving clam chowder, hamburgers, sandwiches and coffee. A full list of dining and maps are at www.birchbaychamber.com.

Bring your galoshes and your binoculars when you visit Point Whitehorn Marine Reserve, near Birch Bay. With 54 acres of forest, bluff and beach this is a great family outing full of interesting slugs, peculiar fungi growing on fallen tree trunks and lots of bird life. There’s a ¾ mile, fully accessible trail to spectacular viewpoints of the Straight of Georgia and San Juan Islands, and a switchback path that descends from the bluff to access a windswept cobble beach. From I-5, take the Grandview exit 266 and drive west toward Birch Bay for 8.5 miles. Follow the road as it curves left and becomes Koehn Road, then look for the parking lot on the left.

Ferndale is home to a classic, small-town Main Street. and three great parks for kids. Located along the Nooksack River, Pioneer Park contains one of the finest collections of original slab-cedar log cabins in the Northwest. Built by pioneers, each of the cabins sat abandoned in old growth forests to deteriorate until they were rescued by volunteers and placed in a village-like setting in Ferndale. Today, families can sit at a desk in a one-room school house, browse in the general store and purchase penny candy, visit a home with a wood stove in the kitchen and see horse drawn wagon used on Ferndale’s first postal route. Tour guides in period costume are available through the summer months. A play ground and picnic shelter are also available nearby. Hours: May – September 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. www.ferndaleheritagesociety.com

On the opposite side of the river, a giant-size red and white barn built in 1913 anchors the historic farm setting at Hovander Homestead Park, alongside the original farmhouse built by Swedish homesteader Hakan Hovander in 1903. The park features 720 acres, including the original 60-acre Hovander Homestead. Kids love seeing the many farm animals, climbing on old-fashioned tractors and running through acres of grass. Adults also enjoy viewing the blacksmith shop, antique farm equipment and historic structures. Picnic tables and a children’s play structure are available. Follow a pedestrian trail on quarter mile to Tennant Lake. Hours: 8 a.m. to dusk.

Just a short walk or drive, from Hovander Homestead Park, the Tennant Lake complex includes one of Washington’s most spectacular wetlands. An elevated boardwalk leads through the woods and passes by several habitats along the edge of the shallow lake, providing a chance to view birds, identify vegetation and see aquatic animals. Upon entering, visitors pass through an award-winning Fragrance Garden, where they can touch and smell 200 varieties of herbs and flowers. Kids especially love the observation tower with inside stairs and an outside deck at the top. A viewing camera on the tower also provides disabled visitors with a wide range of vistas from the ground level. Hours: 8 a.m. to dusk.

A great lunch option in Ferndale is to stop the Haggen grocery store just off the freeway to pick up a picnic on your way to the park or eat at the store’s spacious indoor seating area. Haggen offers a deli counter, Chinese food, salad bar, bakery and Starbucks Coffee. Families also enjoy Chihuahua’s Mexican Food in downtown Ferndale. Take Main St. west to Third Ave. Turn left for one block. Chihuahua’s is on the corner of Third and Vista Ave.

To the northeast, Lynden is a farming community that clings passionately to its Dutch roots. It is Washington State’s largest Dutch settlement with about 30% of its residents having Dutch ancestry. It’s also the heart of the region’s farmland. Upon reaching the four-block span of Front Street, known as Dutch Old Town, visitors are greeted by a 72-foot tall working windmill that towers over the street. The Lynden Pioneer Museum is a fun kid destination, home to the largest collection of horse-drawn buggies west of the Mississippi. It features an indoor, two-story replica of Lynden as it was in 1900. www.lyndenpioneermuseum.com. A great place to play in Lynden is Million Smiles Park. With over 25 different activities this 22,000-square-foot play area was built with donation and volunteer labor in only 9 days! www.lynden.org. Grab a tasty lunch at Jake’s Western Grill and stop for an ice cream at Edaleen’s 1011 E. Grover St., before you head home.

Stretching out from Lynden, thousands of acres of green farmland lie at the foot of snow-capped Mt. Baker, creating breath-taking views. Whatcom County is America’s largest producer of red-raspberries, harvesting 65% of the raspberries grown in the nation for jam and juice processing. The region is also first in the nation in milk production per cow. This is a place where tractors are frequently seen on the roads and animals are plentiful. The annual Whatcom Food & Farm Finder lists dozens of locations that are open to the public. Each August the Northwest Washington Fair is held in Lynden, featuring more than 12,000 exhibits, agricultural displays, carnival, and grandstand entertainment. www.nwwafair.com.

Families also enjoy the Mt. Baker Scenic Byway (State Route 542). This 58-mile paved highway starts at I-5 exit 253 in Bellingham and passes through the small towns of Deming, Maple Falls and Glacier. It winds along the scenic North Fork Nooksack River and climbs to an elevation of 5,140 feet, where it ends at Artist Point, a site generally open August through October.  Artist Point is legendary for its spectacular views of Mt. Baker and Mt. Shuksan. Often there is still snow on the ground at this elevation and what kid can resist snowplay on a summer day?

Just below Artist Point, at milepost 55, a Visitors Center is open daily in summer months at Heather Meadows (10 am – 4 pm). Easy access to family friendly trails from this location include: Bagley Lakes Trail, Fire and Ice Trail, and Picture Lake Trail. The view alternates from lava rock to black basalt, dotted with clear water lakes and 900-year-old hemlock. Exhibits inside the historical Heather Meadows Visitor Center offer a glimpse into the area’s colorful cultural history.

In Bellingham, an abundance of city parks are a kid’s delight. Among the largest, featuring grassy lawns, play equipment and numerous trails through evergreens are Cornwall Park, Whatcom Falls Park, Lake Padden Park and Fairhaven Park. Kids also enjoy Bloedel Donovan Park on the edge of Lake Whatcom and Boulevard Park on the edge of Bellingham Bay. A favorite spot for kite flying is Zuanich Point Park near the marina at Squalicum Harbor.

Downtown Bellingham (I-5 exit 252) is home to multiple museums that welcome the whole family. Start at the Family Interactive Gallery (FIG) inside the Whatcom Museum’s innovative Lightcatcher building at 250 Flora Street.  Hours: Tues – Sun, noon – 5 p.m. Admission: $10 general, $4.50 children 2-5. This exciting and beautiful new space connects people of all ages, including toddlers, with art related activities that also have a connection to our environment. It features activities that invite children to create, role play, and interact with experiential activities. A resource reading space allows for story time and provides materials on art exhibits found in the other galleries. Throughout the day, ARTCARTS can be rolled out for spontaneous activities for youth. The Lightcatcher also houses several art galleries and features an innovative green roof! www.whatcommuseum.org

Within two blocks are three additional museum venues. The Spark Museum of Electrical Invention is located at 1312 Bay Street. Hours: Wed – Sun 11 – 5 p.m. Admission $6 adults, $3 children under 11. Although not appropriate for toddlers, youngsters age 5 and older will enjoy this unique museum featuring a world-class collection of historic radios and early electrical equipment used for experiments. Kids can learn about Benjamin Franklin, experience great grandpa’s childhood in a 1930s era living room with a working radio set and NO TV, see a replica of the radio room on board the Titantic, listen to a Thomas Edison era phonograph recording, and more. www.sparkmuseum.org

Around the corner is Mindport Exhibits at 210 W. Holly St. Hours: Wed-Fri noon – 6 p.m., Sat 10 – 5 p.m., Sun noon – 4 p.m. Admission: $2 per person. This unique venue offers visitors of all ages an opportunity to have fun “playing” with scientific and artistic creations to gain new perspectives of the world around us. The exhibits at Mindport are sure to inspire new inventions of your own! www.mindport.org

Bellingham Railway Museum 1320 Commercial Street. Hours: Tues/Thurs/Fri/ Sat  Noon – 5 p.m.  Admission: $4 adults, $1 kids 2 – 16. Kids can take the controls to operate historic model trains on 5 separate tracks, as they learn about logging and historic railroads of the area. Then try an “I Spy” adventure throughout the facility. Layouts at the Bellingham Railway Museum include G gauge (the largest of the indoor trains) and a nostalgic Lionel exhibit with a push button and transformer control system. www.bellinghamrailwaymuseum.org

For lunch with the kids in downtown Bellingham, the Mount Bakery specializes in gooey pastries and artisan sandwiches, as well as hot chocolate and coffee. It is located on W. Champion St., near the Spark Museum of Electrical Invention. Old Town Café is Bellingham’s very casual place for breakfast/brunch. It offers a veg-friendly menu with a corner of toys and musicians. Just around the corner from the Bellingham Railway Museum, on W. Magnolia St., is the low-key Mexican restaurant Taco Lobo, with a variety of inexpensive lunch specials. The Bagelry at 1319 Railroad Ave is quintessential Bellingham, featuring freshly made bagels, yummy cream cheese, soups and sandwiches – try the black bottom muffins too! And don’t miss Mallard Ice Cream at 1323 Railroad Avenue, where locally made ice cream comes in dozens of fun and unusual flavors.

On the south side of Bellingham Bay, the Fairhaven Historic District (I-5 exit 250) began as a separate city in 1883. Many of the quaint red-brick buildings were built in the 1890s. Although it officially merged with Bellingham in 1903, the locals still refer to the historic district as Fairhaven and it seems to have its own identity. The six blocks of shops are a fun area for kids and grown-ups to explore. Parking is free and sidewalks are wide. Be sure to look for the toy store, the book store, the double-decker bus that serves fish-n-chips, the ice cream and cupcake shops and the grassy Village Green.

From Fairhaven, it is also an easy walk to Boulevard Park. A gravel trail leads from the Fairhaven Village Inn, past the granite monument marking the spot where Fairhaven and Bellingham became one, to the Chrysalis Inn. From here the Taylor Dock boardwalk expands over the water, past sailboats and island views, to the awaiting lawns, shoreline and playground of Boulevard Park. This is a great place to toss a Frisbee and see the sunset. In need of another espresso or hot cocoa? The Woods Coffee inside the park makes a great pit stop before the walk back to Fairhaven.

As an official “Trail City USA,” Bellingham, WA is proud of its outdoors access for pedestrians and bikers. Several waterfront hotels offer bike routes from the front door, including The Chrysalis Inn & Spa, Fairhaven Village Inn, and Hotel Bellwether. For those who enjoy riding, but would rather not transport their equipment, quality bike rentals are offered in Bellingham at Jack’s Bicycle Rental, Fanatik Bike Company, and Fairhaven Bike & Ski.

From here, the possibilities are endless. The city’s parks department has put great effort into compiling and maintaining a detailed Bellingham Trail Guide, which includes maps and descriptions featuring 65 miles of multi-use trails throughout the city that are open to bikes. The guide is located online at http://www.cob.org/documents/parks/parks-trails/trail-guide/bellingham_trail_guide.pdf.

In addition, the city has published a Bellingham Bike Routes map, which is extremely helpful for road bikers. It is located at http://www.cob.org/documents/gis/maps/COB_Bikemap_lr.jpg.

Whatcom County, which surrounds Bellingham, is equally proud of its biking opportunities. Bike routes along country roads are easily accessed from Semiahmoo Resort & Spa in Blaine, Silver Reef Casino & Spa in Ferndale, and the Willows Inn on Lummi Island.

Many county routes feature wide open spaces and gorgeous views of Puget Sound, Mt. Baker, and miles of farmland. A Whatcom County Bike Map is found online at https://www.whatcomsmarttrips.org/pdf/CountyBikeMap.pdf.

For mountain bikers, Bellingham’s Galbraith Mountain has been ranked among the top 10 places to ride in the nation by Mountain Bike Magazine. This area between Lake Padden and Lake Whatcom is officially North Lookout Mountain. Generally, the south side of the mountain is recommended for beginning mountain bikers, while the north side is highly touted for advanced riders. An overview map can be seen at http://www.trails.com/activity.aspx?area=10321.

Galbraith’s menagerie of trails and stunning views are legendary. It is located on private land, and the trails are maintained for non-motorized use by volunteers in the local group WHIMPS (Whatcom Independent Mountain Pedalers) Mountain Bike Coalition. Extensive information about Galbraith is located on the WHIMPS website www.whimpsmtb.org. Detailed maps of Galbraith Mountain trails are available for purchase at www.galbraithmt.com. WHIMPS also maintains extensive mountain bike trails on Chuckanut Mountain, Blanchard Mountain, Anderson Mountain, and Steward Mountain, as well as the Bellingham Dirt Jump Park at Civic Field.

The Mt. Baker Bicycle Club also supports bicycle recreation, education and trail maintenance in Whatcom County. Throughout the year, the club hosts weekly riding events that are open to all. Contact information and details for each of the following rides are located at www.mtbakerbikeclub.org.

• Tuesday Morning Social Ride, 30-40 miles starting at Pioneer Park in Ferndale.
• Wednesday Evening Group Workout Ride, 30 miles starting & ending at Boundary Bay Brewery in Bellingham.
• Saturday Donut Ride, 24-45 miles from Kulshan Cycles in Bellingham to Ferndale or Birch Bay and back.
• Once a month, the club also hosts a Saturday Recumbent Ride through Bellingham.

Bellingham and Whatcom County are home to several annual biking events that draw riders from throughout the region.

Each summer nearly 1,000 bike riders participate in the Tour de Whatcom. This popular event begins in the picturesque Fairhaven Historic District and offers riders a choice of three distance routes for enjoying the surrounding Whatcom County in 25, 50 or 105 miles. Full details are at www.tourdewhatcom.com.

• The 25-mile route leaves Fairhaven and travels through downtown Bellingham heading north. The ride continues on city streets and backcountry roads past water views to Ferndale’s Pioneer Park, then returns on the same route.
• The 50-mile route begins and ends on the same 25-mile route, but extends the ride an additional 25 miles to Birch Bay and back, viewing Whatcom County’s northwestern shoreline as it reaches toward Canada. This middle distance rendezvous with the 105-mile riders in Birch Bay and joins the 25-mile riders as they return from Ferndale.
• The 105-mile route is a true loop of Whatcom County. The ride begins in Fairhaven and heads south on back roads past Lake Samish to Alger, where it turns north and travels through thick evergreen forests to the east end of Lake Whatcom. Here the route continues north through Acme to Deming, where it takes a northwesterly angle through the small towns and gorgeous farmland of Everson, Lynden, and Custer before reaching Blaine on the U.S.-Canada border. To complete the loop, the ride then heads south to Birch Bay and onto Ferndale, before returning to downtown Bellingham and Fairhaven’s welcoming Village Green.

In September, the Mt. Baker Bicycle Club hosts the Chuckanut Classic (Formerly known as Chuckanut Century Ride). This scenic ride offers multiple distance options including 25, 38, 50, 56, 62, 100 and 124-mile loops.  All versions begin at Boundary Bay Brewery in downtown Bellingham. Riders may then choose to travel either north to Birch Bay, or south along scenic Chuckanut Drive past Samish Bay and Padilla Bay.  Details and maps are located at http://www.mtbakerbikeclub.org/.

Of course “two wheels” also includes the motorized version, and Whatcom County is no stranger to that arena either. Hannegan Speedway, located on the Mount Baker Motorcycle Club’s 50 acres in Bellingham, offers motocross, flat track and off-road events from February through October. Founded in 1925, the club is one of the 10 oldest in the U.S. and second oldest on the Pacific Coast.

Two popular motorcycle rides in Whatcom County are the scenic routes Chuckanut Drive and Mount Baker Highway. Both offer breathtaking views, relatively low traffic and frequent turnouts along winding two-lane highways. Maps of both routes are available online in pdf format at https://www.bellingham.org/activities/scenic-drives/.

Golf Week magazine has recognized Semiahmoo Resort’s two championship golf courses—Semiahmoo Golf & Country Club and Loomis Trail Golf Club—among the top 10 “Places You Can Play” in Washington State. Open to the public year-around on alternate days, the Arnold Palmer-designed Semiahmoo Golf & Country Club and the Graham Cooke-designed Loomis Trail Golf Club offer premier back-to-back golf experiences within minutes of each other. Semiahmoo Resort in Blaine is the only resort in Washington with 36 holes of high-caliber “club” golf open to the public, along with a full complement of accommodations, spa, meeting space and other resort amenities. www.semiahmoo.com.

Recognized as one of the finest municipal golf courses in the Pacific Northwest, Lake Padden Golf Course is carved out of a second growth forest, with many tucked away holes offering a private, secluded feel. This 18 hole championship course measures 6,675 yards. It is home to the Bellingham Amateur Tournament each Labor Day weekend. www.lakepaddengolf.com

Crystal views of Lake Whatcom are a central feature of Sudden Valley Golf and Country Club, which is rated “four stars” by Golf Digest. The front nine is flat with many water hazards, while the back nine is hilly and heavily wooded. There are lots of houses on the course and many elevation changes. The course was designed world renowned golf course architect Ted Robinson. www.suddenvalleygolfclub.com

An entirely different experience awaits at North Bellingham Golf Course, which is flat, open and windswept with stunning views of Mount Baker. North Bellingham was designed as a “Scottish-style Links Course.” It is surrounded by open fields of flowering meadows with no houses. www.northbellinghamgolf.com

The pastoral setting continues at Shuksan Golf Course, which was named after a nearby Cascade peak. This course was created out of two farms, but is not flat. The course varies more than 100 feet in elevation, with lots of ups and downs, and offers 18 unique landscapes. Wildlife, evergreens, and natural water features are plentiful, as are long par 5s and short par 3s. www.shuksangolf.com

Noted for its excellent drainage, Raspberry Ridge Golf Course is a 9 hole, par 34 course that is popular year-round. It is easy to walk and offers open fairways, with four holes on one side of Hannegan Road and five holes on the other. Bill Robins Sr. built the course out of his raspberry farm in 1984. The course plays in about two and a half hours and the Grill features some of the best burgers around. www.raspberryridgegc.com

Dakota Creek Golf Course in Custer, WA calls itself “a walk with nature,” as bald eagles, deer and salmon spawning grounds are frequently seen on this 18-hole public course near the Canadian border. An old farm house and dairy barn still stand on the site. www.dakotacreekgolf.com

Homestead Farms Golf Resort in Lynden, WA is an 18-hole flat, residential course with lots of water and sand. The 18th hole features the only par 5 to an island green in the Pacific Northwest. The course features a hotel, restaurant and plentiful views of Mount Baker. www.homesteadfarmsgolf.com

There are several full-service spas in the county that offer massage, facials, manicures, pedicures, and a variety of other pampering services. Many are near or inside higher-end hotels and offer specials for hotel guests, as well as services for non-guests. Visitors can enjoy delectable treatments at the Chrysalis Inn and Spa, Zazen Salon Spa near the Hotel Bellwether, the Spa at Silver Reef Hotel and Casino and the Spa at Semiahmoo Resort.

The Chrysalis Inn & Spa is located near the Historic Fairhaven District overlooking Bellingham Bay. The spa offers clients treatments ranging from manicures and pedicures to hot-stone massage. Some of its unique treatments include the Moroccan Mud Ceremony, which features a full body exfoliation, aromatherapy steam shower and a warm mud body paint that purifies and cleanses the body.

Semiahmoo Resort has a full-service spa with treatments featuring Seaflora wild organic seaweed skincare, with ingredients harvested from the Pacific Northwest coastline. Its gorgeous waterside location provides the perfect refuge for revitalizing the mind, body and spirit.

Zazen Salon Spa is nestled in the heart of Bellwether on the Bay next to the Hotel Bellwether. Bellingham’s premier salon and day spa, Zazen is a total retreat for the body, mind and spirit. Zazen Salon Spa offers full service hair design, advanced massage and body therapies, esthetics and nail care.

Silver Reef Hotel, Casino and Spa, located near Ferndale, WA., features a full service spa with 3 treatment rooms, an indoor pool, hot tub, sauna and steam room. All guests staying in the hotel receive a 25% discount on all spa services. Silver Reef is located near Ferndale, WA.

For visitors looking to spend an afternoon or weekend in Historic Fairhaven in Bellingham, a stop at Jimmy’s Personal Care Salon is perfect for some professional pampering. Treatments include foot massage, pedicures, manicures, waxing, facials, microdermabrasion, men’s grooming and teeth whitening. Jimmy’s only uses natural, organic products. The salon offers vegan and eco-friendly nail products and botanical skin care. Clean, “green” and relaxed was the goal in creating Jimmy’s Personal Care, featuring premium, natural skin care products, an advanced ventilation system, and self-sanitizing ozone purified pedicure thrones. A Men’s Grooming special includes cutting and buffing finger nails, facial hair trims and waxing.

10,781-foot Mount Baker is a popular destination in the winter for downhill skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, cross country skiing and sledding. It’s a huge draw for locals, Western Washington University students and visitors from Canada and the Seattle area, especially. The Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest also attracts snowmobilers and sledding enthusiasts in the winter months.

Mt Baker Ski Area quick facts

• Mt. Baker Ski Area is located 52 miles east of Bellingham, WA on highway 542.
• Locals like to say Mt. Baker is where snowboarding was virtually invented (but skiers and snowboarders of all skills are welcome on the mountain of course).
• Mt. Baker Ski Area ranked 18th in the nation, and number one in the state of Washington, based on a survey of ski professionals by Skiing Magazine (2005).
• Mt. Baker holds the world’s record for highest annual snowfall with 1,140 inches in 1998-1999.
• Mt. Baker Ski Area has the longest ski season in Washington State (November through April), and the earliest snow in the state.
• Mt. Baker Ski area has 38 trails and 9 chairlifts (7 quads; 2 rope tows), and is perfect for downhill and cross-country skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing.
• Runs: 11 beginner, 16 intermediate, 7 advanced, 4 expert.
• Average snowfall 647 inches (1,638 cm); Vertical rise 1,500 ft (455 m)
• Heather Meadows elevation 4,300 ft (1,300m).
• White Salmon elevation 3,500 ft (1,060m).
• Rideable Acreage: 1,000 acres.
• contact info: www.mtbaker.us; (360) 734-6711; (360) 671-0211 (snow report)

Mt. Baker Ski Area provides snowboarders and skiers with a variety of terrain, day lodges, ski lessons and rentals. Lifts run daily from 9 am-3:30 pm. Open operating days and hours wholly depend on conditions and weather. Weather and conditions can be a factor affecting the days and time of opening.

Passes and lift tickets/vouchers can be purchased at Mt. Baker Ski Area office (1019 Iowa St, Bellingham, WA 98229) or at the mountain during the ski season. Prices range from $57 for adult weekends & holidays to $36 for a super senior (70+) on non-holiday weekdays. Children ages 6 and under ski for free.

Chains are required by state law in your vehicle from November until April. Check with Washington State Department of Transportation for details.

Cross Country Skiing
There is a 4-kilometer trail which begins at the Heather Meadows ski area parking lot. Cost is by donation at a self-pay station at the trail head. Telemark skis are available for rent for a more challenging experience on the slopes.

Hannegan Pass provides up to 13 miles of cross-country ski trail depending on snow. Trails are groomed on a volunteer basis and is not guaranteed. Trail use is free, but a Sno-Park Permit is required to park at the trail head. The trail is located about 13 miles beyond the town of Glacier on the Mt. Baker Highway, State Route 542 (between mileposts 46/47), and is across the road from Silver Fir Campground (Razor Hone Road #3070 and Anderson Road #3071). For other trails and current trail conditions go to the Nooksack Nordic Ski Club website www.nooksacknordicskiclub.org.

Salmon Ridge Cross Country Trail
Managed by the Nooksack Nordic Ski Club
www.nooksacknordicskiclub.org
(360) 371-3554

Snowshoeing
Snowshoers can use the Salmon Ridge Trail, but not in the ski tracks. Contact the Mt. Baker Ranger District in Sedro-Woolley for other trail information at (360) 856-5700 or Glacier Public Service Center at (360) 599-2714.

Snowshoeing trails off the Mt. Baker Highway (SR 542)

• Coal Pass, FS 39: Just east of the town of Glacier and milepost 34, turn south on Glacier Creek Rd/FS 39.
• Excelsior Trail: There is a sizeable parking lot at the trailhead on the north side of SR 542, east of milepost 42. A steep, forested trail leads to the open meadows of Welcome Pass. Route finding skills recommended.
• Hannegan Pass: Just east of the DOT equipment sheds by milepost 46. There is a sizeable parking area where Hannegan Road meets SR 542.
• Silver Fir Campground: Across from the large SnoPark east of milepost 46. Flat, amid old growth, by the Nooksack River.
• White Salmon Road: 2-mile snowshoe route starts near Mt. Baker Ski area at White Salmon Road, goes over Razor Hone Creek Recreation Bridge, then back up a diferent route to complete the loop.
• Bagley Lakes: Just west of Mt. Baker Ski Area. Drive SR 542 to the end. Park in the farthest corner of the farthest parking lot to access the Bagley Lakes Trail.
• Artist Point: Follow SR 542 to the end. Park in the farthest corner of the farthest parking lot.

Snowmobiling
There are two groomed trails off the Mt. Baker Highway 542; Canyon Creek (Road #31) and Glacier Creek (Road #39). Snowmobiling is allowed when the road systems are closed to vehicles and there is sufficient snow pack (24”). These trails are designated Washington State Sno-Park and you need to show your permit in your vehicle window when parked at Sno-Parks.

And if you are a snowmobile fan, this State Parks Web site has information on the Glacier and Canyon Creek Snoparks along the Mt. Baker Highway (State Route 542).

Sledding
For customer & public safety, Mt. Baker Ski Area strictly prohibits sledding and snowplay within ski area boundaries. Sledding and snowplay may be exercised at your own risk on the National Forest Service land, located outside the ski area. Sledding is permitted and usually viable year-round outside of the ski area.

Equipment Rentals
Fairhaven Bike & Mtn. Sports in Bellingham, (360) 733-4433
Glacier Ski Shop, (360) 599-1943
Mt. Baker Ski Area, (360) 734-6771
Mt. Baker Snowboard Shop, (360) 599-2008
REI in Bellingham, (360) 647-8955
Yeager’s in Bellingham, (360) 733-1080
Back Country Essentials in Bellingham, (360) 534-5678

Annual Events on Mt. Baker

Banked Slalom — Feb 19-22, 2015
Mt. Baker is home to the Legendary Banked Slalom (LBS), a snowboarding contest held annually since 1985 at Mt. Baker Ski Area, in Washington State near Bellingham. The LBS is regarded as the predecessor to the “boardercross” event, and has been won by some of the biggest names in the history of snowboarding. The winner receives a Duct Tape trophy and an embroidered Carhartt jacket.

The first race was held in 1985, organized by Bob Barci and Tom Sims. With only 14 riders at the top of the 500-foot-long (150 m) course, they raced through 15 gates with only a few spectators present. The decision to put on the banked slalom at Mt. Baker came about because it was one of the few ski areas in North America that welcomed snowboarders at that time.

On the south side of Bellingham (I-5 freeway exit 250) is the Fairhaven Historic District. This Victorian-era, 6-block village is loaded with cute shops featuring items from shoes and clothing, to books, art and household wares. Each year the district hosts the Fairhaven Holiday Festival from the day after Thanksgiving until the Saturday before Christmas. Each Saturday during the Festival, old-fashioned horse-drawn carriage rides depart from the Fairhaven Village Inn lending a nostalgic, slower-pace air to the shopping season.

In downtown Bellingham, many people are not aware that the Bellingham Farmer’s Market on Railroad Street continues each Saturday until Dec. 31. Gift items are a larger focus as the market enters November and December, and this is a primary outlet for many local artisans. The market is located inside Depot Market Square, which protects it from fall and winter weather and lends a fun atmosphere.

Downtown Bellingham (I-5 freeway exit 252) is also filled with interesting shops, and is home to the Cultural Arts District with many entertainment options including museums, theatres, and art galleries. Shopping highlights include fine housewares, clothing, used books, art, and food specialty items including artisan chocolate and locally-made ice cream. Restaurants are also plentiful throughout the downtown core.

Parents will be happy to know, the best secret location in Bellingham for a wide array of hard-to-find classic toys is the basement of Yeager’s Sporting Goods at 3101 Northwest Avenue. Park out front or in back and walk through the fishing and hunting gear to a small staircase at the  middle of the store. Walk downstairs, and voila! Here is aisle after aisle of games, puzzles, legos, trucks, dolls, horses, etc. It’s an experience you won’t want to miss.

In north Whatcom County, the small town of Lynden is celebrated by shoppers for its funky antiques stores along the picturesque Front Street. Lynden’s Dutch heritage is prevalent throughout the community, with architecture including traditional Dutch windmills and facades. Among the best kept secrets is the Lynden Pioneer Museum, which touts itself as the “biggest small museum in Washington State” and offers a unique gift store in its entry.

A full list of retail locations in Bellingham and Whatcom County is available on our shopping page, which also includes links to businesses and duty free shops.

Combining art with American history, the Whatcom Museum’s acclaimed Lightcatcher building is the place for cultural experiences rooted in art, nature and northwest history. Its exhibitions are designed to stoke creativity and get visitors reflecting on their changing cultural, natural and historical landscapes. The Whatcom Museum is located at 250 Flora Street in downtown Bellingham. Hours are Wed – Sun, noon to 5 p.m. www.whatcommuseum.org

More than 40 artists participate and exhibit in the Whatcom Artist Studio Tour, which are held on the first two weekends of October each year and feature local artists in their home studios. From the nationally-recognized to the secluded artisan, glassworkers, jewelers, painters, carvers, potters and weavers present their best works to the public, with many providing on-site demonstrations so visitors can get a glimpse of their creative process. Hours for the self-guided tour are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. A full color map and list of artists is available online at www.studiotour.net or in printed form at the Bellingham Visitors Center at 904 Potter Street.

Rain or shine, the sidewalks of downtown Bellingham fill with pedestrians on the First Friday of every month for the Downtown Art Walk, featuring the high quality of artists and remarkable variety of venues present in the city’s Cultural Arts District. From 6 to10 p.m., galleries, boutiques, restaurants, studios and more keep their doors open to showcase a wide array of artwork by local and renowned visiting artists. A map and list of artists participating in the event each month is available at http://www.downtownbellingham.com

Allied Arts of Whatcom County brings the work of local artists to the public in a variety of settings and community arts events. The Allied Arts gallery features monthly juried exhibits at 1418 Cornwall Avenue in Bellingham. The Allied Arts Gallery is open Mon – Fri 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sat noon to 5 p.m. www.alliedarts.org .

Another anchor of downtown Bellingham, the Mount Baker Theatre is the largest performing arts facility of its kind north of Seattle. The theatre is a beautifully restored 1927 architectural treasure listed on the register of National Historic Places. It showcases some of the best live performing artists on both the professional and community levels for audiences in the North Puget Sound area and the Lower Mainland of British Columbia. Originally built as a movie palace of Moorish style architecture, today the Mount Baker Theatre has been transformed into a vibrant setting for compelling entertainment, including performances by the Whatcom Symphony Orchestra, which holds concerts at this venue September through May each year. http://www.mountbakertheatre.com/ http://www.whatcomsymphony.com/

A perennial favorite, the Bellingham Theater Guild delivers locally produced community theater. Tickets and details can be found at http://www.bellinghamtheatreguild.com/ .

Improv comedy is the preferred subject at The Upfront Theatre in Bellingham. Established by TV comedian Ryan Stiles, this 95-seat cabaret style venue offers live improv comedy every Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening. The Upfront presents and teaches many different styles of improv including short and long form, musicals, competitive improv and everything in between. www.theupfront.com .

The Pickford Film Center in Bellingham showcases independent films in a 29,000-square-foot, carefully remodeled, 100-year-old downtown Bellingham building. Since 1998, the Pickford Cinema has brought independent, foreign, classic and documentary films to Bellingham audiences eager to see beyond the mainstream. The original facility had only one screen and an 88-seat capacity, which frequently sold out. Today the seat capacity is 250 and the non-profit organization located at 1318 Bay Street in Bellingham has more than 5,000 members. www.pickfordcinema.org

Next door to the Pickford, The Spark Museum of Electrical Innovation is located at 1312 Bay Street. Hours: Wed–Sun 11–5p.m. Admission $6 adults, $3 children under 11. Although not appropriate for toddlers, youngsters age 5 and older will enjoy this unique museum featuring a world-class collection of historic radios and early electrical equipment used for experiments. Kids can learn about Benjamin Franklin, experience great grandpa’s childhood in a 1930s era living room with a working radio set and NO TV, see a replica of the radio room on board the Titantic, listen to a Thomas Edison era phonograph recording, and more.www.sparkmuseum.org

Around the corner from Spark is Mindport Exhibits at 210 W. Holly Street in Bellingham. This unique venue offers visitors of all ages an opportunity to have fun “playing” with scientific and artistic creations to gain new perspectives of the world around us. The exhibits at Mindport are sure to inspire new inventions of your own! Hours are Wed – Fri, noon – 6 p.m., Sat, 10 – 5 p.m., and Sun noon – 4 p.m. www.mindport.org

Just one block away, is the Bellingham Railway Museum at 1320 Commercial Street, where visitors can take the controls to operate historic model trains on 5 separate tracks, as they learn about logging and historic railroads of the area. Layouts include G gauge (the largest of the indoor trains) and a nostalgic Lionel exhibit with a push button and transformer control system. Hours are Tues-Sat noon – 5 p.m. www.bellinghamrailwaymuseum.org .

Bellingham is also known for its outdoor sculpture, which can be view throughout downtown, as well as at the Big Rock Sculpture Garden at 1400 Woburn Street. Operated as a city park, this 2.5 acre botanical garden features over 35 permanent works by distinguished international and local artists. A striking geometrical sculpture by Mexican artist Sebastian and rarely seen pieces by Canadian artist David Marshall highlight the diversity. An annual International Sculpture Exhibit runs May through September featuring 10-20 selected pieces from a variety of accomplished sculptors. Hours are dawn to dusk year-round. www.cob.org/services/recreation/parks-trails/bigrock.aspx

Western Washington University in Bellingham, is also home to a nationally recognized outdoor sculpture collection, considered one of the top 10 in the U.S. On a self-guided tour of the campus visitors can enjoy pieces by renowned artists such as Bruce Nauman, Tom Otterness, Isamu Noguchi, Alice Aycock, Beverly Pepper, Robert Maki and many others. Maps and details about the collection are available at www.westerngallery.wwu.edu .

Each July, the Bellingham Festival of Music wows audiences at the Western Washington University Performing Arts Center. The internationally acclaimed Bellingham Festival Orchestra brings together principal players from major American and European orchestras and exceptional musicians from regional and national ensembles to present concerts of classical music at the highest caliber of artistic excellence. www.bellinghamfestival.org .

Bellingham’s Marine Trails offer miles of water adventure, kicked off with the annual Ski to Sea relay race each Memorial Day weekend. Hundreds of 8-person teams compete in the 7-leg race beginning with cross-country skiing on Mt. Baker’s foothills, followed by downhill skiing, running, biking, two-person canoeing on the Nooksack, mountain biking, and finally kayaking across Bellingham Bay to ring the beachside finish-line bell in the Fairhaven District, as thousands of spectators cheer them on. The race signifies the opening of summer water season in Bellingham.

Moondance Sea Kayak Adventures www.moondancekayak.com offers sea kayak adventures for beginners and skilled paddlers on Bellingham Bay with owner and instructor Kristi Kucera. The half-day, full-day and multi-day trip options launch near Bellingham and Anacortes, or from Orcas Island. Kucera specializes in small groups and promotes low-impact interaction with the natural environment. Participants glide through kelp beds, along shoreline galleries of sculpted sandstone. For beginners this is a great place to learn kayak navigation basics and paddling techniques, while experienced paddlers can advance their skills.

If you’re keen to sail, Gato Verde Adventure Sailing www.gatoverde.com is the go-to company, with the first plug-in diesel electric hybrid charter boat on the West Coast. The 42-foot catamaran is based at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal and offers customized sailing instruction or carefree skippered sailing charters from 1.5 hours to 7 days in length. Group size is limited to 9 for overnight trips and 12 for day trips and sunset cruises are offered throughout the summer.

Schooner Zodiac www.schoonerzodiac.com is a living history of our maritime past. Learn how we are connected to the great windships and sailors of yesteryear. You will ‘man’ the helm and be called to ‘watches’ by the ship’s bell. Learn your sailing station and raise the sails on the largest working sail boat on the West Coast. Using charts, learn to identify aids and hazards to navigation. Plot the schooner’s course as Captain Vancouver did in these waters two hundred years ago. Departs from Bellingham Cruise Terminal.

Sail the San Juans www.sailthesanjuans.com is a sailing charter company owned by Jon and Jeannette Baker. The couple operates the 50-foot Catalina Northwind, which accommodates up to 6 guests on multi-day sailing tours from Bellingham through the San Juan Islands, featuring gourmet meals and breathtaking scenery. Two itineraries are currently available: Six day trips with a focus on the San Juan Islands, and Twelve Day Wilderness Trips to explore the southern portion of the Inside Passage.

Small ship cruising, with delicious food and a relaxed atmosphere is the aim of Northwest Navigation Company www.northwestnavigation.com. The Motor Vessel David B can accommodate up to 6 passengers to one of four destinations departing from Bellingham. Multi-day itineraries include: Alaska, the Inside Passage, Desolation Sound and the San Juan Islands. Common activities from the boat include kayaking, hiking and whale watching.

If a single day of watching whales at play is your ideal, Island Mariner Cruises www.orcawatch.com departs from Bellingham’s Squalicum Harbor, featuring a 7-hour, narrated scenic orca whale watching tour of Puget Sound. To ensure whale sighting, Island Mariner travels 70-90 miles and also operates a spotter seaplane to accurately direct the boat to the whales’ location each day.

Whale watching is also available aboard San Juan Cruises www.whales.com, which has switched to a catalytic system on their engines that emits 40 less tons of carbon each year. This Bellingham-based small cruise line offers the “San Juan Experience,” incorporating interpretive talks with a uniformed National Park Ranger aboard day-trips, as well as shore visits to Friday Harbor and an all you can eat Salmon & Chicken BBQ on the way home.

Wild & Scenic River Tours www.wildandscenic.com calls the Nooksack River “the best late season run in Washington.” Beginning in the town of Glacier on State Highway 542, the rafters experience the Class III rapids in June and July, including the Nozzle, Fir Drip, Turtle Rock, Landslide, Postcard and Gallop Drop before the river slows and widens with spectacular views of Mount Baker.

Bellewood Acres Distillery is county’s largest. The 12,000-square-foot facility is located on a 62-acre farm, at 231 Ten Mile Road in Lynden, known throughout the region for its apple production, especially Honeycrisp, from its 25,000 trees. Apples are the key ingredient in the distillery’s spirits, including vodka, brandy and gin. Owners John and  Dorie Belisle were the first in the state to file a distillery license for production on their own farm. The spacious new facility includes a 250-gallon still for vodka, and another 150-gallon still for the other specialty spirits, as well as room for a bakery, gift shop, deli space, eating area and community room. Visitors are also welcome to tour the orchards, which feature a gorgeous view of Mt. Baker.

In Bellingham, Chuckanut Bay Distillery is located at 1115 Railroad Ave, across the street from Bellingham Farmer’s Market, near Boundary Bay Brewery. Co-owners Matt Howell and Kelly Andrews have installed a 150-gallon pot still to produce vodka and gin from local ingredients. They plan to experiment with a variety of in-season flavors, and the tasting room will provide an opportunity for direct input from customers.

Smaller in scale, but packing a huge punch, Mount Baker Distillery in Bellingham offers 100-proof moonshine whiskey, as well as 80-proof vodka produced in 15-gallon stills made from re-purposed beer kegs. Moonshine is a part of owner Troy Smith’s family heritage, reaching back to just after the Civil War. He honors the memory of his great-great grandfather by calling the product Abe Smith’s Mt. Baker Moonshine. The distillery and tasting room is located at 1305 Fraser Street, Suite D2.