Top 10 Things To Do In Bellingham

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Wondering what to do in Bellingham? Come as you are but stay like we do when you hit our top 10 list for Bellingham fun. Sightsee, savor, unwind, and smile! Spend two or three days exploring: marvel at two scenic byways, hike breathtaking trails, and make memories with access to world-class fun (with small town easy).

Get a free travel guide. Chuckanut Drive | Whatcom Falls Park | Larrabee State Park | Historic Fairhaven | Local Art | Downtown Bellingham Art District | Food & Beverages | Scenic Mt Baker Highway | Local Trails | Stay In Bellingham | Bonus Quests 1. Experience the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival in Spring

Located approximately 20 miles south of Bellingham, Washington's Skagit Valley comes alive with colorful flowers each spring. Visit in April for the famous Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, which draws visitors from all over the world.

The festival is a beautiful way to begin or end your spring trip to Bellingham! Walk through rows of rainbow tulips, take selfies that will stun your friends, and soak up views of the mountains beyond. When you're done, Bellingham, WA is just a short drive away...

...Then Cruise Up Chuckanut Drive to Bellingham

If you’re a sucker for gorgeous views, epic sunsets, and easy-to-get-to trailheads, then Chuckanut Drive is the route for you! Built as Washington State’s first scenic byway, Chuckanut Drive is a 24-mile scenic drive that connects Skagit County to Bellingham and Whatcom County. Enjoy stunning views of the San Juan Islands in the distance and the oyster beds of the Samish flats below. Need to stretch your legs? Pull off at trailheads for Teddy Bear Cove or Fragrance Lake.  

2. Explore Whatcom Falls Park

Outdoor recreation is the number one reason that so many adventurous folks choose to visit Bellingham and Whatcom County. Situated between the Salish Sea and the North Cascade mountains, Whatcom is a land of towering peaks, serene forests, world-class trails, and endless outdoor opportunities. Whether you’re interested in hiking, exploring public parks, paddling, snow sports, or simply taking a scenic drive, there’s something for everyone here.

Start your visit to Bellingham with a trip to Whatcom Falls Park. Located in the heart of the city with convenient parking options, you can check the park's namesake waterfall off your Bellingham bucket list in as little as 15 minutes. But there’s so much more to discover beyond the falls. Spend an hour or two wandering the park's 241 acres.

3. Soak Up Views at Larrabee State Park

Washington's first state park, Larrabee State Park has been a local favorite since its opening in 1915. Over 100 years later, this 2,748-acre camping park offers 8,100 feet of saltwater shoreline on Samish Bay.

Larrabee is also a great spot to kayak! Whatcom County’s 100+ miles of saltwater shoreline and freshwater lakes offer plenty of kayaking opportunities and thanks to the Port of Bellingham, we now have the Whatcom Water Trails Map.

Choose Your Quest 4. Explore Fairhaven Village

If you love great food, boutique shopping, an amazing art scene and getting outside in a small town, you will love Bellingham’s Fairhaven Village. One of the best things about Fairhaven Village is that everything is local and can only be found here in Whatcom County, making it the perfect day trip from Seattle.

5. Enjoy Local Art

Bellingham and Whatcom County are full of unique art and artists. Journey to the Big Rock Sculpture Garden, featuring more than 37 pieces tucked away above Lake Whatcom. Or experience Western Washington University’s outdoor sculptures, one of the top ten university collections in the U.S.

Get the free Arts & Culture Crawl Quest Pass to discover more local art and win prizes along the way.

Discover great ways to enjoy our many miles of coastline, extensive forest trails, and heaps of alpine snow. Push your limits, or relax with a view. Adventure Every day is an opportunity for an event in Bellingham & Whatcom County! Use our calendar to enjoy a wide range of events from live music concerts and sporting events to museum exhibits or foodie festivals! Attend From award–winning restaurants to fresh budget-friendly food, Bellingham and Whatcom County is a foodie's paradise. Restaurants all over Whatcom County take pride in using locally sourced ingredients from nearby farms and local waters. Craft beverage culture means many craft breweries to choose from, but also cideries, distilleries, wineries, local Kombucha, and more. Savor 6. Experience Downtown Bellingham's Arts District

There is so much to do and see in Bellingham’s downtown arts district! Spend time at the Whatcom Museum, which holds close to 30,000 objects of art, history, and ethnography in its collection and more than 200,000 images and related ephemera in its photo archives.

On Bay Street, get electrified at the Spark Museum of Electrical Invention, one of Whatcom County’s most popular indoor attractions. The SPARK Museum's signature demonstration involves the biggest lightning machine in the country, a Tesla coil called The MegaZapper.

7. Eat, Drink, & Be Merry

Start your day with a hot cup of coffee from one of our local coffee shops, enjoy yummy meals throughout the day, and end your evening with a craft beverage! Whatcom County's famous agriculture scene means there are tons of farm-to-table restaurants to experience during your visit to Bellingham. For something more interactive, sample sips at a vineyard or take a distillery tour.Travel Tip: Our corner of the PNW is kind of famous for its beer. Bellingham alone boasts nearly 20 unique craft breweries, many of them award-winning. Several are family-friendly and dog-friendly, so you can bring the whole crew.

8. Drive Scenic Mount Baker Highway

Mount Baker Highway (SR 542), connects Bellingham to snow-capped Mt. Baker. The highway was built gradually in the late 1800s as an access road for the lucrative logging industry and its rich history is well documented.

At Glacier, the road passes into the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and is a designated National Forest Scenic Byway. Towering evergreens and leaf maples line the route, with skirts of the Nooksack River peeking out at several points.

In the summer months, the highway ends at milepost 58 in a parking lot, which gives visitors access to Artist Point and its spectacular views of Mt. Baker’s 10,781-foot peak. The area is a great jumping-off-point for Mt. Baker hiking.

In the winter months, the road ends at milepost 55, which is the Mount Baker Ski Area – holder of the world record for snowfall in a single season and is the birthplace of snowboarding.

9. Sightsee on Local Trails

When you visit Bellingham and Whatcom County, it's hard not to end up on a trail. Whether you're looking to hike, run, bike, or amble, there's a trail for you, and it's probably just around the corner. (There are tons of trails, but these 10 are our favorite.) Whatever way you choose to wander, just remember to look up and enjoy the scenery. Please also #RecreateResponsibly while you are here!

10. Stay Overnight

Whether you prefer a luxurious waterfront resort, a rustic camp spot or an experience right in the heart of downtown, immerse yourself in Bellingham’s “laid back, lovely” feel!

Book Your Lodging Today! Itineraries Top 10 Things To Do In Bellingham Explore Regions Barkley Birch Bay Blaine Downtown Bellingham Fairhaven Ferndale Lummi Island Lynden Maple Falls Mt. Baker North Bellingham North Cascades Point Roberts Sumas Whatcom Falls Park Larrabee State Park Historic Fairhaven Village Downtown Bellingham's Arts District Mt. Baker Highway and Artist Point Close List View List MAP Loading 11 12 53 54 55 Close List View List MAP Loading Loading Give Map Feedback

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Bonus Quests

Join a Quest Farm to Table Trail Culture Crawl Coffee Crawl Get Your Go! Guide Sign Up to Stay in Touch Engage in a Local Quest Browse our Dreaming Guide We acknowledge that Whatcom County is located on the unceded territory of the Coast Salish Peoples. They cared for the lands that included what we’d call the Puget Sound region, Vancouver Island and British Columbia since time immemorial. This gives us the great obligation and opportunity to learn how to care for our surrounding areas and all the natural and human resources we require to live. We express our deepest respect and gratitude for our indigenous neighbors, the Lummi Nation and Nooksack Tribe, for their enduring care and protection of our shared lands and waterways. Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism Visitor Center Located at I-5 Exit 253 - Check Hours 904 Potter Street, Bellingham, WA 98229 Phone: 360-671-3990 Visiting? Places to Stay Itineraries Getting Here Sightsee Read Blogs Engage! Events Photo Contest Communities Attend Contact Us Tourism Talk Industry Resources Join as a Partner Media Inquiries Sports About Us Privacy Policy Site by Drozian Webworks ©2026 Visit Bellingham Whatcom County X