Welcome Whatcom 2025

Local Helps Local Your trusted local credit union since 1936.

It’s banking—in your best interest.

LE ARN MORE AT WECU.COM INSURED BY NCUA

THANK YOU FOR VOTING US THE BEST OF THE NORTHWEST! of the

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NORTH

Contents

Photo by Dani Winters Photography

64

15 Ways to Fall in Love With Where You Live

90

Unexpected Ingredients Photo by Cocoa Laney

2

BellinghamAlive.com

Three Generations Selling Whatcom County With over 1,200 agents in Whatcom County, the Kenoyers continue to be the highest producing real estate agents year after year.

YOUR WHATCOM COUNTY CONNECTION Kenoyers.com I 360.676.9229

WELCOME 2025 6

Online Exclusive

9

Publisher’s Letter

10

County Executive’s Letter

12

Elected Officials

14

Human & Public Services

112

Lasting Image

EDUCATION 42

School Board Representatives

43

Report Card

44

Colleges, Universities, Preschools, & Public Schools

47

Private Schools

RETAIL

Photo by Syd Sprouse

NOTES

WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD

83

Dressed by the Best

Photo by Cocoa Laney

TASTE

20

Bellingham 25

Barkley Village

26

Fairhaven

28

Sudden Valley

30

Ferndale

48

Outdoor Learning

HEALTH 52

Medical Clinics & Services

53

Urgent Care, Naturopaths, Addiction & Cancer Treatment

54

The Best Spas for a Little ‘You Time’

LIFE

32

64

15 Ways to Fall in Love With Where You Live

72

Places of Worship

76

Outdoor Sports & Recreation

Lynden 34

Blaine & Birch Bay

36

Mount Baker Foothills

38

Lummi Island

4

BellinghamAlive.com

78

Pets

90

Unexpected Ingredients 97

Wineries of Whatcom County

99

Dining Guide

SPECIAL ADVERTISING 56

Health & Medical Profiles

86

Retail Listings

106

Pros to Know

FACES

OF THE NORTHSOUND

THE FACE OF

ORGANIC FARMING Boldly Grown Farm 8855 Ershig Rd., Bow, WA 98232 @boldlygrownfarm 360.330.4516 info@boldlygrownfarm.com boldlygrownfarm.com

Boldly Grown Farm was born out of a desire to make the world a better place.

Owners/Operators Amy Frye and Jacob Slosberg (that’s us!) came to Skagit Valley after meeting at the University of British Columbia farm. Our passion to feed our community with high-quality, sustainably grown food while stewarding the land, fostering agricultural careers, and building community led us to start Boldly Grown in 2015. Now located in Bow (just off Chuckanut), we and our dedicated team grow 35 acres of Salmon-Safe and organically certified vegetables, grains, legumes and flowers. Come check out our year-round farm stand, winter CSA, or visit one of the many local restaurants and retailers that carry our products. We’d love to be your farmers!

Notes Welcome-Whatcom.com

PUBLICATIONS Bellingham Alive NSL Guestbook Welcome Newcomers Guide

PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER Lisa Karlberg

EDITOR IN CHIEF

What’s Online

Anne Godenham

Welcome Newcomers Guide is produced annually by K&L Media, Inc., a small business that celebrates all things local through our publications. In addition to Welcome, we also publish Bellingham Alive, a lifestyle magazine for the North Sound, and North Sound Life Guestbook, a visually stunning hardback that’s perfect for introducing guests to our area and communities. Head to welcome-whatcom.com (or bellinghamalive.com) to access content from all three of our publications, including full Digital Editions, articles that fall under Life, Style, Taste, Home, and Wellbeing, and more. Read on for more information, and we’ll see you online!

EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Kristen Boehm

ART AND GRAPHICS MANAGER Brandee Simons

DIGITAL CONTENT CREATOR Isabel Hyde

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Michael Roe | Kristy Gessner

WRITERS Cocoa Laney | Amberleigh Brownson

EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS

Weekly Online Exclusives Alongside every print issue of Bellingham Alive magazine, we publish an Online Exclusive for our dedicated readers. These exclusives enable us to go in-depth with our subjects, learn new things, and share stories that inspire our curiosity.

Aubrey Black | Ava Boorn Sofia Bouma | Isabel Hyde Chloe Nelson | Kristy Nguyen Evan Riley | Kota Sato Syd Sprouse | Will Story Briana Tuvey | Sol Vandeman

OFFICE MANAGEMENT Jenn Miranda

CLIENT SERVICES CONCIERGE Megan Gonzales

CONTACT US CORPORATE OFFICE K&L Media, Inc. 432 W. Bakerview Road, Suite 101 Bellingham, WA 98226

INQUIRIES & SUBSCRIPTIONS

Events

Our Events calendar is stocked with regional happenings big and small—everything from book launches and concerts to kids’ activities, arts events, and more! Anyone can submit an event, and once it’s reviewed by our staff, it’ll be live on the site.

Newsletter

Sign up for our weekly newsletter, the Weekend Agenda, to stay up to date on local happenings as well as events, deals, and promotions from your favorite local retailers.

6

BellinghamAlive.com

Social Media

We share our articles, well-wishes, and important updates on Instagram and Facebook, where you can find and follow us @bellinghamalive. We love connecting with readers, so leave us a comment or shoot us a message!

jenn@bellinghamalive.com bellinghamalive.com 360.483.4576

ADVERTISING sales@bellinghamalive.com 360.483.4576

EDITORIAL INQUIRIES editor@bellinghamalive.com 360.483.4576

COVER Dani Winters Photography

SILVERREEFCASINO.COM • I-5 EXIT 260 360-383-0777

of the

NORTH

WEST SILVER

OF THE

2024

BEST

GOLD

Award-Winning Wealth Management We are proud to announce that our team has been recognized as a:

Toni L. Taft, CFP®, AAMS®, ADPA®

Josh G. Barrett

William J. Zollner

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Maricel Dalere

tel: 360-714-2761 toll-free: 877-819-5264

Managing Director – Investment Officer Master of Science in Personal Financial Planning Financial Consultant Vice President – Investment Officer Senior Registered Client Associate Assistant Vice President

Financial Advisor First Vice President – Investment Officer Client Associate

william.zollner@wfadvisors.com

23 Bellwether Way, Suite 200 Bellingham, WA 98225

www.bellwetherwmg.com

Investment and Insurance Products: NOT FDIC Insured / NO Bank Guarantee / MAY Lose Value 2024 Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams: Awarded January 2024; Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on the time period from 3/31/22-3/31/23. (Source: Forbes.com) The Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams rating algorithm is based on the previous year’s industry experience, interviews, compliance records, assets under management, revenue and other criteria by SHOOK Research, LLC. Investment performance is not a criterion. Self-completed survey was used for rating. This rating is not related to the quality of the investment advice and based solely on the disclosed criteria. Fee paid for use of marketing materials.Wells Fargo Advisors is a trade name used by Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC, Member SIPC, a registered broker-dealer and non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company. PM-03122026-7012262.1.1

Publisher’s Letter

Notes

Welcome Home Explore your new area and discover why so many LOVE Whatcom County.

Photo by Diane Padys

W

ELCOME! YOU’VE DISCOVERED the most

beautiful place in Washington state, at least from our point of view.

Whatcom County is diverse in so many ways, from the beauty of the landscape to the people who live here. When you come to Whatcom County, you don’t come just to work, you come for a new and better lifestyle that balances work and play. You have come to the right place.

Around every corner, you’ll discover why so many of us gravitated here. We come from all different backgrounds and from around the globe. Many just came to visit and ended up finding home, while others were born here and never wanted to leave. Others started their journey at Western Washington University and couldn’t bear the thought of leaving.

Whatever the reason, and wherever your journey began, we’re glad you chose Whatcom County to be your new home.

As you start to explore the area, be sure to make a trip into Fairhaven. This historic district is full of boutique shops and amazing restaurants, not to mention the South Bay Trail, which starts near Fairhaven Village Inn and leads all the way to Bellingham’s downtown core.

On the way, visit Boulevard Park, grab a latte from Woods Coffee, and enjoy the sunset over Bellingham Bay. Downtown Bellingham is another destination full of history, charm, and plenty to do and see. Wander the streets, check out the eclectic shops, and find your new favorite restaurant.

While exploring, make sure to stop by the Whatcom Museum’s Lightcatcher building, a relatively new structure that is already an iconic landmark. Another town treasure is Mount Baker Theatre.

Many world-renowned productions stop here on their way from Seattle to Vancouver, meaning you get to

experience global talent in an intimate atmosphere. It is not to be missed!

Head north toward the Canadian border for stunning trails, hikes, clam digging, crabbing, epic sunsets, and oh… the food. Leader Block Trattoria & Bar in Ferndale was remodeled late 2022 and is a not-to-miss experience, as is Packers Kitchen + Bar at Semiahmoo Resort, which is located on the waterfront of Semiahmoo Bay with beautiful views of White Rock, B.C. They hold amazing waterfront barbeques with live music in the summer.

Next, find your way to Lynden, our charming Dutch town full of unique boutiques and restaurants. If you love antiquing, Lynden is a gold mine.

Visit during the annual Northwest Washington Fair or the Northwest Raspberry Festival and get a firsthand taste of the area’s bountiful crops. It also hosts the annual Whatcom Home & Lifestyle Show in April, for those needing to update their home and garden.

Mountain lovers, simply drive east on Mount Baker Highway to a little slice of alpine heaven. Whether you’re looking for world-class skiing, epic hikes among lakes and wildflowers, or just a beautiful bike ride through the forest, the Mount Baker area has it all.

For something gentler, take your pick of the Chuckanuts, Galbraith, or visit one of the county’s numerous parks.

Wherever you go, and whatever city you are now calling home… Welcome to the neighborhood! We look forward to meeting you and helping you settle in.

Sincerely,

Lisa Karlberg President | Publisher

Welcome Newcomers Guide 2025 9

Notes Whatcom County Executive’s Letter

Dear Friends!

Welcome to Whatcom County!

C

OAST SALISH PEOPLE have

been residing in this region since times immemorial! Whatcom means "noisy water" in Lummi language, and Whatcom County is the homeland of the Lummi and Nooksack tribes. The civil war era fueled the Homestead Act and the settling in the US West started with a frenzy for gold and other mineral mining. In 1855 the Point Elliot Treaty was signed with several Pacific NW tribes including Lummi Nation.

Whatcom County has been welcoming newcomers from across the Americas, Europe, Asia, and beyond for many generations. I emmigrated from India to Canada and moved to Whatcom County some 40 years ago. If you’ve decided to call this place home, then we already have something in common and share our love for Whatcom County! I’d like to offer a few ideas as you settle in.

Whatcom County, also called the Fourth Corner of the United States, is a beautiful place to explore for its natural beauty. The destinations are many to choose from, like Point Roberts or Lummi Island, Mount Baker for skiing in winter and hiking in summer, the ocean for water sports year round, North Cascades National Park for every season, and hundreds of miles of mountain bike and hiking trails and thousands of acres of County and City parks. As you may already know, this beautiful corner of the world offers incredible recreation opportunities—where else can you ski, cycle, and sail all on the same day?

Stop by your local library and get a library card! Libraries are cradles of local culture and knowledge, and Whatcom County has some great ones with very helpful and friendly staff. They can point you to the local history section, where you can learn about the customs of the Coast Salish people, the outsized dreams of the first pioneers, or the cunning of local smugglers. Also, I’ve found that librarians can advise on much more than books— they’re always ready to share their favorite hikes, must-see museums, and suggestions for what to do on a free afternoon.

Whatcom County is the top raspberryproducing county in the United States. We

10

BellinghamAlive.com

have the best blueberries and are the number-two dairy producing county in Washington State. But there’s much more than that, from farm-fresh produce, farmers’ markets, and artisan baked goods to our vibrant arts and music scene. You’ll have opportunities to satisfy your established tastes by visiting all our microbreweries and variety of restaurants, allowing you to push your boundaries with new culinary and cultural experiences. Our small-scale, locally-owned businesses contribute so much to the color and character of our communities, and I believe that patronizing them is our civic duty!

Whatcom County’s community is friendly and welcoming. Consider joining a hobby club or service organization, or volunteer at a community group.

There’s a wealth of opportunity for civic engagement! My own first steps into the public arena began with my involvement in a foundation to support my children’s schools. Perhaps you too will find something that provides personal enrichment while also giving back to your community.

Do you know your local elected officials? Get involved in the civic affairs of your local community or city. Learn about your elected representatives at various government levels. It is your local public servants who are responsible for your roads and parks, schools and emergency services, and so much more.

Speaking as County Executive, please know that County Government is here to serve you, and we are committed to being accessible, responsive, and transparent as we do the people’s business.

“I love Whatcom” is the way to enjoy this place, and to learn more about the place you live and share with your family and friends!

Satpal S. Sidhu Whatcom County Executive 360.778.5200 ssidhu@whatcomcounty.us 311 Grand Ave., Bellingham

My Garden Nursery the colorful & fun garden center mygardennursery.com 929 E. Bakerview Rd. Bellingham | 360.366.8406 My Garden Nursery is the fun and colorful garden center You will find lots of fun items like fragrant soaps, socks, on East Bakerview road with the big purple flamingo jewelry, and other unique gifts. There is even a food truck out front. My Garden has an enormous selection of called the Purple Flamingo Café serving panini sandwiches colorful annuals, perennials, trees, shrubs, berries, and hot maple donut holes. Each month has something fruit trees, and indoor tropical plants! Plus everything new to see, taste and experience! Details of events at you will need to keep your plants happy and healthy! mygardennursery.com Home of Mr. Dilly Pickles and the Purple Flamingo Cafe!

EVENTS ALL YEAR ROUND! January • The Indoorplant-a-Palooza! Seminars • Workshops • Plant swap February • The Big Berry Bonanza!

• Seminars • Food samples.

March: • Ciscoe Morris & Mushroom Madness Month!

• Seminars on Foraging mushrooms April • My Garden Nursery celebrates 10 years!!

April 1st is Party Day!!

May, June • Flowers, Flowers, Flowers!

July • 35% OFF Ceramic Planters!

• 20% OFF Tropical plants like bananas and cannas.

August • Frequent Flower Point Spending!

September • Sasquatch September!

October • Clearance Carnival!

• Dilly and Dally’s Birthday party!

November • Christmas Trees, wreaths, paper white bulbs and Amaryllis.

• Santa pet pictures.

December • Shop unique gifts and tropical plants in a twinkling magical Christmas setting.

Notes Elected Officials

County Council

City Mayors

DISTRICT 1*

DISTRICT 2

BELLINGHAM

BLAINE

Kaylee Galloway

Todd Donovan

Kim Lund

Mary Lou Steward

360.303.1644, kgallowa@ co.whatcom.wa.us

360.483.8474 tdonovan@co.whatcom.wa.us

360.778.8100 mayorsoffice@cob.com

360.371.8618 msteward@cityofblaine.com

DISTRICT 3

DISTRICT 4

FERNDALE

LYNDEN

Tyler Byrd

Mark Stremler

Greg Hansen

Scott Korthuis

360.778.5021 tbyrd@co.whatcom.wa.us

360.851.1776 mstremle@co.whatcom.wa.us

360.685.2350

360.354.1170

DISTRICT 5

AT LARGE-POSITION A

NOOKSACK

SUMAS

Ben Elenbaas

Barry Buchanan

Kevin Hester

Bruce Bosch

360.778.5025 belenbaa@co.whatcom.wa.us

360.224.4330 bbuchanan@co.whatcom.wa.us

kevin@cityofnooksack.com

bbosch@cityofsumas.com

AT LARGE-POSITION B

EVERSON

Jon Scanlon

John Perry

360.592.3149 jscanlon@co.whatcom.wa.us

360.966.3411 mayor@ci.everson.wa.us

*Civic positions subject to change.

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FACES

OF THE NORTHSOUND

of the

2024

BEST

NORTH

WEST

ZE

BRON

THE FACE OF

REAL ESTATE Compass Real Estate Kerri Zender-Boudousquie & Matthew Boudousquie 1318 12th Street Bellingham, WA 98225 360.739.5188 / 504.215.3003 kerrri.boudousquie@compass.com matthew.boudousquie@compass.com

Kerri, a Whatcom County native and client-focused Compass agent, has built her success on understanding her clients’ needs and delivering exceptional service.

Now joined by her husband Matthew, a New Orleans native and award-winning chef known for his farm-to-table and Cajun-Creole cuisine, they bring a fresh, dynamic approach to real estate. Matthew’s attention to detail, paired with Kerri’s deep local knowledge, offers clients not just a transaction but a truly personalized experience.

Their mission is to help you find a place to call home while fostering lasting connections within the community.

Notes Human & Public Services

HUMAN & PUBLIC SERVICES Border Crossings Lynden 360.354.2183

Pacific Highway, Blaine 360.332.5771

Peace Arch, Blaine 360.332.8511

Sumas 360.988.2971

Food Banks

Marine, Biotoxin, & Red Tide Information

Sumas Community Senior Center

800.562.5632

Whatcom Council on Aging/ Bellingham Senior Activity Center

Public Libraries Bellingham Public Library - Barkley 3111 Newmarket St., Ste. 103, 360.778.7290

Bellingham Public Library - Bellis Fair 1 Bellis Fair Pkwy., Ste. 616, 360.778.7320

Bellingham Public Library - Fairhaven Ne-Alis Tokw (My Sister’s Place) 1117 12th St., 360.778.7188 Lummi Victims of Crime Domestic Violence Shelter Birch Bay Vogt Library Express 7948 Birch Bay Dr., Blaine

Blaine Food Bank

Everson Library

500 C St., 360.332.6350

104 Kirsch Dr., 360.966.5100

Commodity Foods | Lummi Nutrition Education Program | Community Services

Ferndale Library

8255 Kendall Rd., Maple Falls, 360.392.8149

Lynden Project Hope 205 S. British Columbia Ave., 360.354.4673

Meals on Wheels 315 Halleck St., 360.733.4030

Nooksack Valley Food Bank 100 E. 2nd St., Everson

Point Roberts Food Bank 1487 Gulf Rd., Point Roberts, 360.945.1711

2125 Main St., 360.384.3647

Island Library 2144 S. Nugent Rd., 360.305.3597

Lynden Library 216 4th St., 360.354.4883

North Fork Community Library 7506 Kendall Rd., Maple Falls, 360.599.2020

Point Roberts Library 1437 Gulf Rd., 360.945.6545

South Whatcom Library 10 Barn View Dr., Sudden Valley 360.305.3632

Sumas Library 461 2nd St., 360.988.2501

Senior Services

The Salvation Army

Blaine Community & Senior Center

1515 Birchwood Ave., 360.733.1410

763 G St., Blaine, 360.332.8040

Licensing

Everson Senior Center

Auto, Boat, & Trailer 360.902.3770

Driver 360.676.2096

Hunting & Fishing 360.902.2464

Marriage 360.778.5100

14

BellinghamAlive.com

Shelters 2500 E. St., Bellingham, 360.296.3813

610 3rd St., 360.305.3637

Foothills Food Bank

360.671.6201

HUSLY Temporary Shelter

1824 Ellis St., 360.676.0392

1671 Main St., 360.384.1506

Whatcom Love INC

210 Central Ave., 360.778.7323

Blaine Library

Ferndale Food Bank

315 Halleck St., Bellingham, 360.733.4030

Bellingham Public Library - Central

Bellingham Food Bank

2830 Kwina Rd., 360.380.6957

461 Second St., Sumas 360.988.2714

111 W. Main St., Everson, 360.966.3144

Ferndale Senior Activity Center 1999 Cherry St., Ferndale 360.384.6244

Lynden Community/Senior Center 401 Grover St., Lynden 360.354.2921

Northwest Regional Council 600 Lakeway Dr., Bellingham, 360.676.6749

Point Roberts Senior Activity Center 1487 Gulf Rd., Point Roberts 360.945.5424

360.312.2015

Lighthouse Mission Ministries 1312 F St., Bellingham, 360.733.5120

Lydia Place 1701 Gladstone St., Bellingham, 360.671.7663

New Way Ministries 360.354.9930

Sun House 515 E. Chestnut St., Bellingham, 360.392.1324

Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services of Whatcom County Safe Housing Program 1407 Commercial St., Bellingham, 360.671.5714

The PAD House 360.393.0116

YWCA Bellingham 1026 N. Forest St., Bellingham, 360.734.4820

Ferndale Severe Weather Shelter 2034 Washington St., Ferndale, 360.380.2200x4

Social Services & Other Adult Protective Services (DSHS) 877.734.6277

Agape Home 360.733.3796

Alcoholics Anonymous 360.734.1688

Bellingham Community Services Office (Washington State Department of Social & Health Services) 877-501-2233

Blaine Community Assistance Program 360.392.8484

Blaine Family Service Center

Special Needs Resources

Blaine Post Office

Brigid Collins Family Support Center

Max Higbee Center

City Center Post Office

360.734.4616

1400 N. State St., Ste. 101, Bellingham 360.746.7181

104 W. Magnolia St., Ste. 100, 360.752.9822

360.778.5903

The Arc of Whatcom County

7632 Portal Way, 800.366.5666

Care Crisis Response Line, Compass Health

2602 McLeod Rd., Bellingham, 360.715.0170

360.332.0740

Burn Ban Information

800.584.3578

Child Protective Services (CPS) 866.829.2153

Coast Guard Emergency 360.734.1692

Department of Social & Health Services 877.501.2233

Tourism Information

Lummi Victims of Crime 360.312.2015

Northwest Washington American Red Cross 425.252.4103

Pass Reports (WSDOT) 800.695.7623

Poison Information Center 800.222.1222

Recovery Cafe Bellingham

9973 Mt. Baker Hwy., 360.599.3208

Transportation

Lummi Island Post Office

Glacier Post Office

2211 N. Nugent Rd., Bldg 2, 360.758.2320

Lynden Post Office

360.676.8445 ext. 3

600 Front St., 360.354.2371

Maple Falls Post Office

800.872.7245

7392 Mt. Baker Hwy., 800.599.2917

BoltBus (Cordata Station)

Mount Baker Post Office

360.676.7433

3150 Orleans St., 800.752.9825

Greyhound

Sumas Post Office

800.231.2222

534 Railroad Ave., 800.988.2613

Lummi Island Ferry

Veteran’s Services

360.778.6200

San Juan Islands Ferry

Bellingham Vet Center

888.464.3701

3800 Byron Ave., Ste. 124, Bellingham 360.733.9226

Washington State Ferries

Whatcom County Veterans Program

888.808.7977

509 Girard St., Lower Level, Bellingham

Whatcom Transportation Authority 360.778.6050 (WTA)

Voter Registration

360.676.7433

WTA Paratransit

1616 Cornwall Ave., Ste. 205, Bellingham, 360.676.6177

360.733.1144

Tl’ils Ta’á’altha Victims of Crime

360.671.5674

Washington Recovery Hotline

Ferndale Post Office

360.671.3990

The Way Station,

360.325.3310

Whatcom County

Bellingham International Airport Paine Field (Everett)

Seattle-Tacoma International Whatcom Homeless Service Center Airport (SeaTac) WWU Survivor Advocacy Services at the Counseling & Wellness Center 360.650.7982

311 Grand Ave., Ste. 103, Bellingham 360.778.5102

UTILITIES Cable, Satellite, & Phone

425.388.5125

866.789.1511

360.734.5121

108 Blair Dr., 360.966.4700 5703 4th Ave., 360.380.3127

Amtrak Reservation

homesnow.org

Everson Post Office

Bellingham | Whatcom County Tourism

360.715.1563

HomesNOW

Deming Post Office 5014 Deming Rd., 360.592.2032

509 Girard St., Bellingham, 360.778.6012

Alaska Marine Highway System

800.562.6010

Custer Post Office

Whatcom Developmental Disabilities Program

Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Services Helpline Forest Fire Reporting

701 Harrison Ave., 800.332.7184

CenturyLink 800.244.1111

206.787.5388

U.S. Post Offices

DirecTV

Acme Post Office

DISH

2026 Valley Hwy., 800.595.2189

800.333.3474

Bellingham Post Office

Frontier

315 Prospect St., 360.650.3735

877.599.1870

855.842.4388

Welcome Newcomers Guide 2025 15

Notes Human & Public Services Whidbey Telecom

HughesNet

360.321.1122

866.347.3292

Xfinity by Comcast

Frontier

800.934.6489

877.599.1870

Electricity

PogoZone

City of Blaine Electric Water & Sewer Services 360.332.8311

City of Sumas Electric Water & Sewer Services 360.988.5711

Puget Sound Energy Inc. 888.225.5773

Whatcom County Public Utility District No. 1 360.384.4288

Garbage, Recycling, Compost

360.676.8772

Xfinity by Comcast 800.934.6489

Propane CHS Northwest Multiple locations, 360.734.4010

Economy Propane 2163 Natures Path Way, Blaine, 360.332.3121

Northwest Propane

LAW ENFORCEMENT Fire & EMS (NON-EMERGENCIES) Bellingham 360.778.8400

Blaine 360.318.9933

Deming 360.592.5094

Everson | Nooksack 360.966.5757

Ferndale 360.384.0303

Lynden 360.354.4400

8450 Depot Rd., Lynden, 360.354.4471

Maple Falls

Propane Gas, Ind.

360.599.2823

5387 La Bounty Dr., Ferndale, 360.384.4922

Sumas 360.988.9563

BELLINGHAM

Vanderyacht Propane

Police & Sheriff (NON-EMERGENCIES)

Green Earth Technology (compost)

6811 Guide Meridian Rd., Lynden, 360.398.1234

Bellingham Police Department

360.354.4936

Sanitary Service Company 360.734.3490

Northwest Recycling, Inc. 360.733.0100

Recycling & Disposal Services, Inc. (Whatcom) 360.384.8011

POINT ROBERTS, BLAINE, LUMMI, BIRCH BAY, POINT WHITEHORN Cando Recycling & Disposal 360.945.2636

NOOKSACK, EVERSON, SUMAS Nooksack Valley Disposal & Recycling 360.351.3400

Water & Sewer

505 Grand Ave., Bellingham, 360.778.8800

Bellingham Water & Sewer Services

322 H St., Blaine, 360.332.6769

360.778.8011

Birch Bay Water & Sewer District 360.371.7100

Blaine Electric Water & Sewer Services 360.332.8311

Everson Water & Sewer Services 360.966.0282

Ferndale Water & Sewer Services 360.384.4006

Lynden Water & Sewer Services 360.354-1170

Internet CenturyLink 800.244.1111

CSS Communications Inc. 877.671.4878

Nooksack Water & Sewer Services 360.966.2531

Sumas Electric Water & Sewer Services 360.988.5711

DirecTV

Whatcom County Public Utility District No. 1

855.842.4388

360.384.4288

Blaine Police Department Everson Police Department 111 W. Main St., Everson, 360.966.4212

Ferndale Police Department 2220 Main St., Ferndale, 360.384.3390

Lummi Nation Police Department 2665 Kwina Rd., Bellingham, 360.312.2274

Lynden Police Department 203 19th St., Lynden, 360.354.2828

Nooksack Indian Tribe Police Department 5016 Deming Rd., Deming, 360.592.9065

Sumas Police Department 433 Cherry St., Sumas, 360.988.5711

Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office 311 Grand Ave., Bellingham, 360.778.6600

Washington State Patrol & Border Patrol Emergencies 911

U.S. Customs & Border Protection 360.380.0408

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Cities of Whatcom County ROM COASTAL TOWNS to mountain

getaways, there’s plenty to explore in Whatcom County. The area features several thriving urban communities as well as world-class access to the outdoors, so whether you’re a city dweller or a nature enthusiast, you’re sure to find a place that suits your style.

Bellingham is the county’s largest city, and more than 90,000 people reside within its limits. It offers the best of both worlds in terms of urban amenities and outdoor adventure. Entertainment, shopping, and dining options abound in the downtown corridor and historic Fairhaven Village.

Residents also have access to numerous parks, recreation areas, and trails, so there’s always something to do.

The town of Ferndale is located just outside of Bellingham, and if you continue heading north, you’ll encounter Custer along I-5 and Lynden nestled northeast of Ferndale. The border town of Blaine, which contains the seaside village of Birch Bay, is located in the northwest corner of the county. Visitors will find two ports of entry and Peace Arch Park, which straddles the boundary between Canada and the United States.

In the foothills beneath Mount Baker, Deming, Maple Falls, and Glacier each offer a unique brand of mountain town charm.

Further along Mount Baker Highway is Artist Point, which features an array of trails as well as stunning mountain vistas as far as the eye can see. If you instead take State Route 9, you can pay a visit to the towns of Sumas, Everson/Nooksack, and Acme. 

Cities

Bellingham

F

ROM THE BUSTLING downtown

area to the serenity of the bay, Bellingham has plenty to offer visitors and residents alike. Its history can be traced back thousands of years as the homeland of the Coast Salish peoples, who thrived off the region’s bountiful seafood and who live in the area to this day. After the gold rush spurred population growth among European settlers, four separate towns came into existence: Fairhaven, Whatcom, Sehome, and Bellingham. These settlements were combined in 1903 to form the Bellingham we know today.

The city has historically catered to industries such as fishing, mining, and lumber. For a peek at Bellingham’s industrial past, pay a visit to the waterfront, which functioned as a tissue mill from the ‘60s until the mid-2000s and was recently redeveloped into a mixed-use space with public art and access to the bay.

Nowadays PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center and Western Washington University are the city’s largest employers, and Bellingham’s population has nearly doubled in size since the mid-20th century. It continues to draw transplants from across the state and country thanks to its clean air, natural beauty, and safety.

There are more than 20 neighborhoods in Bellingham, including Barkley, Fairhaven, Lettered Streets, Columbia, Birchwood, Cordata, Sunnyland, and Sehome.

The Bellingham Bay forms a natural 20

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boundary west of the city, and the North Cascade Mountains lie to the east.

Located in the southeast is Lake Whatcom, a 10-mile-long lake that provides both drinking water and plenty of summertime fun. Finally, head due south along the bay to visit the Chuckanut Mountains. These natural wonders can be accessed with just a five-minute trip outside the city, and they contain a wealth of scenic overlooks and trails.

Downtown Bellingham is the city’s hub for commercial activity and entertainment. Shoppers can explore everything from upscale boutiques to eclectic gift shops, home decor outlets, and much more. There’s also a diverse restaurant scene, so whether you’re craving crispy eggplant bao at the new Redlight Kitchen & Bar location, date night bites at The Temple Bar, or Peruvian sandwiches at Cafe Rumba, you’ll find an eatery to appease just

about any appetite. Need a pick-me-up after your meal? The downtown corridor also has locally-owned coffee shops in spades, from cozy Camber Coffee to the spacious and contemporary Makeworth Coffee Roasters.

If you happen to be downtown on a Saturday morning between April and December, swing by Depot Market Square for the Bellingham Farmers Market. It features more than 100 vendors selling everything from local produce to baked goods and even handmade jewelry.

Bellingham has a thriving arts culture, and the Mount Baker Theatre is the city’s most iconic venue when it comes to live entertainment. It’s been around since 1927, and names such as Ira Glass, David Sedaris, and even Jane Goodall have each graced its stage over the years. Other quintessential music venues include Wild Buffalo House of Music, The Shakedown, and all-ages

venue The Blue Room, all conveniently located downtown.

The Whatcom Museum is a major point of reference for visual art, and it consists of several separate buildings: The Lightcatcher Building (which contains the Family Interactive Gallery), the Old Fire Station No. 1 (home to the museum’s photo archive), and the distinctive Old City Hall.

Bellingham’s downtown area is also home to several independently-owned galleries like Geheim Gallery and Meloy Gallery. In terms of handmade goods, places like Brazen Shop + Studio and Third Planet Boutique provide a brick-and-mortar space for artisans to sell their wares.

Downtown Bellingham Partnership organizes First Fridays every first Friday of the month, and it’s a great opportunity to connect with artists and makers. It’s a monthly celebration of local business during which artists open their studios, galleries and museums stay open late, and even restaurants and retail shops offer special events and deals. Allied Arts of Whatcom County produces a new gallery show in their downtown space every month, as well as organizing special events like the Whatcom Cultural Arts Festival and the Holiday Festival of the Arts. During the first two weekends of October, the public is invited to visit local artists’ private studios for the Whatcom Artist Studio Tour.

Bellingham is also a dream destination for those who are interested in the fine art of craft beer.

Boundary Bay Brewery & Bistro, Aslan Brewing Co., and Structures Brewing are downtown classics, while the Sunnyland neighborhood boasts spots such as Wander Brewing, Kulshan Brewing, and Otherlands Beer, the latter of which is also known for its must-try Eastern European eats. With more than 15 breweries to choose from, you’ll be hard-pressed to pick a favorite. Cider drinkers should check out Bellingham Cider Co., whereas Chuckanut Bay Distillery serves up some of Bellingham’s finest spirits and shareable snacks at its restaurant, the Penny Farthing Bar & Restaurant—they also opened a rooftop bar in late 2024!

Photo by Melissa McCarthy

The beer may be delicious, but balance is the key to health. Thankfully it’s easy to stay fit and active year-round in Bellingham, and in addition to the great outdoors, there are plenty of indoor fitness centers to pick from. Whether you’re looking for standard gym amenities or niches such as Muay Thai, rock climbing, or even aerial yoga, there’s a gym out there for everyone. For healthcare, Bellingham has PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center as well as smaller clinics that specialize in everything from traditional to naturopathic medicine.

Whether you’re an athlete or a spectator, the Ski to Sea race is another can’t-miss summertime affair. This multi-sport relay starts with a Mount Baker ski run and finishes with sea kayaking in the Bellingham Bay. Other annual sporting events include the Bellingham SwimRun, Lake Whatcom Triathlon, Bellingham Bay Marathon, and the Bellingham Traverse.

In addition to all these fun and games, the city’s educational offerings are a major draw for new residents. Western Washington University was named as the top public master's-granting institution in the Pacific Northwest by the 2022 U.S. News & World Report College Rankings. Other higher-ed options include Whatcom Community College, Bellingham Technical College, and Northwest Indian College. Younger learners have access to an array of respected K-12 institutions, including public, private, Montessori-style, and faith-based options.

Another perk for Bellingham residents is the city’s proximity to numerous trip-worthy areas. If you’re seeking an urban getaway, you don’t have to look far—Seattle is 90 miles away, and Vancounver, B.C. is just under 60 miles away. For a less metropolitan escape, head south to the Skagit Valley. Skagit Photo by W. Scooter County is known for its agricultural Welcome Newcomers Guide 2025 21

Cities recreation and is especially beautiful when the leaves start to turn.

Of course, Bellinghamsters don’t even need to leave the city for a dose of outdoor fun. Bellingham is a haven for mountain bikers, and Galbraith Mountain offers more than 60 miles of world-class trails that are also fit for horseback riding and hiking. Hikers and trail runners can also head to the Chuckanut Mountains for day hikes in stunning areas like Fragrance Lake, Lost Lake, Raptor Ridge, and the breathtaking Oyster Dome. For a backpacking adventure, Pine and Cedar Lakes Trail is an ideal overnight destination.

No visit to Bellingham would be complete without a stop by Whatcom Falls, which boasts four sets of waterfalls and several miles of walking trails. Other must-do walks include the Interurban Trail, which connects Fairhaven and Larrabee State Park, as well as the loop around Lake Padden. In addition to being a fullservice marina and public boat launch, Squalicum Harbor has walking trails and is a great spot for sunset-watching.

Regardless of age, background, or interests, there’s a place for everyone in Bellingham. It’s no wonder residents are proud to call this idyllic city their home.

Photo by Dani Winters Photography

bounty, annual Tulip Festival, and access to the San Juan Islands via the port town of Anacortes.

The most picturesque way to get to Skagit is by taking Chuckanut Drive Scenic Byway. Nestled between the Chuckanut Mountains and the bay, this stretch of road features stunning views of the water, mountains, and San Juan Islands—stop in the tiny town of Bow for an exceptional pastry from Breadfarm. Alternatively, if you go east past the Cascade Mountains, you’ll find yourself in the Methow Valley. This area offers ample opportunities for outdoor

Photo by Dani Winters Photography

Photo by Dani Winters Photography

22

BellinghamAlive.com

Events Bellingham, Barkley, Fairhaven, Sudden Valley January Padden Polar Dip & Resolution Walk/Run

February Fairhaven Chocolate Walk

March Whatcom Cultural Arts Festival St. Patrick’s Day Parade

April Bellingham Beer Week Dirty Dan Murder Mystery Weekend Ski to Sea Race & Fairhaven Festival CASCADIA International Women’s Film Festival

June Padden Triathlon Bellingham SwimRun

July Bellingham Festival of Music Bellingham’s 4th of July Celebration Bellingham Pride Tour de Whatcom Downtown Sounds (July and August)

Photo by Melissa MCCarthy

May

August Downtown Sounds (July and August) Bellingham Traverse Noisy Waters Mural Festival

September Bellingham Bay Marathon Bellingham VegFest Eat Local Month

October Bellingham SeaFeast Bellingham Exit Whatcom Artists Studio Tour Cloud Mountain Farm Fruit Festival

November Allied Arts Holiday Festival of the Arts Fairhaven Winterfest (Late November through December)

December Fairhaven Winterfest (Late November through December) Holiday Port Festival & Gingerbread House Contest *Event dates based on 2024 events and are subject to change.

Welcome Newcomers Guide 2025 23

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City of Sumas 433 Cherry St., Sumas, 360.988.5711

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Cities

Barkley Village

Photo by David Scherrer

N

ESTLED IN THE northeast

corner of Bellingham is Barkley Village, an urban community with a small-town spirit. This mixed-use Barkley Neighborhood was created in 2010 when the Mount Baker neighborhood was split between what are now Barkley and Irongate. It’s situated to the east at the Sunset exit of I-5, just north of Alabama Hill.

This walkable urban village offers shopping, sightseeing, and a great selection of restaurants. Many of Barkley’s homes feature views of Bellingham Bay, and apartment-dwellers also have plenty of options for upscale rentals. A full calendar of community events ensures that new residents have ample opportunity to meet their neighbors.

Barkley is home to businesses with both local and international reach, with the neighborhood’s commercial heart situated between Woburn Street and Barkley Boulevard. This area has a high concentration of offices, clinics, and shopping destinations like Hamann’s Gallery & Gift.

For groceries, Haggen Food & Pharmacy is also located in the center of Barkley Village. Not in the mood to cook?

Residents can dine out at local favorites such as Overflow Taps, Just Poké, Scotty Browns, and Zen Sushi & Bar To see what the outdoors have to offer, head east down Sunset Drive for the Mount Baker Scenic Byway, an idyllic stretch of road that offers worldclass skiing and hiking. If you’d prefer to stick closer to home, Barkley Village has a myriad of trails that will take you all over town. Whatcom Falls, Big

Rock Garden, and Northridge Park are only a short trek or bike ride away.

In the summer, Bloedel Donovan Park is the destination for swimming.

If you’re looking for something to do this weekend (and throughout the year), Barkley has you covered.

On the Barkley Village Green, keep an eye out for events such as the Vietnam Veterans Car Show, Bellingham Veg Fest, Barkley Village Wine Walk, and the summer farmers market. In addition, the Concert on the Green event is an annual favorite featuring live music for a good cause.

For an evening on the town, start by grabbing happy hour at the Blue Abode Bar. Next, head to the Regal

Barkley Village IMAX & RPX for popcorn and a movie. To finish off the night, Overflow Taps is the spot for craft beer and wine, and they collaborate with craft breweries to donate money to water projects in low-income countries.

In addition to the nightlife, Barkley has plenty of amenities for families. The neighborhood is home to Bellingham Public Library Barkley Branch, and the Barkley Village Gazebo hosts plenty of kidfriendly events throughout the year.

Northern Heights Elementary School and Roosevelt Elementary School are close, but students also attend Shuksan Middle School and Squalicum High School.

Photo by David Scherrer

Photo by David Scherrer

Welcome Newcomers Guide 2025 25

Cities

Fairhaven

H

EAD TO THE southern end of

Bellingham’s city limits and you’ll encounter Fairhaven, a waterfront historic district that’s home to some of Bellingham’s most colorful history. This charming area was one of the four original settlements that were eventually consolidated into the city of Bellingham.

Fairhaven was originally settled as a pioneer town in 1853. It was later founded by Daniel J. Harris, also known as “Dirty Dan,” in 1883, and its economic vitality has since waxed and waned. 19th-century real estate investors banked on it becoming the terminus of the Great Northern Railroad, but Seattle was chosen instead. In the 20th century, deep-water frontage access to resources made it an ideal site for manufacturing, but the industry eventually shifted to downtown Bellingham.

After decades of booms and busts, Fairhaven was revitalized in the latter half of the 20th century.

Modern Fairhaven may not be the bustling city center of centuries past, but its history is an integral part of Bellingham’s character. Its distinctive red-brick architecture and Victorian charm make the downtown area a delight to explore.

At the heart of everything is Fairhaven Village Green, and it’s the perfect spot to stop and enjoy a sweet treat from Acme Valley Ice Cream Cafe or Sirena Gelato. Once a week during the summer months, the green 26

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is also home to Fairhaven Outdoor Cinema.

Fairhaven features plenty of art galleries, stores, and boutiques, so if you’re in the mood to shop, you’ve come to the right place. Pop into The Heron’s Nest Gallery & Art Market for some fresh art for your home or swing by Babygreens Plant Shop for a new indoor plant and fun pot to go with. For women’s clothing, head to Three French Hens, Serendipity, Eleventh St GOODS, or Adored Boutique. Bella Rose Boutique also offers a curated selection of bath and beauty products.

Bookworms will feel right at home Photo by Brandee Simons

Photo by Brandee Simons

Photo by Brandee Simons

Local Parks Bellingham, Barkley, Fairhaven, Sudden Valley Arroyo Park 1700 Old Samish Rd.

Birchwood Park 2709 Cedarwood Ave.

Bloedel Donovan Park 2114 Electric Ave.

Boulevard Park 470 Bayview Dr.

at Eclipse Bookstore or Village Books, Bellingham’s beloved indie bookstore (which also features artisan truffles on the mezzanine level at Evolve Chocolate + Cafe).

If you’re feeling low on energy, you can duck into one of Fairhaven’s numerous cafes for an afternoon pick-me-up. Cafe Blue has housemade pastries and a hip-yet-homey ambiance, and Colophon Cafe is a Fairhaven icon.

When it comes to libations, Galloway’s Cocktail Bar is a musttry for craft cocktails and art-deco ambiance. Beer lovers will feel right at home at Corner Taphouse, Stones Throw Brewery, and Paws for a Beer, the latter of which is Bellingham’s de facto dog bar (basically, a dog park with a bar). Looking for the fun without the consequences? Opened in 2024, Bloomhaven Bottle Shop is Bellingham’s first nonalcoholic bottle shop! They sell zero proof spirits, beer, and wine.

Food options abound in Fairhaven: There’s brunch at Skylark’s Hidden Cafe, Thai-Lao fusion at Maikham Lao & Thai, rolls and sashimi at Fujisan Sushi, French pastries at Iron Rooster Bakery, Hawaiian-style bowls at Fairhaven Poke, and excellent pies at Övn Wood Fired Pizza—along with plenty more.

On date night, Estelle has an excellent duck confit, whereas Keenan’s at the Pier offers waterfront views within the luxurious surroundings of The Chrysalis Inn & Spa Bellingham.

Fairhaven residents enjoy easy access to numerous gyms, health clinics, and other essentials such as Haggen Food & Pharmacy. Just up the hill is Western Washington University, and Fairhaven also sports a branch of the Bellingham Public Library. For younger students, Lowell Elementary School and Fairhaven Middle School are within walking distance.

If it’s nature you’re looking for, Fairhaven Park, Arroyo Park, Marine Park, and Post Point Lagoon Estuary are all connected via the Interurban Trail. The South Bay Trail is a classic and beloved route that stretches from downtown Fairhaven, through the docks of Boulevard Park, and along the water until it finally reaches downtown Bellingham.

Hop on an Amtrak Cascades train or Greyhound bus at Fairhaven Station for a jaunt to Seattle, Portland, or Vancouver, B.C. Alternatively, take your car down the Chuckanut Drive Scenic Byway for stunning waterfront views, access to Larrabee State Park, and trailheads for a plethora of classic hikes.

Cornwall Park 3424 Meridian St.

Euclid Park 1650 Euclid Ave.

Fairhaven Park 107 Chuckanut Dr. N.

Lake Padden Park 4882 S. Samish Way

Larrabee State Park 245 Chuckanut Dr.

Little Squalicum Park 640 Marine Dr.

Maritime Heritage Park 500 W. Holly St.

Northridge Park 3400 Carrington Way

Roosevelt Park 2235 Verona St.

Sehome Hill Arboretum 600 Arboretum Dr.

Squalicum Creek Park 1001 Squalicum Way

Squires Lake Park 2510 Nulle Rd.

St. Clair Park 2015 St. Clair St.

Sudden Valley Dog Park 22 Marina Dr.

Ted Edwards Park 4150 Oriental Ln.

Whatcom Falls Park 1401 Electric Ave.

Welcome Newcomers Guide 2025 27

Cities Photo by Dean Davidson

Sudden Valley

L

OCATED ALONGSIDE BEAUTIFUL Lake Whatcom, the Sudden Valley neighborhood is

a serene community that’s perfect for avid golfers, first-time homeowners, and young (or not-so-young) families.

Now home to more than 7,000 residents, Sudden Valley has grown immensely since its beginnings in 1969. Originally a private property known as “The Ranch,” the 1,200acre community encompasses all there is to love about living in Whatcom County.

The 20-minute commute from Bellingham makes the neighborhood ideal for those looking for a quieter area6 that’s still close to city amenities. With an abundance of parks, playgrounds, and lake access, you get the best of both worlds: suburban perks in a woodsy, isolated atmosphere.

Don’t let the access to the 18-hole Sudden Valley Golf Course, Sudden Valley Marina (which got a new boat launch ramp in 2024), two community gardens, and two swimming pools (one of which is Olympic-sized) fool you—home prices are actually lower in Sudden Valley, making it a great location for those who are starting out on the property ladder or looking to downsize.

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BellinghamAlive.com

Photo by Dean Davidson

You don’t even have to leave the area to find amenities. The Community Center is home to a gym, sauna, game lounge, dance barn, and children’s area. You can also find lots of social events such as knitting groups, fitness classes, and mahjong.

Looking for a quiet work space?

A branch of the Whatcom Public Library is nearby too.

If you’re looking for a bite to eat, local eateries include Tino’s Pizza & Pasta Co.

and El Agave Mexican Restaurant. For those who’d rather eat at home but don’t want to drive into town for groceries, the Valley Market & Deli is there for all your last minute meal prep needs.

Moving to the area with your kids? Sudden Valley falls under the Bellingham Public School District, with students attending Geneva Elementary School, then Kulshan Middle School, and finishing at Bellingham Public High School.

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Cities

Ferndale Photo by Mariah Currey

I

of Bellingham, you’ll find the city of Ferndale situated along the Nooksack River. With views of Mount Baker to the east and the San Juan Islands to the west, it’s safe to say that this spot is picturesque from every direction. More than 14,000 people call Ferndale home, although if you include the surrounding unincorporated areas that number grows to around 30,000.

In addition to the abundant nature and quiet pace of life, Ferndale offers easy access to urban hotspots such as Vancouver, B.C. and Seattle. It began as a dairy and logging town but has since developed into a fastgrowing manufacturing city. Given how affordable commercial properties are, prominent companies such as Samson Rope, Superfeet, Cascade Dafo, NutraDried Food Company, and Jack’s Paleo Kitchen have all made the choice to call Ferndale their home.

The Ferndale School District covers residents not only of Ferndale, 30

Photo by Mariah Currey

F YOU DRIVE just northwest

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but also Custer, Lummi Island, and north Bellingham. Overall, the district serves almost 5,000 students between one high school, two middle schools, and six elementary schools.

Activities such as boating, hunting, golfing, fishing, skiing, and hiking are all within reach for residents, making Ferndale an excellent home base for families. Originally established by the

Hovander family in 1969, Hovander Homestead Park is a notable spot for education, entertainment, and trails.

The Scandinavian-style Hovander House lies at the center of the park, and the grounds also include a barn that hosts farm animals in the summertime. Birders flock to Tennant Lake Park for its wetlands, walking trails, and variety of native birds.

Nearby Pioneer Park is home to 12 cedar slab log cabins that are maintained by the Ferndale Heritage Society. Throughout the year, visitors can take tours, rent specific buildings, or visit the park for special events such as the Old Settlers Weekend in July and Olde Fashioned Christmas in December.

Despite its small size, Ferndale’s food scene brings big flavor. The city is the headquarters of Barlean’s Fishery, Inc., which has been providing Whatcom County with fresh seafood since 1972. There’s also the familyowned Anytime Toffee, a.k.a. the place to go if you’re looking to satisfy a sweet tooth.

In terms of restaurants, the Leader Block Trattoria & Bar caught the attention of the Wine Spectator Restaurant Awards and won an award of excellence in 2019. Other notable eateries include Yeah Baby Boards for Insta-worthy charcuterie boards and Battle’s Kitchen for authentic Cajun and Southern bites. DownTime Taps, FrinGe Brewing and District Brewing are popular watering holes.

Local Parks Ferndale Hovander Homestead Park 5299 Nielsen Ave., Ferndale

Jensen Family Forest Park 8051 Stein Rd., Custer

Metalworks Skate Park, 5532 2nd Ave., Ferndale

Star Park 5477 Ferndale Rd., Ferndale

Centennial Riverwalk Park 5667 Front Ave., Ferndale

Events Ferndale June Lummi Nation Stommish Water Festival

July Ferndale Old Settlers Picnic

December

Photo by Mariah Currey

Olde Fashioned Christmas Photo by Dean Davidson

*Event dates are based on 2024 events and are subject to change.

Welcome Newcomers Guide 2025 31

Cities

Lynden

Photo by Mariah Currey

L

OCATED ROUGHLY 30 minutes

north of Bellingham, the city of Lynden is best known for its bountiful agriculture and strong Dutch heritage. As the second-largest city in Whatcom County, this tightknit community boasts roughly 15,000 residents and is steadily growing. Even so, visiting Lynden feels like returning to simpler times—with the addition of modern amenities and a noteworthy shopping and dining scene.

Lynden’s economy has historically revolved around the farming of berries, dairy, and row crops. To get your hands on those famous berries, you can buy a punnet or pick them yourself at local farms such as Haugen’s Raspberries, Clark’s Berry Farm, and Kamm Creek Farm. Lynden is also home to dairy farms like Twin Brook Creamery, which produces some of the best milk that Whatcom County has to offer.

In the summertime, Lynden hosts two annual events celebrating the area’s rich agricultural tradition: the Farmers Day Parade and the Northwest Raspberry Festival.

There’s also the Northwest Washington Fair, an annual extravaganza of food, fun, and farming.

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BellinghamAlive.com

During the fall, you’d be remiss not to visit Bellewood Farms & Distillery for a day of family-friendly fun. Their property features a pumpkin patch, a corn maze, and approximately 25,000 apple trees—so yes, you’re obliged to try the cider before you leave.

When the holidays arrive, the Northwest Lighted Christmas Parade showcases a procession of glittering tractors, floats, and farm equipment. It’s sponsored by Edaleen Dairy, a local farm that produces some of the best ice cream in the county.

If you have a sweet tooth, you’re in luck—two of their six storefronts are located in Lynden.

As you might imagine, Lynden’s small-town charms make it an ideal place for families. The Lynden School District serves over 3,000 students and includes three elementary schools, one middle school, one high school, and an alternative learning school. Lynden is also home to beautiful parks such as Berthusen Park, Bender Fields, and City Park, a.k.a. Million Smiles Playground Park.

It’s worth mentioning that Lynden is the largest Dutch settlement in the state. To immerse yourself in the town’s storied history, head to Front

Local Parks Lynden Bender Fields 8770 Bender Rd.

Berthusen Park 8837 Berthusen Rd.

Lynden City Park 8460 Depot Rd.

Events Lynden March Spring Craft & Antique Show

April

Photo by Esther Chong

Photo by Zoe Deal

Whatcom Home & Garden Show

Street , also known as Old Dutch Town . You’ll find the Lynden Pioneer Museum , which houses a life-sized replica of historic Front Street businesses as well as an early 20th century farmhouse. For a taste of the Netherlands, stop into Lynden Dutch Bakery for traditional Dutch treats (or check out sister business Just Desserts for all-American goodies such as pie and ice cream).

Other worthwhile sights include the 72-foot-tall windmill on the corner of Front and Seventh Street. If you’re hungry, step inside the windmill for a meal and a craft cocktail at The Mill at Seventh. Front Street is also home to other noteworthy stops including the Lynden location of Village Books & Paper Dreams, the Jansen Art Center, The Newsroom Pub, and Overflow Taps. Only a block away, Lynden Skateway reigns supreme as the only roller rink in Whatcom County, and the nearby Inn at Lynden offers luxurious lodging in the historic Waples Mercantile Building.

June Lynden Farmers Day Parade

July Northwest Raspberry Festival

August Northwest Washington Fair Vintage Farming Days

October Fall Craft & Antique Show

December Photo by Esther Chong Lynden Lighted Christmas Parade

*Event dates are based on 2024 events and are subject to change.

Welcome Newcomers Guide 2025 33

Cities

Blaine

L

OCATED RIGHT NEXT to

Canada, the bordertown of Blaine boasts wide expanses of coastline, views of Vancouver Island and Point Roberts, and a population of roughly 6,000. Children attend the Blaine School District, which operates a high school, middle school, elementary school, and two primary schools.

Between Blaine and Douglas, B.C. you’ll find the Peace Arch, the centerpiece of the Peace Arch Historical State Park. It was constructed to celebrate peace between the United States and Canada, and to this day its towering white design is an iconic part of Blaine’s culture and history. The surrounding park is perfect for families and gatherings, featuring 19 acres, 85 picnic tables, playgrounds, and even a kitchen for rent.

At nearby Marine Park, visitors can walk the trails and beaches or have a picnic while the kids play on a nautical-themed playground. In the spring the park holds the Wings Over Water Northwest Birding Festival, an annual event that features live bird presentations, local vendors, and an allday birding expo.

Afterwards, stop for a bite to eat at one of Blaine’s local restaurants, including Border Town Pizza, 34

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Chada Thai, and Drayton Harbor Oyster Company for seafood. Jack Niemann’s Black Forest Steak House is best for those who prefer turf over surf, and Paso del Norte is the place to go for authentic Mexican fare.

Need a pick-me-up? A latte from The Railway Cafe should do the trick. Alternatively, if you’re looking to wind down after a long day, a pint of craft beer from Gateway 1890 Taphouse & Grill or glass of wine at The Vault Wine Bar & Bistro is sure to quench your thirst.

The Semiahmoo Spit is another worthwhile stop to make while in town. Nestled between Semiahmoo Bay and Drayton Harbor, Semiahmoo Park features trails with great views and plenty of wildlife.

At the end of the spit is Semiahmoo Resort, an upscale getaway that features luxury suites, a spa, golf, pickleball, beachside activities, and an on-site restaurant, Packers Kitchen + Bar. For an immersive history lesson, take a ride on the Plover Passenger Ferry during the summer months. This boat once transported cannery workers between Blaine and Semiahmoo Spit. At the end of the ride, make sure to stop at Alaska Packers Association Museum.

Local Parks Blaine/Birch Bay Bay Horizon Park 7467 Gemini St., Blaine

Birch Bay State Park 5105 Helweg Rd., Blaine

Blaine Marine Park 200 Marine Dr., Blaine

Halverson Park 5075 Anderson Rd., Blaine

Lighthouse Marine Park 811 Marine Dr., Point Roberts

Lily Point Marine Park 2315 APA Rd., Point Roberts

Lincoln Park 1800 H St., Blaine

Salishan Park 1275 Blaine Ave., Blaine

Semiahmoo Park 9261 Semiahmoo Pkwy., Blaine

Birch Bay

Events Blaine/Birch Bay January Polar Bear Plunge at Birch Bay

March Wings Over Water Northwest Birding Festival

July Blaine’s Old Fashioned Fourth of July Festival & Street Fair

August Drayton Harbor Days/Drayton Harbor Maritime Festival Birch Bay Days & Crab Festival

December Ring of Fire and Hope *Event dates are based on 2024 events and are subject to change.

I

F YOU DRIVE just south of Blaine,

you’ll reach the tranquil beach community of Birch Bay. The area gets its name from the body of water enclosed by Point Whitehorn and the Semiahmoo Peninsula. With roughly 10,000 residents, Birch Bay features a picturesque waterfront with plenty of recreation year-round.

The crown jewel of this small community is Birch Bay State Park.

With more than 8,000 feet of beaches and warmer-than-usual water (for Washington, at least), the park offers a multitude of activities. For wildlife lovers, Point Whitehorn Marine Reserve is the place to potentially see porpoises, spotted seals, and various birds.

If you’re looking for a quick breakfast, Rooted by the Bay has coffee and early morning eats. For

lunch and dinner, your options include CJ’s Beach House, Bay Breeze Restaurant and Bar, and The Beach at Birch Bay. There’s also Beach Cat Brewing, one of the newer additions to Whatcom County’s ever-growing craft beer scene.

A fantastic family-friendly attraction is Station 49, an amusement park with an arcade, minigolf, and go-karts. The center also features a miniature train that meanders through the park and surrounding forest. After your ride, pick up some drinks and snacks from The Saloon to refuel.

Round out the rest of your day by visiting Birch Bay Square for shopping. Among the assortment of stores, you’ll find locally owned businesses such as Betty Be Good Boutique and Bow Wow & Woofs.

Welcome Newcomers Guide 2025 35

Cities

Cascade mountains as well as beloved hikes such as Chain Lakes, Ptarmigan Ridge, Lake Ann, and Table Mountain.

This area is only accessible during warm enough weather, though, so make sure to prioritize a visit during the summer months.

Mount Baker Foothills

M

OUNT BAKER IS a hub

for outdoor fun, be that summertime hiking or winter snow sports. Its surrounding communities are also worth a visit, and you can reach them via State Route 542 (running northeast from Bellingham, also known as Mount Baker Highway) and State Route 9 (running north and south). You’ll encounter no shortage of charming stops along the way.

Mount Baker Highway Follow the Nooksack river down this breathtaking highway and you’ll soon find yourself in Deming, a small but growing community whose population was last counted at 427 in 2022.

Deming is also home to the Nooksack Indian Tribe, approximately 2000 members strong and headquartered there in their ancestral homeland, where they maintain a Tribal Council and Tribal Government. Each June, make sure to catch the Deming Logging Show to witness a host of entertaining logging feats, all for the benefit of “busted up loggers” injured in the woods. Of course, no visit to Deming is complete without a visit to North Fork Brewery or Rifugio’s Country Italian Cuisine—or both if you’re extra hungry.

Continue northeast along the river and you’ll discover the tiny, charming towns of Kendall and Maple Falls.

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There’s not much retail to speak of, but Maple Falls does have a grocery store as well as a coffee shop. As for the outdoors, Silver Lake Park is located to the north and offers camping, cabin and lodge rentals, boating, and fishing.

Your next stop is Glacier, the gateway to Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and portions of the North Cascades National Parks.

Here you’ll find several lodging options as well as eateries such as Graham’s Restaurant, Chair 9 Woodstone Pizza & Bar, and local favorite Wake ‘n’ Bakery. You’ll need the fuel to tackle the hiking trails; popular routes starting in or near Glacier include Skyline Divide, Church Mountain, and Heliotrope Ridge. If you’re in need of information or a permit, the Glacier Ranger Station has you covered.

As you continue, take a detour at the spectacular Nooksack Falls, a nearly 90-foot waterfall located down Forest Road 33. Head back up the highway and you’ll hit Mount Baker Ski Area, a ski resort respected for its backcountry access and inbound routes. Fun fact: The area, contrary to its name, is closer to Mount Shuksan than Mount Baker. It’s also the site of the world’s greatest recorded snowfall in one season (1,140 inches!).

Your travels will be rewarded when you reach Artist Point, the final stop along the highway. It offers indescribably spectacular views of the

State Route 9 Travelers on Mount Baker Highway will find a roundabout at Nugents Corner, and if you go north onto State Route 9 instead of continuing along Route 542, you’ll soon find yourself in the sister towns of Everson and Nooksack. These rural communities are known for their many farms and storied agricultural past. Here you can also visit Samson Estates Winery, known for its award-winning fruit wines, Raspberry Ridge Golf Course, and Cloud Mountain Farm Center, an organic farm that offers regular fruit tasting events. If you’re hungry, Herb Niemann's Steak House has authentic German eats, and Good to Go Meat Pies makes the perfect on-the-go snack.

Sumas is a gateway to Canada, and the Sumas-Huntingdon Border Crossing connects Route 9 with British Columbia Highway 11. There’s also the Sumas International Motorsport Academy (SIMA), boasting a nearly mile long race kart track that’s considered one of the best in North America.

If you continue on the highway past Nugents Corner and turn south at the roundabout after Deming, you’ll come upon the town of Acme and the unincorporated community of Van Zandt. These sleepy residential areas, situated in the valley between Lake Whatcom and the Cascade Mountains, are home to fewer than 300 people.

You can pick up some fresh produce from Mama’s Garden, cross the Acme bridge, then get your burger fix at the Acme Diner.

Chat, text, or stop by.

It’s called service.

Get a quote today!

Local Parks Mount Baker Foothills Deming Homestead Eagle Park 5695 Truck Rd., Deming

Josh VanderYacht Memorial Park 4106 Valley Hwy., Deming

Maple Creek Park 7842 Silver Lake Rd., Maple Falls

Silver Lake Park 9006 Silver Lake Rd., Maple Falls South Fork Park 1530 Mosquito Lake Rd., Deming

Events Mount Baker Foothills June

Terry Stach Ins and Fin Sv Inc Terry Stach, Agent

Deming Logging Show

July Everson-Nooksack Summer Festival *Event dates are based on 2024 events and are subject to change.

424 W Bakerview Road Suite 110 Bellingham, WA 98225-8176 Bus: 360.389.5938 www.terrystach.com

Welcome Newcomers Guide 2025 37

Cities

Lummi Island

A

10-MINUTE FERRY RIDE into

the Salish Sea will transport you to a coastal community that, despite its proximity to shore, is a world unto itself. Lummi Island’s laidback, beachy atmosphere makes it an ideal spot for everything from day trips to weekends away.

Lummi Island is located less than a mile from the mainland, and fewer than 1,000 people call it home. It’s not technically part of the Lummi Indian Reservation, which is located on the peninsula across the water.

When your ferry arrives, you’ll find yourself within walking distance of several key locations. If you’re hungry, swing by the Islander Store on Nugent Road to pick up groceries and snacks, or grab a bite and a brew at Beach Store Cafe. The Island Library and Beach Elementary School are also close by, as is Grange Hall, which functions as a historic gathering spot for social events such as weddings and fundraisers.

The island is only 9.25 square miles, so when it comes to transportation, biking is your best bet—if you don’t want to bring your own, you can rent a bike from Lummi Island Concierge. The north loop around the island is a laid-back 7-mile ride that begins at the ferry dock and features views of Mount Baker, the San Juan Islands, and the Vancouver 38

BellinghamAlive.com

skyline. If you’re seeking a workout, the south leg is also 7 miles but includes steep hills and switchbacks.

Lummi Island’s slow pace and idyllic scenery have nurtured a strong creative scene, and it’s composed of makers of all stripes. The Ann Morris Sculpture Woods houses bronze sculptures that speak to humanity’s connection with nature; the public is invited to stop in on the first Saturday of every month.

Vitreous Visions functions as a gift shop, studio, and gallery for glass artwork by Art Hohl.

During the thrice-yearly Lummi Island Artist Studio Tour or by

appointment, visitors can meet artists working in media ranging from woodwork to pottery, metalwork, painting, and more. Artisan Wine Gallery is a must-stop for wine and art lovers alike. On Fridays and Saturdays, join one of their tastings to sample high-quality wines and view work from local creatives.

If you plan to stay the night, the island has several guest houses as well as bed and breakfasts. Nettles Farm Bed & Breakfast is a dream for those who enjoy cooking with farmfresh ingredients. They provide wellstocked kitchens, a pizza oven, and

even a “kitchen garden.” Full Bloom Farm specializes in unique varieties of cut peonies, and their on-site loft is available for vacation rentals. They also sell fresh produce and eggs at their farmstand.

Outdoor adventurers should head to Baker Preserve for a hike that’s breathtaking thanks to both the views and the steep incline. It boasts an elevation gain of 1,000 feet over just 1.6 miles, but trust us: The final panorama is worth the trek. You’ll be rewarded with stellar views of the San Juan Islands and Rosario Strait. Baker Preserve is managed by Lummi Island Heritage Trust, which also maintains Curry Preserve on the northeast side of the island. Curry Preserve covers over 50 acres of land, featuring walking trails and plenty of wildlife to observe.

Once you’ve had your fill of activities, why not unwind by lounging away the rest of the day on the beach?

Many are privately owned, but there are several options for public access.

These include Sunset Beach (on the northwest shore near the ferry dock), and Church Beach (on the west shore).

True to its name, the latter is accessible from the parking lot of Lummi Island Congregational Church. Visitors can also take a stroll through the church’s cemetery or connect with nature in a forested stone labyrinth.

WhatcomArtMarket.org

1103 11th Street (Fairhaven)

Open Daily 11am-6pm

Whatcom Art Center

1105 11th Street (Fairhaven)

WhatcomArtCenter.org

New Community Art Center!

• Art Exhibits • Take a Class • Teach a Class • Meeting Space • Studio Space

Welcome Newcomers Guide 2025 39

Members Michael F., Matt N., & Christa S.

Not for Profit = More for People See what banking is like when people come first. All Pacific NW residents are eligible to join.

becu.org/community Federally insured by NCUA

Education

F

ROM PRESCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN to adults continuing

their education, Whatcom County has something to offer every learner. The county is home to 77 public schools serving more than 27,000 students, plus 21 private schools serving over 4,000 students. Bellingham’s Western Washington University is nationally recognized as one of the best public universities in the region. Overall, Whatcom County has a high concentration of top-ranked public schools in the state, with Sehome High School landing in the top 10%.

Outside of Bellingham you'll find five other districts— Blaine, Ferndale, Lynden, Mount Baker, and Nooksack Valley— along with the Meridian School District in Bellingham.

Western Washington University, consistently ranked as one of the Best in the West universities by U.S. News & World Report, is also located in the heart of Bellingham. Their student to faculty ratio is 17:1, and 74% of faculty hold the highest degree in their field. Other options for post-secondary education include Whatcom Community College and Bellingham Technical College.

Welcome Newcomers Guide 2025 41

Education

School Board Representatives Bellingham Camille Diaz Hackler Director Position 1

Blaine

Ferndale

Erika Creydt

Dr. Kevin Erickson

Director District 1

President, Director District 1

360.990.3848

360.441.1808

Lynden Khush Brar Director Position 1 brark@lynden. wednet.edu

360.380.1644

Katie Rose

Ben Lazarus

Director Position 2

Director District 2

360.603.1062

360.525.5041

Danny Martinez

Director District 2

Director Position 2

360.594.1415

martinezd@ lynden.wednet.edu

Scott Ritchey

Cliff Freeman

Nancy Button

Jim Verburg

Director Position 3

Director District 3

Director District 3

Director Position 3

360.746.4043

360.510.3500

360.961.9323

verburgj@lynden. wednet.edu

Jenn Mason

Ryan Swinburnson

Steve Childs

Tonya Hickman

Director District 4

President, Director Position 4

Vice President, Director Position 4

Director District 4

360.927.4672

360.410.4437

360.201.4273

hickmant@lynden. wednet.edu

Douglas Benjamin

Steve Galbraith

Peggy Uppiano

Kenneth “Spin” Owsley

President, Director Position No. 5

District 5 Director

Vice President, Director District 5

Vice President, Director Position 5

360.927.1154

owsleyk@lynden. wednet.edu

360.220.5420

360.202.6150

Photos courtesy of Bellingham School District

Photos courtesy of Blaine School District

Photos courtesy of Ferndale School District

All representatives taken from election results and school board websites as of late 2024

42

Antonio Machado

BellinghamAlive.com

Photos courtesy of Lynden School District

Report Card SCHOOL

BELLINGHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT

STATS A B C D

360.676.6400, bellinghamschools.org students enrolled graduated in 4 years per-student expenditure classroom teachers average years of teaching experience

SCHOOL MERIDIAN SCHOOL DISTRICT 360.398.7111, meridian.wednet.edu

11,515 85% $18,289 852 13.9

students enrolled graduated in 4 years per-student expenditure classroom teachers average years of teaching experience

BLAINE SCHOOL DISTRICT

MOUNT BAKER SCHOOL DISTRICT

360.332.5881, blainesd.org

360.383.2000, mtbaker.wednet.edu

students enrolled graduated in 4 years per-student expenditure classroom teachers average years of teaching experience

2,071 90.3% $20,332 135 14.9

students enrolled graduated in 4 years per-student expenditure classroom teachers average years of teaching experience

FERNDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT

NOOKSACK VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT

360.383.9200, ferndalesd.org

360.988.4754, nv.k12.wa.us

students enrolled graduated in 4 years per-student expenditure classroom teachers average years of teaching experience

STATS A B C D

4,670 84.3.% $18,988 351 13.7

students enrolled graduated in 4 years per-student expenditure classroom teachers average years of teaching experience

1,908 87.5% $16,907 122 10.2

1,607 73.5% $21,467 122 14.1

1,963 87.6% $18,075 137 11.7

LYNDEN SCHOOL DISTRICT 360.354.4443, lynden.wednet.edu

students enrolled graduated in 4 years per-student expenditure classroom teachers average years of teaching experience

3,571 84.7% $15,995 204 14.4

Data compiled by the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction from recent school years. Data pulled late 2024.

Welcome Newcomers Guide 2025 43

Education North Bellingham Elementary School 5275 Northwest Dr., Bellingham 360.383.9289

Peace Arch Montessori Preschool 549 Cherry St., Blaine, 360.684.2926 peacearchmontessori.com

Whatcom Family Cooperative Preschool 2155 Yew Street Rd, Bellingham, 360.726.2096 whatcomfamilypreschool.org

Public Schools BELLINGHAM ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS Alderwood Elementary School

Colleges & Universities Bellingham Technical College 3028 Lindbergh Ave., Bellingham 360.752.7000, btc.edu

Northwest Indian College 2522 Kwina Rd., Bellingham 360.676.2772, nwic.edu

Western Washington University

Busy Kids Early Enrichment and Preschool 1604 Brookwood Dr., Ferndale 360.933.0644, busykidschildcare.com

Catch the Son Preschool 2600 Lakeway Dr., Bellingham 360.733.1277, catchtheson.org

Children’s Co-op Preschool

516 High St., Bellingham 360.650.3000, wwu.edu

1409 18th St., Ste. 6306 Bellingham, 201.564.4227 childrenscooppreschool.com

Whatcom Community College

Christ Lutheran Preschool

237 W. Kellogg Rd., Bellingham 360.383.3000, whatcom.edu

5904 Vista Dr., Ferndale, 360.380.2233 clcferndale.org/preschool

Gabriel’s Art Kids

Preschools

2215 D St., Bellingham, 360.739.9365 gabrielsartkids.com

A Loving Space School

Gardenview Montessori School

1200 Ellis St., Bellingham 360.676.1355, lovingspaceschool.org

2117 Walnut St., Bellingham P.O. Box 28636, 360.527.9638 gardenviewmontessori.org

Bayside Co-op Preschool 910 14th St., Bellingham 360.329.2818, baysidecoop.com

Bellingham Covenant Preschool 1530 E. Bakerview Rd., Bellingham 360.733.5920, bccpreschool.com

Blossom Childcare and Learning Center, Inc. 2945 Douglas Ave., Bellingham 360.752.2699, blossomchildcare.com

44

BellinghamAlive.com

Lakeside Cooperative Preschool 4101 Academy St., Bellingham 360.647.7578, lakesidecoop.com

Lynden Co-op Preschool 500 14th St., Lynden, 360.209.4181 lyndenco-oppreschool.com

Montessori at Samish Woods 1027 Samish Way, Bellingham 360.650.9465, samishwoods.org

3400 Hollywood Ave., 360.676.6404 alderwood.bellinghamschools.org

Birchwood Elementary School 3200 Pinewood Ave., 360.676.6466 birchwood.bellinghamschools.org

Carl Cozier Elementary School 1330 Lincoln St., 360.676.6410 carlcozier.bellinghamschools.org

Columbia Elementary School 2508 Utter St., 360.676.6413 columbia.bellinghamschools.org

Cordata Elementary School 4420 Aldrich Rd., 360.676.6461 cordata.bellinghamschools.org

Geneva Elementary School 1401 Geneva St., 360.676.6416 geneva.bellinghamschools.org

Happy Valley Elementary School 1041 24th St., 360.676.6420 happyvalley.bellinghamschools.org

Lowell Elementary School 914 15th St., 360.676.6430 lowell.bellinghamschools.org

Lummi Nation School 2334 Lummi View Dr., 360.758.4300 lns-onlinelearning.org

Northern Heights Elementary School 4000 Magrath Rd., 360.647.6820 northernheights.bellinghamschools.org

Parkview Elementary School 3030 Cornwall Ave., 360.676.6433 parkview.bellinghamschools.org

Roosevelt Elementary School 2900 Yew St., 360.676.6440 roosevelt.bellinghamschools.org

Silver Beach Elementary School 4101 Academy St., 360.676.6443 silverbeach.bellinghamschools.org

Sunnyland Elementary School 2800 James St., 360.676.6446 sunnyland.bellinghamschools.org

Wade King Elementary School

HIGH SCHOOLS

LYNDEN

2155 Yew Street Rd., 360.647.6840 wadeking.bellinghamschools.org

Bellingham High School

Bernice Vossbeck Elementary School

MIDDLE SCHOOLS Fairhaven Middle School 110 Parkridge Rd., 360.676.6450 fairhaven.bellinghamschools.org

Kulshan Middle School 1250 Kenoyer Dr., 360.676.4886 kulshan.bellinghamschools.org

Lummi Nation School 2334 Lummi View Dr., 360.758.4300 lns-onlinelearning.org

Shuksan Middle School 2717 Alderwood Ave., 360.676.6454 shuksan.bellinghamschools.org

Whatcom Middle School 810 Halleck St., 360.676.6460 whatcom.bellinghamschools.org

2020 Cornwall Ave., 360.676.6575 bellingham.bellinghamschools.org

1301 E. Bridgeview Dr., 360.354.0488 bve.lynden.wednet.edu

Lummi Nation School

Fisher Elementary School

2334 Lummi View Dr., 360.758.4300 lns-onlinelearning.org

501 N. 14th St., 360.354.4291 fe.lynden.wednet.edu

Options High School

Isom Elementary School

2015 Franklin St., 360.647.6871 options.bellinghamschools.org

8461 Benson Rd., 360.354.1992 ie.lynden.wednet.edu

Sehome High School

Lynden Academy

2700 Bill McDonald Pkwy., 360.676.6481 sehome.bellinghamschools.org

1986 Main St., Ste. A, 360.354.6675 la.lynden.wednet.edu

Squalicum High School

Lynden High School

3773 E. McLeod Rd., 360.676.6471 squalicum.bellinghamschools.org

1201 Bradley Rd., 360.354.4401 hs.lynden.wednet.edu

Whatcom Intergenerational High School

Lynden Middle School

1 Bellis Fair Pkwy., 360.543.8282 wihs.school

8750 Line Rd., 360.354.2952 ms.lynden.wednet.edu

School District Early Dismissal & Closure Information Closure Information (TV): KOMO (channel 4) KING (channel 5) KIRO (channel 7)

Bellingham School District Start & End Times:

Snow Route Information:

Elementary School: 8 a.m.–2:30 p.m.

Early Dismissal: 12:20 p.m.

*Start and end times for other districts in Whatcom County vary by school. Please visit individual school district websites for more information.

KCPQ (channel 13)

Middle School: 9:15 a.m.–3:45 p.m.

Early Dismissal: 1:15 p.m

Closure Information (radio):

High School: 8:30 a.m.–3:15 p.m.

Early Dismissal: 2:00 p.m

KGMI (790 AM)

bellinghamschools.org/snow-routes

KAFE (104.1 FM)

Welcome Newcomers Guide 2025 45

Education

FERNDALE, CUSTER, LUMMI ISLAND Beach Elementary 3786 Centerview Rd., Lummi Island 360.383.9440 lummi-island.com/here/beach-school

Cascadia Elementary 6175 Church Rd., Ferndale, 360.383.2300 cascadia.ferndalesd.org

Central Elementary 5610 2nd Ave., Ferndale, 360.383.9600 central.ferndalesd.org

Custer Elementary 7660 Custer School Rd., Custer 360.383.9500, custer.ferndalesd.org

Eagleridge Elementary 2651 Thornton Rd., Ferndale 360.383.9700, eagleridge.ferndalesd.org

Ferndale High School 5830 Golden Eagle Dr., Ferndale 360.383.9240 ferndalehigh.ferndalesd.org

Horizon Middle School 2671 Thornton Rd., Ferndale 360.383.9850 horizonmiddle.ferndalesd.org

Skyline Elementary School 2225 Thornton St., Ferndale 360.383.9450, skyline.ferndalesd.org

Vista Middle School

Nooksack Valley High School

6051 Vista Dr., Ferndale, 360.383.9370 vistamiddle.ferndalesd.org

3326 E. Badger Rd., 360.988.2641 hs.nv.k12.wa.us

BLAINE, POINT ROBERTS

Nooksack Valley Middle School

Blaine Elementary School

404 W. Columbia St., 360.966.7561 ms.nv.k12.wa.us

836 Mitchell Ave., Blaine, 360.332.5213 blainesd.org/o/blaine-elementary-school

Blaine High School 1055 H St., Blaine, 360.332.6045 blainesd.org/o/blaine-high-school

Blaine Middle School 975 H St., Blaine, 360.332.8226 blainesd.org/o/blaine-middle-school

Blaine Primary School 820 Boblett St., Blaine, 360.332.1300 blainesd.org/o/blaine-primary-school

Point Roberts Primary School

Sumas Elementary School 1024 Lawson St., 360.988.9423 se.nv.k12.wa.us

ACME, DEMING, GLACIER, MAPLE FALLS Acme Elementary 5200 Turkington Rd., Acme, 360.383.2045 mtbaker.wednet.edu/o/acme

Kendall Elementary 7547 Kendall Rd., Maple Falls, 360.383.2055 mtbaker.wednet.edu/o/kendall

2050 Benson Rd., Point Roberts 360.945.2223, blainesd.org/o/ point-roberts-primary-school

Mount Baker Academy

EVERSON, NOOKSACK, SUMAS

Mount Baker Junior High

Everson Elementary School

5100 Mitchell Rd., Deming, 360.383.2016 mtbaker.wednet.edu/o/mbjh

216 Everson Goshen Rd., 360.966.2030 ee.nv.k12.wa.us

Nooksack Elementary School 3333 Breckenridge Rd., 360.966.3321 ne.nv.k12.wa.us

5100 Mitchell Rd., Deming, 360.383.2078 mtbaker.wednet.edu/o/mba

Mount Baker Senior High 4936 Deming Rd., Deming, 360.383.2015 mtbaker.wednet.edu/o/mbhs

Alternative Learning Experiences

Ferndale Family Partnership

Alger Learning Center & Independence High School

Firs and Fiddleheads Forest School

Sedro-Woolley, 800.595.2630, independent-learning.com

Bellingham, 360.733.6840, firsandfiddleheads.org

Barefeet Farm School

Lichen Early Learning

Bellingham, 360.441.2275, barefeetfarmschool.com

Bellingham, 360.386.5256, lichenearlylearning.org

Bellingham Family Partnership Program (BFPP)

Lynden Academy

Bellingham, 360.676.6424, fpp.bellinghamschools.org

Lynden, 360.354.6675, lynden.wednet.edu/lynden-academy

Bell Creek Nature School

Meadows Montessori School

Deming, 360.340.9302, bellcreeknatureschool.com

Ferndale, 360.778.3681, meadowsmontessori.org

Blaine HomeConnection

Meridian Parent Partnership Program (MP3)

Blaine, 360.332.0483, blainesd.org/o/homeconnection

Bellingham, 360.398.9324, meridian.wednet.edu/mp3

Cascades Montessori Middle School

Mount Baker Academy

Bellingham, 360.306.8723, cascadesmiddle.org

Deming, 360.383.2078, mtbaker.wednet.edu/o/mba

Cedar Tree Montessori

Skagit Academy

Bellingham, 360.714.1762, cedar-tree.org

Mount Vernon, 360.428.6206, skagitacademy, mountvernonschools.org

Feather & Frond Forest School

Wild Whatcom Nature Preschool

Bellingham, contact@featherandfrond.org, featherandfrond.org

Bellingham, 360.389.3414, wildwhatcom.org

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BellinghamAlive.com

Bellingham, 360.703.8303, ferndalesd.org

Private Schools BELLINGHAM Assumption Catholic School 2116 Cornwall Ave., 360.733.6133 school.assumption.org

Bellingham Christian School 1600 E. Sunset Dr., 360.733.7303 bellinghamchristianschool.org

Blue Heron Montessori School 920 24th St., 360.306.3669 blueheronmontessori.org

Cedar Tree Montessori 2114 Broadway, 360.714.1762, cedar-tree.org

Explorations Academy 1701 Ellis St., Ste. 215, 360.671.8085 explorationsacademy.org

Franklin Academy 1509 E. Victor St., 360.733.1750 thefranklin.academy

Harmony Elementary 5060 Sand Rd., 360.383.2050 mtbaker.wednet.edu/o/harmony

Montessori at Samish Woods 1027 Samish Way, 360.650.9465 samishwoods.org of the

2024

BEST

The Alger Learning Center & Independence High School

NORTH

WEST GOLD

100 Pine St., Ste. 103, 360.595.2630 independent-learning.com

Whatcom Hills Waldorf School 941 Austin St., 360.733.3164, whws.org

FERNDALE Meadows Montessori School (PK-6) 2377 Douglas Rd., 360.778.3681 meadowsmontessori.org

Providence Christian School NW (K-12) 5942 Portal Way, 360.318.1347, pcsnw.org

LYNDEN

Thank you for voting us Best Private School!

Cornerstone Christian School 8872 Northwood Rd., 360.318.0663 cornerstoneschool.us

Ebenezer Christian School 9390 Guide Meridian Rd., 360.354.2632 ebenezerchristianschool.org

Lynden Christian School 417 Lyncs Dr., 360.318.9525, lyncs.org

Welcome Newcomers Guide 2025 47

Education

Taking the Classroom Outside Outdoor Learning WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY SYD SPROUSE

I

MAGINE YOURSELF IN

preschool. You look up to find a canopy of trees overhead.

You hear noises of a creek rushing through, wind blowing through the foliage of the trees. Imagine days spent learning about what you find, bugs, sticks, flowers, birds, and the changing seasons. This is what outdoor education looks like, but there’s a lot more to it!

The first time I learned about outdoor education I was studying elementary education, and it became a dream of mine to open an outdoor elementary school. I fell in love with the idea of teaching kids with the beautiful natural resources the PNW has to offer. At the time I had only heard about a few early learning programs spread across the country; now there are more than 10 in Whatcom County alone.

Which made me wonder why there was such an increase in outdoor programs?

I reached out to Wild Whatcom, Firs and Fiddleheads Forest School, Barefeet Farm School and Lichen Early Learning—all schools that focus on early learning for ages 3-5. I got to chat with employees and tour their facilities, learning the inside scoop about outdoor education and about the versatility of nature as a third teacher, first being the parents and second being the classroom teacher. I asked about the importance of these programs to Barefeet Farm School’s owner and teacher, Erin Majeske, and she said, “preschool changes the world.” She refers to the importance of early learning education and how these years are where kids grow and change the most.

You may be asking: how do kids stay outside all day and all year? The answer is: with the right gear and the right activities!

They have a packing list to follow and they quickly learn how to keep their bodies comfortable with layers and jackets and rain boots etc. In winter they often choose to do more physical activities to keep the kids moving and their bodies

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warm. But if the smoke is ever too bad or it reaches below a set temperature, school will be canceled for safety. Otherwise rain, shine, or snow, the kids are outside and in school! That's the beauty of the PNW: we don’t experience a ton of weather extremes. Firs and Fiddleheads Executive Director Kelly Ellis (Snewt) and Program Coordinator Cameron Sandgren (Akeela) believe that “[adapting to the weather] teaches kids resiliency,” as Sandgren puts it. She goes on to explain that the everchanging weather of the great outdoors changes their mindsets, teaching them to adapt to change. Instead of the classic ‘it’s raining, time to head inside’ attitude, they put on rain boots and think ‘let’s go play in puddles.’ Being able to problemsolve changes in the weather gives kids the confidence and regulation to move through different activities and appreciate all that Washington has to give.

Another thing I wondered: what’s the difference between outdoor learning

and traditional learning? Besides being outside all day, the kids don’t have the same restrictions that a classroom does.

Traditional classrooms include desks, supplies, technology, books, and games— enough for 20-30 kids at a time. Outside they have space to wiggle and move as much as they need. Outdoor programs still have books and games and desks, but they are often spread out through different spaces of the forest or are a part of the landscape: logs used as desks and bark for books. These outdoor programs are for both the kids that can’t sit still and the ones that need more space. A few of the school employees talked to me about the beauty of the ability to find your own space outside. In an indoor classroom sound can bounce off walls, and there are a lot of little sounds like lights buzzing and electronics humming and other kids talking nearby. That can be overwhelming when trying to regulate and learn.

The beauty of an outdoor school is the kids know the boundaries of the forest and they are able to put physical space between themselves and any noises that are too much. The teachers saw it was easier for them to regulate their big emotions when they get to choose where they go and have the freedom to move their bodies how they need to. Nature is so good for regulation because it is a “sensory-rich environment,” says Natalie Hathaway at Lichen Early Learning.

Another aspect of outdoor learning is there are real-life examples of naturefocused subjects like seasons changing, bird migration, and weather. Sammy Jolly from Wild Whatcom talked about how they often say: “what is the story of the place that we are in?” Learning about the local natural environments of a place through pictures and articles is not the same as being immersed in it.

Kids in these programs are experiencing and feeling the change in seasons, rather than identifying the weather through a window. Allowing them to learn through sensory experiences and immersion in the outdoors leads them to bigger curiosities.

Aren’t they just playing around outside? What are they actually learning? These early learning years are when a child grows the most, which is why they are often measured in months, because there is a dramatic difference between a 3-year-old and a 4-year-old.

Majeske says, “we don't follow any prescribed method of teaching. And you could do that indoors or outdoors, but

the outdoors lends itself to it more just because the environment is the teacher.”

Outdoor learning treats the environment as a teacher and the teachers as guides on their learning journey. At all of the schools, the staff members talked about how the kids have a natural curiosity about what's around them, and how they will learn skills by naturally asking questions and wanting to know more.

Teacher Akeela (Cameron) at First and Fiddleheads gave a great example of natural curiosity: she has an app on her phone that can identify bird sounds, and kids will often come up and ask her to open it. They have to be quiet to let the app work, and they are learning about these different birds because they want to, not because they got a worksheet—their natural curiosity inclines them to want to know more.

Another benefit of outdoor learning is the real-life examples. Instead of a teacher bringing in a fern or a picture of one, kids will see one outside and be more inclined to learn about it since they found it on their own. Outdoor education leads to a lot of learning-on-the-go moments. As Cameron (Akeela) told me in response to the common assumption that outdoor school is just for kids who can’t sit still or are very active: “we are for just about everyone.” Outdoor programs are also great for increasing fine motor skills and occupational therapy. Some kids just need extra work on tactile movements and coordination. The earth can teach them that, through climbing trees and making

mud pies and flipping logs and building forts. A lot of the time natural instincts will help them improve those skills as well as emotional skills like confidence.

Coming into an outdoor program, a lot of kids learn and leave with a more confident stance, as having so much independent-led learning and freedom for self-regulated play leads to them trusting their instincts more. Teacher Akeela (Cameron) also talked about how she had a student playing in a tree and asking about leaves and why there weren’t any.

This was a perfect opportunity to learn about the season cycle and when leaves do appear: natural curiosity leading to a learning moment. Often kids want to learn more when it's their own choice.

I got to ask some of the kids at Barefeet Farm School what their favorite part of outdoor school was and here’s a sampling of what they had to say: “climbing, nature, flowers, birdies, the forest, the horses.”

(The school has a horse that roams close-by.) The kids’ favorite part of school is just being outside and constantly getting to enjoy what mother nature has to offer.

When the kids love their environment they can thrive and learn from it. Often they don’t even know they are learning by asking these questions.

Outdoor learning is becoming a vital part of the education system because it is so versatile and customizable to the kids’ needs. These programs truly are for every child, from the energetic ones to the quiet and shy ones. Learning and growing are unavoidable outside, with their natural curiosity leading the way and the teachers there to guide them. Jolly talks about how her program is working to “reduce barriers and get more people outside and learn[ing] outdoor safety.”

Striving to get kids and their parents outside, outdoor education is a great alternative to traditional teaching. Having nature as the third teacher can help your kid grow both psychologically and physically— outdoor students are constantly improving coordination, regulation, fine motor skills, confidence, and independence. So if you're looking for an alternative to traditional learning, whether traditional isn't working for your family or you just want to get your kid outside more, check out your local outdoor programs! t Welcome Newcomers Guide 2025 49

Expert care in your hometown Caring for friends and neighbors is an honor.

Carter Kiesau, MD Orthopedic Surgeon PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center

peacehealth.org/expert-care

Health

Welcome Newcomers Guide 2025

51

Health

W

Healthcare HATCOM COUNTY’S HEALTHCARE

system is excellent, so you’re sure to find a provider that’s right for your individual needs.

Healthcare is also one of the largest industries in Whatcom County, and Bellingham’s hospital, PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center, is the area’s top employer. In 2022, the hospital was awarded an “A” rating in a patient safety assessment by the Leapfrog Group.

Whether you’re looking for a family practitioner, a naturopath, or more specialized care, you’ll find that there’s a wealth of services available for everyone.

PeaceHealth St. Joseph Cancer Center offers interdisciplinary and compassionate care to cancer patients. Whatcom County also has plenty of providers specializing in mental health, as well as several addiction treatment centers. Moreover, resources like the Chuckanut Health Foundation invest experience and resources into advancing community health.

Hospitals PeaceHealth St. Joseph Hospital 2901 Squalicum Pkwy., Bellingham 360.734.5400

Medical Clinics & Services BELLINGHAM

IVitality

Whatcom County Pregnancy Clinic

1201 13th St., Ste. 103, 360.788.5173

1310 N. State St., 360.671.9057

Mt. Baker Planned Parenthood 1530 Ellis St., 877.714.1149

EVERSON, SUMAS

Mt. Shuksan Family Medicine & Dermatology

Nooksack Tribal Clinic

2101 Cornwall Ave., Ste. 101, 360.647.1900

Sea Mar Everson Medical Clinic

NorthStar Medical Specialists

2510 Sulwhanon Dr., Everson, 360.966.2106 6884 Hannegan Rd., Everson, 360.354.0766

1345 King St., 360.676.1696

Bellingham Asthma & Allergy

Northwest Walk-In Health Clinic

FERNDALE

3015 Squalicum Pkwy., Ste. 180 360.733.5733

2220 Cornwall Ave., 360.734.2330

Ferndale Family Medical Center

Bellingham Health

PeaceHealth Cascade Brain & Spine Center

1050 Larrabee Ave., Ste. 204, 360.756.9793

710 Birchwood Ave., 360.788.6870

Care Medical Group

PeaceHealth Same-Day Clinic at Cordata Main

4043 Northwest Ave., 360.734.4300

Cedar Male Medical 1100 Larrabee Ave., Ste. 100, 360.255.5355

Family Care Network, Bellingham Bay Family Medicine 722 N. State St., 360.752.2865

Family Care Network, Family Health Associates 3500 Orchard Pl., 360.671.3900

Family Care Network, North Sound Family Medicine 2075 Barkley Blvd., Ste. 105, 360.671.3345

Lummi Tribal Health Center 2592 Kwina Rd., 360.384.0464

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4545 Cordata Pkwy., Ste. 1A, 360.788.8180

PeaceHealth Same-Day Care at Fairhaven Plaza

5580 Nordic Way, 360.384.1511

Unity Care NW 6060 Portal Way, 360.676.6177

LYNDEN Dickson Medical Clinic 500 Front St., 360.354.4200

3125 Old Fairhaven Pkwy., Ste. 106 360.788.8388

Lynden Family Medicine

PeaceHealth Same-Day Clinic at Medical Office Plaza

PeaceHealth Orthopedics & Sports Medicine

3015 Squalicum Pkwy., Ste. 140 360.788.8420

8844 Benson Rd., 360.733.2092

Sea Mar Community Health Center 4455 Cordata Pkwy., 360.671.3225

Unity Care NW 220 Unity St., 360.676.6177

1610 Grover St., Ste. D1, 360.354.1333

Urgent Care Facilities BELLINGHAM Care Medical Group 4043 Northwest Ave., 360.734.4300

Family Care Network Urgent Care 3130 Squalicum Pkwy., 360.671.4509

Super Track Urgent Care 1050 Lakeway Dr., 360.746.6531

LYNDEN Family Care Network Urgent Care - Lynden 1610 Grover St., Ste. D1, 360.354.4567

POINT ROBERTS Super Track, Point Roberts Clinic 2030 Benson Rd., 360.945.2580

Naturopathic Clinics BELLINGHAM Bellingham Natural Family Medicine

Fairhaven Integrative Health

Clarity Mental Health & Recovery

1200 Old Fairhaven Pkwy., Ste. 305 360.676.1285

1155 N. State St., Ste. 522, Bellingham 360.676.4458

Halleck Holistic Health

Ideal Option Bellingham

208 Halleck St., Ste. 101, 360.325.8976

3800 Byron Ave., Ste. 122, Bellingham 360.227.6244

Natural Health Clinic 2219 Rimland Dr., Ste. 201, 360.734.1560

MGA Crisis Intervention

Northwest Life Medicine Clinic

3628 Meridian St., Ste. 139, Bellingham 360.200.5658

851 Coho Way, Ste. 202, 360.746.6923

Nooksack Tribes Genesis II

Pacific Center for Naturopathic Medicine

2505 Sulwhanon Dr., Everson 360.398.6399

3031 Orleans St., Ste. 101, 360.734.0045

Sea Mar Visions Youth Treatment Center

Resilience Health & Wellness 1903 D St., 360.922.8692

1603 E. Illinois St., Bellingham 360.647.4266

FERNDALE London Health Center 2376 Main St., Ferndale 360.384.2900

Cancer Treatment Centers

Addiction Treatment Centers

PeaceHealth St. Joseph Cancer Center

Bridges Treatment and Recovery

1810 Broadway St., 360.738.7654

1221 Fraser St., Ste. E-1, Bellingham 360.714.8180

Bellingham Naturopathic Clinic

Bridges Treatment and Recovery

1313 E. Maple St., Ste. 102, 360.738.3230

6044 Portal Way, Ste. 103, Ferndale 360.393.4218

3301 Squalicum Pkwy., Bellingham 360.788.8222

North Cascade Cancer Center 381 W. Horton Rd., Bellingham 360.370.2873

Welcome Newcomers Guide 2025

53

Health

The Best Spas for a Little ‘You Time’ Photo courtesy of Little Oasis Wellness Spa

WRITTEN BY ANNE GODENHAM

Photo by Sarah Hardy Photography

W

E ALL NEED a little self-care

Anti-aging

to get through the year, and what better way to unwind than by taking some time out at a spa?

The mellow lighting, fluffy robes, and relaxing music will begin to calm your nervous system as soon as you step inside, and the treatment will take it from there.

We’ve rounded up a handful of the best spas Whatcom County has to offer— from massages to facials and everything in between, you can find it here. Treat yourself to a treatment or two!

Massage & Body Wrap Is there anything more relaxing than having your stresses literally worked out of your body by strong, able hands (and maybe an elbow here or there) while lavender essential oils tickle your nose and whale songs play over the stereo? In Fairhaven, The Spa at the Chrysalis Inn Bellingham offers more than 10 types of massage, as well as couples massages and a host of specialty add-ons to enhance your experience. If you’re looking for a fewerfrills, just-the-muscle-work option, try Northwest Academy for the Healing Arts in downtown Bellingham, where a supervised student will perform an hourlong massage for just $45.

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Photo courtesy of Apothecary Spa

Photo courtesy of Little Oasis Wellness Spa

Look, aging is a privilege, but that doesn’t mean we don’t sometimes want a little perking up of the face we look at every day in the mirror. Why not bundle relaxation with a visual boost?

Bellingham’s Crosier Skincare offers a handful of services to make your skin look its best at any age, and if you’re looking for something a bit more intense than a facial, try a medspa— RejuvenationMD in Bellingham offers a range of outpatient anti-aging procedures, from injectables to microneedling.

Float Therapy Float therapy offers the kind of sensory deprivation we can only dream of during the busy holiday months.

Supported by body-temperature water filled with 1,200 pounds of Epsom salt, in total darkness with your ears filled only with the sounds of your own movement in the water, you’ll be weightless and free of distraction. Still Life Massage and Float, in Bellingham, promises that their float sessions will leave skin silky, not wrinkly, and can lead to improvements in mental health, sleep, and even athleticism.

Infrared Sauna The Finnish (and many of their neighbors) have been preaching the benefits of sauna for generations: the heat relaxes muscles, improves circulation, reduces blood pressure, and may even delay the effects of age.

But you don’t have to sit in a wooden box and breathe hot air if you find that uncomfortable— infrared saunas enable the heat to penetrate more easily, providing the same benefits of traditional saunas in a less oppressive atmosphere. In addition to their massage and spa services, Little Oasis Wellness Spa, in Bellingham, offers infrared sauna sessions—including longer sessions for return sauna-ers who’ve built up enough of a tolerance for the heat.

Packages If you’re celebrating something special or just taking a whole day for yourself (you deserve it, after all), many of these spas offer multitreatment packages to help you relax and beautify from head to toe. Flow Motion in Ferndale has a three-hour Spa Pass that includes access to their famous Himalayan salt cave, infrared salt sauna, amethyst cave, and zero gravity massage chairs. The Spa at the Chrysalis Inn Bellingham has four preset packages to choose from, or you can create your own package by combining three or more one-hour services on the same day—you’ll get a 10% discount, plus access to the steam room and relaxation lounge.

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Fairhaven Barkley Bakerview Lynden Ferndale Blaine Birch Bay Bothell

• Orthopedics • Work Injuries • Hand Therapy • Sports Injuries • Auto Injuries • Post Surgical • Pelvic Health

Memberships One trip just not enough? Why not indulge in a membership! At Blessings Salon Spa, in Fairhaven, a monthly membership gets you access to their dry sauna, steam room, and fireplace lounge, as well as either one or two discounted treatments each month (depending on which package you choose). t

Thank you for voting us Best of the NW in 2017-2024!

360-354-1115 www.capstonept.com

Welcome Newcomers Guide 2025

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FACES

OF THE NORTHSOUND

THE FACE OF

DENTAL CARE Ferndale Family Dental 360.384.3440 ferndalefamilydental.com

Working together and serving others is our passion. We just so happen to do it through dentistry. At the heart of Ferndale Family Dental is the mission to deliver total health dentistry: care based on prevention and whole-body health and wellness. We believe that optimal health is best achieved by partnering with our patients to determine the best preventive, therapeutic, and esthetic treatment options available. Our approach to dentistry is not a “one size fits all.” A smile is as unique as the person who wears it. It’s not just about a smile; it’s about your smile…for life! Come join our family and let us be your dental home today!

Health & Medical Profiles

Bellingham Fitness

Bellingham’s Premier Fitness Club Try a complimentary day pass!

Must be a 1st time visitor, 18+ and live or work in Whatcom County.

Winner of Best of NW

BEST

NORTH

NORTH

of the

WEST GOLD

of the

1730 N. State Street Bellingham, WA 98225 360.733.1600 bellinghamfitness.com

2024

BEST

2024

Best Gym Best Trainers Several years in a row.

WEST SILVER

Northwest Gastroenterology & Endoscopy Providing comprehensive digestive healthcare

What We Do At Northwest Gastroenterology and Endoscopy, we provide cutting edge, expert care in screening, prevention and management of diseases of the digestive tract. Some of the most common illnesses we treat are irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Barrett’s esophagus, celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and chronic liver disease.

The Vital Role of Colonoscopy in Colorectal Cancer Screening When detected early, colorectal cancer is one of the most preventable and treatable cancers. The cornerstone of early detection is colonoscopy. Screening guidelines recommend that individuals at average risk should begin colonoscopy screenings at the age of 45. Earlier screening is suggested if there are risk factors.

Your gastroenterologist will help determine the appropriate timing for your screenings based on your personal and family history.

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What About Stool-based Tests for Colon Cancer Screening?

Generally, we do not recommend them, as we do not feel they are an adequate means of PREVENTING colon cancer. They are significantly less effective at detecting high-risk colon polyps, less cost effective, and have a high false positive rate which can lead to unwarranted anxiety as patients await further evaluation. Despite these advancements in stool and blood screening modalities, Colonoscopy remains the gold standard (best test) for colon cancer detection and prevention.

Why Choose Us? Northwest Gastroenterology was founded in 1979 and is the largest gastroenterology group in Whatcom County, with 10 physicians and 3 advanced practitioners (ARNP, PA-C). We offer in-person clinic visits, telehealth appointments, a physician managed infusion suite and an efficient private endoscopy center, all located at our new state-of-the-art facility in Barkley Village. Our staff of over 100 people are fully dedicated to ensuring your digestive health.

Northwest Gastroenterology & Endoscopy New address: 3111 Woburn St., Bellingham 360.734.1420, nwgastroendo.com

Welcome Newcomers Guide 2025 57 2025 57

Health & Medical Profiles

Fit Evo Bellingham Fit Evo is not your typical fitness center. Owner Steve Avila and general manager Jerad Crawford have worked hard to create a community that provides their members with all of the tools they need to achieve their fitness goals. That is why they have been voted “Best Fitness Center” and “Best Personal Trainer” in the Best of the Northwest voting two years in a row.

Here are some of the amenities you can find at Fit Evo. • Weights & Equipment - Enjoy all of the equipment on our spacious, well-organized gym floor. From Squat Racks and Bench Presses to isolation machines to hit all of the muscle groups. We also have plenty of room for stretching and functional training. All of your fitness wants and needs can be met with what we have to offer.

• Fit Evo App - All of your fitness needs in an easy to use app on your phone. Track your steps and heart-rate during your workout, find and create meal plans, book a class, or work with a personal trainer, all from the app! The app even helps you build your own custom workout plan.

• Group X Classes - Fit Evo offers a variety of fitness classes with our certified instructors.

Classes include:

• Cardio Deck and Cinema - Fit Evo offers two cardio sections, the cardio deck and Cinema.

Yes, we have a movie theater in the GYM, with new movies and series streaming daily.

Choose between exercise bikes, treadmills, ellipticals, stair machines and more.

• Kids Club - In house childcare! Safe, professional, highly-trained childcare staff who love working with children. We offer accommodations for all age groups from 3 months to 12 year olds. Strict deep cleaning and sanitization procedures 3 times a day to ensure the health and safety of all children.

Open 8am - 1pm daily and 4pm to 7:30

• Midtown Barbershop - Stay fresh and looking sharp with our own in house barber Midtown Barbershop. Aminah Ladybarber (@ aminahladybarber) back to back “Best of the NW” winner, offers classic cuts with a modern twist. Book online at midtownbarber.booksy.com • Personal Trainers - Craft a customized program to fit Your needs with a Fit Evo Personal Trainer! No matter your fitness level, one of our personal trainers can build a workout plan that fits your lifestyle, and guide you to your fitness goals!

• Sauna and Tanning Beds - Both locker rooms are equipped with a dry sauna. Fit Evo offers stand up and lay down tanning beds to keep you bronzed and glowing year round.

The only way to truly appreciate all of what Fit Evo has to offer is to see it in person. We would love to have you come by Fit Evo and try our facilities. Stop in and speak to our staff or visit bellinghamevo.com to learn all about our award winning facility.

BEST of the

2024

- Group Power - HIIT (Hight Intensity Interval Training) - TRX - Gentle Flow Yoga - Pop Pilates - Zumba - Booty, Core, and MORE

Monday through Friday.

• Smoothie Bar - Need a boost? Fit Evo’s Smoothie Bar has the performance enhancing snacks and smoothies you need. Chocolate Peanut Butter, Tropical Sunrise, Cookies and Creme, or build your own protein package smoothie. Great for gym goers on the move. We also have a variety of energy and hydration drinks.

NORTH

WEST GOLD

1504 Iowa St Bellingham WA 98229 360.617.4653 bellinghamevo.com Hours: Mon–Thur 4:00am–12:00am Friday: 4:00am–11:00pm Sat–Sun: 6:00am–11:00pm

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Health & Medical Profiles

Restore Hyper Wellness The nation’s leading wellness brand that offers a range of innovative, science-backed therapies designed to help people feel better, perform better, and live healthier lives.

With locations across the U.S., Restore provides accessible and affordable services for recovery, performance optimization, and proactive health management. While you don’t have to be a member of Restore, members do get better pricing and access to over 200+ studios nationwide.

Our Clients Restore’s customizable services can meet the needs of various lifestyles and health goals, making it a versatile solution for overall well-being.

• Athletes • Seniors • Skin Health • Wellness Seekers • Chronic Pain • Immunity Issues • Busy Parents • Injury Recovery • Proactive Health

IM (Intramuscular) Shots These time-saving injections deliver similar benefits to our IV Drips in a fraction of the time.

Red Light Therapy Harnessing the power of red and nearinfrared light can help maintain the appearance of skin clarity, relieve minor pain, and promote healing.

Infrared Sauna

Our Services

Relax in a warm, restorative environment that can improve cardiovascular health and detoxify the body.

Whole Body Cryotherapy

Compression

sub-zero temperatures can help the body reduce inflammation, boost circulation, and accelerate recovery. Unlike other machines, step into the WHOLE body chamber. Tip to tail: it’s going to get cold. Like a cold plunge without the wet! Bring a friend to freeze in the two-person chamber.

Controlled pressure applied to the extremities can help improve lymphatic circulation and blood flow. Like a massage!

Local Cryotherapy Targeted cold treatment, using sub-zero air to “freeze” a specific area of pain. Like an ice pack on steroids!

IV Drip Therapy Help the body replenish essential vitamins, minerals, and hydration for energy, immunity, and mental clarity. Ask about NAD+ IV Therapy!

Mild Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Increased oxygen levels can help optimize sleep, speed up athletic recovery, repair muscle damage, and boost brain clarity.

Skin Health Reduce the appearance of wrinkles or achieve a slimmer, more toned appearance with Neveskin® or experience deep hydration and more with our HydraFacial® services.

Across the street from Trader Joe’s with our own parking lot!

2411 James St, Bellingham, WA 360.393.6399, restore.com

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Welcome Newcomers Guide 2025 59 2025 59

Health & Medical Profiles

Mount Baker Vision Clinic We live in a world that is visually vibrant, dynamic, and demanding. Safeguarding the health of our eyes and the quality of our vision is essential as we experience the wonders of life. Mount Baker Vision Clinic is dedicated to helping our patients maintain a lifetime of good vision in a professional, comfortable, and caring environment. It has been our honor to serve the people of Whatcom County since 1951. With our three convenient locations in Bellingham, Lynden, and now Ferndale, we are ready to provide you with top-of-the-line eye care.

The health care providers at Mount Baker Vision Clinic utilize cutting edge technology and diagnostic techniques to provide fullscope eye care for the entire family. We offer a wide variety of services:

Comprehensive Eye Care • Pediatric Eye Care • Family Eye Care • Senior Eye Care

Emergency Eye Care: • Eye Injuries

• Acute Eye Infection or Inflammation • Ocular Foreign Body Removal • Sudden Vision Change or Vision Loss

Medical Eye Services: • • • • • •

Dr. Hannah Joyner

Dr. Brian Koning

Dr. Steven Koning

Passionate, empathetic, and detail-oriented, optometrist Dr. Hannah Joyner is devoted to providing quality patient care with clear communication.

Positive, open, and full of enthusiasm, optometrist Dr. Brian Koning has a zest for adventure and an easygoing manner that is a joy to his patients.

Kind, thoughtful, and even-mannered, optometrist Dr. Steven Koning is considerate, helpful, and shows a warm concern for others.

Diabetic Eye Examinations Age-Related Macular Degeneration Glaucoma Cataracts Corneal Eye Disease and Dry Eye Pre- and Post-Surgical Eye Care

Specialty Contact Lens Services: • • • • • •

Soft Contacts Rigid Gas Permeable Contacts Scleral Contacts Orthokeratology Hybrid Contacts MBVC is now Northwest Washington’s exclusive fitting center for the new posEYEdon scleral contact lens. If you find yourself struggling with contacts or seek to enhance your viewing experience, ask us about how this completely customized and innovative lens can optimize your vision.

As a locally owned clinic, we understand the importance of community and are so proud to call Whatcom County home.

We love taking care of our neighbors and friends. Our friendly front desk staff members, prompt medical technicians, and savvy opticians are here to make you feel at ease every step of the way. Thank you for letting us serve you.

Dr. Jeff Ness

Dr. Sepideh Sabet

Enthusiastic, caring, and dedicated, optometrist Dr. Jeff Ness has a passion for learning and has taken an active role in mentoring the next generation of eyecare professionals.

Calm, compassionate, and deeply caring, Dr. Sabet is passionate about ensuring every patient feels heard, valued, and well-cared for.

Mount Baker Vision Clinic 720 Birchwood Ave., Bellingham, 360.733.1720 1610 Grover St., Ste. A3, Lynden, 360.354.7933 1887 Main Street Ste 101, Ferndale, 360.255.0555 mtbakervision.com

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Health & Medical Profiles

Flow Motion Voted Best Spa & Yoga Studio of the Northwest, Flow Motion is unlike any other. Their co-ed healing sanctuary combines ancient practices with modern therapies to address today’s challenges.

The spa offers unparalleled rejuvenation in spaces like the infrared salt sauna known for reducing inflammation, the Himalayan salt cave for improving skin and respiratory health, and the amethyst crystal cave - all designed to boost immunity and support your nervous system. For deeper relief, explore their therapeutic services, including hypnosis, sound healing journeys, and massage therapy.

Their yoga sanctuary offers a variety of classes tailored to your needs, whether you’re seeking gentle stretches to improve mobility or energizing flows to strengthen your body. Their yoga, infrared hot yoga, and aerial yoga supports your wellness journey.

Whether you’re managing chronic pain, battling burnout, or simply need time to recharge, Flow Motion provides tools for healing and balance. Explore their Spa Pass and packages to discover how small moments can create lasting transformation.

1920 Main St #19, Ferndale www.MoveInFlowMotion.com 360.393.8829

Care Medical Group Physical Therapy We will work with you to understand your unique circumstances, perform a comprehensive exam, and design a personalized treatment program that meets your goals.

Occupational Medicine

Primary Care

Urgent Care

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Welcome Newcomers Guide 2025 61 2025 61

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Life W

HETHER YOU’RE HERE for a year or

forever, there’s plenty to love about life in Whatcom County. Our arts scene, remote work friendliness, and access to the great outdoors are all reasons to love living here! Especially notable are our small breweries, vibrant downtowns, and passionate small businesses.

In other words, there are tons of perks to life in Bellingham and Whatcom County as a whole. Our quality of life is high, plus it’s virtually impossible to run out of things to see and do. From annual events to unique local businesses and endless miles of trails to traverse, there’s always something new and exciting to add to your agenda.

From January through December, Whatcom County has something to offer residents of all ages, interests, and activity levels. Don’t know where to start? We have a few suggestions for how to experience the very best of this Pacific Northwestern haven. Welcome to your new home—we’re happy to have you here.

Photo by Dani Winters Photography

Feature

15 Ways to Fall in Love With Where You Live

Welcome Newcomers Guide 2024 63

Life 15 Ways to Fall in Love With Where You Live

15 Ways

Photo by Dean Davidson

to Fall in Love With Where You

Live

WRITTEN BY ANNE GODENHAM AND KRISTEN BOEHM

L

OVE IS A verb! You’ve gotta do it every day, or the

feeling can be subsumed by the daily distractions of life.

And that’s true not just of relationships, but also of the great love of so many of our lives: Whatcom County.

It’s all too easy to take this wonderful region for granted, especially when we forget to make the most of everything that Whatcom has to offer. That’s what we’re here for, to remind you of your true love and give you some ideas of ways to revitalize your relationship with where we live!

1

Enjoy our Agri-“Culture”

Washington state has over 13 million acres of farmland, according to the Washington State Department of Commerce. We’re among the top berry producers in the country, and almost 90% of our 30,000-plus farms are classified as small. Connect with your friends and neighbors and learn to appreciate our natural resources via our agricultural core!

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• The Whatcom Farm Expo is an annual info fair, free to attend and chock-full of resources for everybody. It’s perfect, whether you’re interested in backyard chickens or want to network about tractors—or just want to learn more about our farming culture.

• Our land provides food, medicine, crafting materials, and more. Washington Food and Farm Finder from Eat Local First is a fantastic tool for finding all sorts of fresh and locally grown products.

Cloud Mountain Farm Center is an educational farm that offers various workshops and events.

• Every summer, Northwest Washington is bursting with juicy berries and festivals celebrating them! Lynden’s Northwest Raspberry Festival and tons of local u-pick farms are eager to share the bounty with you.

2

‘Try on’ Something Different

The local style starts at PNW-practical, then expands outward in all sorts of directions. Influences range from cool college kids, alternative artistic expression, outdoor enthusiasts, farm-ready threads, island life, indigenous culture, and more.

• There’s so much shopping in Bellingham!

Downtown, check out Third Planet Boutique for colorful and comfy picks, or Brazen Shop + Studio for artisan goods and an eclectic vintage clothing selection.

Fairhaven’s Three French Hens and Quinn + Foster are excellent destinations for elevated classics.

• We’d be remiss not to boast about our astounding local jewelry artisans. Copper Canoe Woman is a contemporary Indigenous jewelry brand, founded by Vina Brown and based out of Lummi. PHIA Handmade is the home of Heimy Gonzalez’s intricately handmade beadwork jewelry, plus a selection of seasonal fashions and Colombian Wayuu bags.

Photo by Sara Welch

3

Photo by Dani Winters Photography

Commune With Nature

Now this one’s a no-brainer! Washington state is known around the globe for its connection to and appreciation of the nature around us. We have three national parks (Olympic National Park, Mount Rainier National Park, and North Cascades National Park), thousands of mountains, the famous San Juan Islands archipelago, miles and miles of valley, river, and coastline, not to mention forests, wetlands, ocean, and our very own inland Salish Sea. Our climate ranges from hot and dry to cold and wet, and our surroundings support a dense and diverse range of flora and fauna. There’s so much to learn, see, explore, and experience, how could you not fall in love?

• You know Washington summers are all about those lake days!

Lake Whatcom is big enough for all of us, so we’ll see you at Bloedel Donovan Park. Lake Padden Park is the perfect place for a picnic, an easy trail walk, or some pick-up games on its sports courts. For a slightly more secluded lake, head up to Fragrance Lake off Chuckanut Drive.

• A local pastime for all ages and activity levels, foraging for wildgrown foods and herbs is one of the most nature-connected hobbies you can have—if you’re doing it well. Start by learning how to be a good

Welcome Newcomers Guide 2025 65

Life 15 Ways to Fall in Love With Where You Live steward of the land! Local outdoor educators like Northwest Natura and Firecraft Northwest can teach you the dos and don’ts, and how to identify something tasty from less savory imposters. Once you’ve got that under your belt, get started by hunting for mushrooms and blackberries from spring to fall.

The mushrooms in particular are popular. We grow all sorts of tasty fungi, from common turkey tails to coveted morels (just be super careful to identify them correctly before ingesting!).

• If you can learn about our salmon, orcas, and our interconnected waterways without falling in love, we’d be really surprised. Find salmon runs and learn all about their ecology through the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association, clean up some litter with Salish Sea Conservation, and get involved with the Sacred Lands Conservancy, a.k.a. Sacred Sea, to fight for the rights of our resident orcas.

4

Photo by Dani Winters Photography

Pamper Yourself

Where you live can play a big role in loving yourself and feeling good in your body. Our area is big on holistic and sustainable beauty, often with a focus on local ingredients and an integrated mind-body approach.

• You don’t have to book a treatment to treat yourself right! Visit MW Soapworks in downtown Bellingham to shop handcrafted soaps and selfcare. Skin Rhythm Spa deals in deeply nourishing and moisturizing products, and Fern & Fog Apothecary will help you feel good inside and out with skincare, teas, and tinctures.

• When you do feel like being taken care of, there’s no shortage of luxurious experiences waiting for you. Kara’s Beauty Barn offers a wide variety of spa and beauty treatments in a rustic, peaceful setting (with some treatments even taking place in the open air). Still Life Massage and Float offers classic spa treatments and sensory-resetting floats. Little Oasis Wellness Spa focuses on bodywork and facials to improve your physical and mental health. And Zazen Salon Spa and Salon Bellissima can help you look your best with hair salon services.

• We’re lucky to live in an area that’s conscious of the environmental impact of selfcare. To find good-for-you products in bulk and sustainable packaging, all you have to do is visit the Community Food Co-op or a refill store like Living Pantry (which has locations in Blaine and Bellingham).

Photo by Bella Coronado

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5

Have a Foodie-Worthy Restaurant Experience

Some of the best food in Whatcom is a love letter to the county’s bounty: fresh produce from our farms, oysters and salmon from our fresh- and saltwater resources, grass-fed cattle from the green fields of Everson…we are truly blessed, and our local chefs know it. If it’s been a while since you’ve eaten out or tried a new restaurant, let this be a reminder to get out there!

• One of the best ways to experience a range of dishes at a time is with a food tour. While we may not have as many official tour companies as a bigger area like Seattle, it’s easier than you might think to do your own self-guided tour! Eat Local Month partners with great area restaurants to put on a Restaurant Week in September, where chefs create special menu items to celebrate our local resources.

• Is there anywhere more classic for a date night than a great restaurant? There are way too many awesome spots to list them all here, but some of our recent date night go-tos in Bellingham are Bar Cicotti, Rock and Rye Oyster House, and The Admiralty Lounge. Farther north, we love Smokestack Diner in Everson and Drayton Harbor Oyster Company in Blaine.

• Going beyond a date night to celebrate something special? We tend to specialize in ‘delicious casual’ around here, but when we do fancy, you can bet it’s done right.

In Ferndale, Leader Block Trattoria & Bar is the go-to spot for excellent Italian food, and Bellingham’s Bantam Kitchen & Bar makes fried chicken so good you might actually weep.

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Go Wine Tasting No need to go all the way to the Willamette Valley to taste great PNW wines—we have some wonderful wineries and tasting rooms right here in Whatcom County!

• While our area may not have a high saturation of vineyards and tasting rooms, there are more than you might think—and what we lack in quantity we make up for with quality. Whatcom County boasts some wonderful wineries that use grapes grown on their own land (the results are known as ‘estate wines’).

• Samson Estates Winery in Everson offers tastings onsite at their vineyard, either indoors or out on the patio overlooking the grounds. Vartanyan Estate Winery’s lovely blue-siding-clad tasting room in Bellingham offers pours of their boutique wines, produced according to Margarita Vartanyan’s family secrets of the trade. And while new kid on the block Lagom Vineyards is still working on getting their onsite tasting room up and running, you can order their wines for local pickup or rent out the property for events on a limited basis.

Drink in the View What’s better than a delicious cocktail (or mocktail) after a long day of work or play? A delicious drink with a stunning water view! Here in northwest Washington, we’re spoiled for choice when it comes to views, but nothing beats watching the water lap at the shore while you sip.

• In Fairhaven, you can get sweeping bay views at The Black Cat, which serves up classic food and drinks with a twist. Or stop by Evolve Chocolate + Cafe, on the top floor of Village Books, for a London Fog with a clear-sky view. In downtown Bellingham, the best panoramic view is undoubtedly to be found at Chuckanut Bay Distillery’s new rooftop bar, but Bellingham Cider Co. also has a lovely back patio with stunning sightlines.

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Life 15 Ways to Fall in Love With Where You Live

8

Be a Fiend for the Beans

If there’s one thing we in the Pacific Northwest love drinking as much as beer, it’s coffee. We can be extremely picky about everything from the beans and the roasting process to which alternative milk we prefer in it.

Luckily for us, we have an almost infinite number of options, from hip, remote-work-friendly coffee shops to cute drivethrough huts.

Photo courtesy of Camber Coffee

9

Learn Something New

It’s never too late to learn something new, and our region has a ton of options for those of us who are passionate about lifelong learning. Whether you’re interested in speaking Japanese, crafting something beautiful, or making your own cheese, there’s a class for that!

• Our local higher education institutions, including Whatcom Community College and Western Washington University, offer a range of continuing education classes in everything from art to social media marketing, and there are a number of private instruction centers to check out too.

• If you’ve ever wanted to kindle (or rekindle) your connection to visual art, Whatcom is a fantastic place to do so. We’re big on art here, likely inspired by all the natural beauty that surrounds us. Check out the rotating classes at Jansen Art Center in Lynden and Make.Shift Art Space in downtown Bellingham.

• For burgeoning chefs, the Community Food Co-op in Bellingham offers a wonderful selection of cooking classes— some are even taught by the head chefs of local restaurants.

10

• Bellinghamsters are absolutely spoiled for choice when it comes to coffee shops: Camber Coffee, Makeworth Coffee Roasters, and Narrative Coffee serve up delicious coffee with a side of serious style, while cafes like Lettered Streets Coffeehouse and 11th Hour Tea and Coffee Bar bring the cozy vibes. And that’s just to name a few!

• Headed somewhere and need your coffee quickly?

Pull on through to the window at Brewed Awakening or Zoom Zoom in Bellingham, both of which serve great bites with their brews.

• If you like your coffee like we like our cocktails, with a view, check out The Railway Cafe in Blaine. It’s right by the harbor and the coffee and food have been earning rave reviews since it opened.

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Move Your Body

We’re an active bunch up here in the top left corner of the U.S.—whether it’s gym time or social hikes, we’re usually finding joyful ways to move our bodies, especially if it involves being outside or connecting with ourselves.

• Of course we love yoga! There are fantastic classes of all intensities and forms at studios in our area. For something mellow like Yin, Iyengar, Hatha, or even chair yoga, try Inspire Studio in Bellingham or Whatcom Lotus Yoga in Ferndale. Bellingham has the highest concentration of yoga studios in the county, many of which offer hot and/or Vinyasa flow yoga classes; check out Flux Power Yoga, Elements Hot Yoga, and Bellingham Yoga Collective—there’s also a Lynden Yoga Collective.

• Is there any movement more naturally joyful than dance? Whether you want to tap out a ditty or learn to twerk, options abound. Bellinghamsters can get a rhythm at Unique Technique Dance Studio, Opus Performing Arts, or The Dance Studio. There’s also Dancing for Joy, with campuses in both Bellingham and Lynden, and Dayto-Day Dance up in Blaine.

• The area is full of friendly hiking and biking groups for people of all ages and abilities—check out Facebook and MeetUp for ad hoc or smaller groups. If you’ve always wanted to try mountain biking but haven’t felt comfortable striking out on your own, Bellingham-based instructional organizations March Northwest, Intrinsic Flow, and Radical Roots MTB will teach you everything you need to know to ride the mountain safely and skillfully.

11

Photo Courtesy of Triad River Tours

Take a Day or Weekend Trip

Traveling is one of the surefire ways to make you realize how much you love home.

Beyond our backyards, but still just hours away, are thriving metropolitan destinations like Seattle, Portland, and Vancouver, and because where we live is so beautiful, the journey is part of the joy!

• The Amtrak Cascades train runs between Vancouver, BC and Eugene, OR, stopping at Seattle, Portland, and a handful of smaller cities along the way. The train seats are comfortable, the conductors are friendly, and the views as it trundles along the water are unparalleled— it’s a wonderful way to travel, especially with kids.

• Speaking of views, the ferry is a wonderful way to get around and the views are almost unmatched—we say ‘almost’ because seaplanes and other small aircraft are also an option. Bellingham’s own San Juan Airlines flies regularly between Bellingham and the San Juan Islands and Point Roberts. Plus, they offer scenic tours of the islands from the air!

• Driving isn’t always the most comfortable option, but it affords you a lot of flexibility. You can pull off the freeway here and there, try a new coffee place or stop at a silly roadside attraction (world’s largest prairie dog, anyone?), and when you get where you’re going you’ve already got your transportation sorted.

12

Get Out on the Water

While looking at the water from the land is always a treat, looking at the land from the water can give you a whole new perspective on things! Here are some of our favorite ways to take advantage of Whatcom County’s stunning waters.

• There’s nothing like being right up on—or even in— the water, chilly as it may be much of the year. From Birch Bay’s annual New Years Polar Bear Plunge to wetsuit-enabled stand-up paddleboarding, many of our neighbors get out there year-round, but summer is definitely the most inviting time. Why not get out on a kayak with Dragonfly Kayak

Tours, or rent a pedal boat or stand-up paddle board from Bloedel Boat Rentals (open seasonally) at Lake Whatcom.

• Prefer to stay dry and eat something delicious while observing the beauty of the water? Why not take a lunch or dinner cruise with San Juan Cruises? Dine on cracked crab while the coastline slips by, or eat lasagne while watching the whales play in the waves.

13

Engage With the Literary Community

From local libraries to independent bookstores, we love to read! You can catch us listening to audiobooks while we kayak around Lake Padden or reading a paperback in Marine Park—but our region is also home to a ton of local authors and aspiring writers, and our literary community is thriving.

• There are so many opportunities here to discover your new favorite author. Everyone’s favorite literary hub, Village Books and Paper Dreams, not only sells published work and promotes local writers at their Fairhaven and Lynden locations, but they also host readings and open mic nights and partner with Whatcom Community College to run the Chuckanut Writers workshop series. And then there’s the organic, universe-guided way to find new faves: wandering the aisles of a great used bookstore like Henderson Books.

• For the writers among us, you can deepen your connection to your craft and meet like-minded peers at local conferences and writing retreats. The Chuckanut Writers Conference is held every June and brings authors and writing experts from all over the country to Bellingham for attendees to learn and connect.

• Local publications, publishers and other literary organizations like Chanticleer Book Reviews, Bellingham Review, Igneus Press, and Whatcom Writers and Publishers are open to local engagement! These are great ways to stay tapped into the local scene, to attend events and workshops, and to connect with other literature lovers.

Photo courtesy of Dragonfly Kayak Tours

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14

Express, Create, and Appreciate With our Arts Scene

Live music, theater, dance, 2D and 3D creations—the arts are how people express and communicate their passions. We’re absolutely steeped in creativity here! Whether you’d prefer to work in your own studio or create a group project, there’s no way you won’t feel a bit more in love after exploring your artistic side.

• Bellingham loves the performing arts! Be amazed by our talented circus folks from the Bellingham Circus Guild and troupe Cirque Cadia. Take in some live shows, or act in them yourself, with the Bellingham Theatre Guild or one of our other many performing arts groups.

• Get into our strong grunge and alternative music scenes at The Wild Buffalo, The Shakedown, and Make.Shift Art Space.

• Maybe you’d like to get your hands dirty? We have a little romance going on with ceramics—find classes and studio memberships at Burnish Clay Studio, MUD Ceramics Studio, or Baker Creek Ceramic Studio (or paint some prefab pottery at CreativiTea).

• Get all the craft and arts supplies you need at Dakota Art Store or Art & Happiness in Bellingham.

• Artist collectives like Allied Arts of Whatcom County bring our artists together! They run galleries, art shows, markets, and events like the Holiday Festival of the Arts and NW Art Beat Studio Tour.

• The Noisy Waters Mural Festival, run by local arts organization Paper Whale, is a community-uniting event that everyone can join in on, and we adore visiting the Jansen Art Center for their galleries, classes, talks, and performances.

Photo by Dani Winters Photography

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15

Nourish our Cultural Roots

To truly appreciate living where we do, we have to know our past, cherish our ways of life, and build our future together.

• Whatcom County is the ancestral home of the Coast Salish peoples, including Lummi, Nooksack, Samish, and Semiahmoo groups. If you don’t already, get to know our Indigenous culture and living history! Children of the Setting Sun Productions is a local organization that creates documentaries, podcasts, and other projects telling Indigenous stories. In Bellingham, everyone can attend the Coast Salish Day celebration in May. It comes at the end of the annual Gathering of the Eagles mini canoe paddle through the Salish Sea, organized by local Sul ka dub Freddie Lane.

• For those that love to learn through observation, the Whatcom Museum aims to serve as “a regional destination for cultural experiences rooted in art, nature, and northwest history.”

• We have a few culture-focused festivals and events. It’s always good to check with Western Washington University to see if they’ve got any events planned! The Whatcom Cultural Arts Festival encourages folks to share food, art, and stories from their cultures. Annual celebrations and commemorative dates like Pride, Juneteenth, and Indigenous Peoples’ Day have events throughout the counties, so there’s probably one near you! t

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ENVIRONMENT

Life Places of Worship

Places of Worship

W

HATCOM COUNTY WELCOMES people from

all walks of life, and this inclusivity also applies to religion. According to data from Sperling’s BestPlaces, nearly 30% of Whatcom residents describe themselves as religious. While a majority identify as Christian, there are a wide variety of communities under that umbrella: 7% of residents are Catholic, 4% are Presbyterian, and 2% are Lutheran. There are also small communities of Baptists, Episcopalians, Methodists, Pentecostals, and other denominations.

Roughly 1% of Whatcom County residents practice Judaism, Islam, and Eastern religions, and the county also offers resources and services for these faiths. Jewish residents can attend services at the Congregation Beth Israel or get involved at Rohr Center for Jewish Life. Muslim residents can find their community at the Islamic Society of Whatcom County, and Bellingham’s Sikh temple, Gurdwara Guru Nanak Parkash, also serves an active congregation.

Whatever your faith or background, there are communities and places of worship in Whatcom County that are ready to welcome you.

Bellingham

Faith Lutheran Church

Bellingham Bible Chapel

First Christian Church

4160 Northwest Dr., 360.647.5801

495 E. Bakerview Rd., 360.734.6820

Northwest Baptist Church

Bellingham Chinese Christian Church

First Congregational Church of Bellingham

3545 Northwest Ave., 360.733.3620

2200 F St., 360.734.6707

2401 Cornwall Ave., 360.734.3720

567 E. Kellogg Rd., 360.734.5228

Bellingham Covenant Church

Garden Street United Methodist Church

St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church

2401 Cornwall Ave., 360.733.7440

510 E. Sunset Dr., 360.734.8745

2818 McLeod Rd., 360.676.1357

Good Shepherd Bible Church

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship

1254 W. Smith Rd., 360.384.5403

2117 Walnut St., 360.733.2890

1207 Ellsworth St., 360.733.3837

Life Church

Sacred Heart Catholic Church

Christ The King Community Church

747 Marine Dr., 360.733.8980

1110 14th St., 360.734.2850

4173 Meridian St., 360.733.1337

4767 Guide Meridian Rd., 360.398.9838

JUDAISM

Church of the Assumption

My Church

Congregation Beth Israel

2116 Cornwall Ave., 360.733.1380

3218 Fielding Ave., 360.306.3687

751 San Juan Blvd., 360.733.8890

1530 E. Bakerview Rd., 360.733.5920

Bellingham Gospel Center

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2750 McLeod Rd., 360.733.3970

Living Water Fellowship

North Bellingham Church of Christ 1063 W. Bakerview Rd., 360.389.3428

Spring Creek Bible Church

Rohr Center for Jewish Life 102 Highland Dr., 360.393.3845

ISLAM Islamic Society of Whatcom County 1244 Nevada St., 360.752.9399

Gurdwara Guru Nanak Parkash 777 W. Smith Rd., 360.312.1190

Singh Sabha Gurdwara Bellingham 591 Telegraph Rd., 360.306-8719

UNSPECIFIED Unity Spiritual Center 1095 Telegraph Rd., 360.733.2270

Bellingham Shambhala Center 1207 Ellsworth St., 360.483.4526

Lynden Bethel Christian Reformed Church 1105 Liberty St., 360.354.2361

Faith Community Church 586 Birch Bay Lynden Rd., 360.354.0536

Victory Christian Fellowship 300 7th St., 360.354.8055

First Christian Reformed Church 1010 Front St., 360.354.4560

Freedom Church 405 Front St., 360.325.2015

Grace Baptist Fellowship 338 N. Park St., 360.354.4321

Hope Lutheran Church 900 E. Grover St., 360.354.4211

Lynden Community Church 680 Grover St., 360.354.2226

Netherlands Reformed Church 8581 Depot Rd., 360.354.6645

North County Christ the King 1816 18th St., 360.318.9446

Protestant Reformed Church 317 N. Park St., 360.354.0496

SHADE CONCEPTS

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NORTH

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Life Places of Worship Photo by Thomas Hughes

Photo by Cocoa Laney

Second Christian Reformed Church

Christ the King Community Church, Pioneer Center

Triumph Lutheran Church

710 Front St., 360.354.3961

5627 3rd Ave., 360.733.1337

Sonlight Community Church

Cornerstone Community Church

United Church of Ferndale

8800 Bender Rd., 360.354.3434

5732 Olson Rd., 360.384.3661

St. Joseph’s Catholic Church

Evergreen Community Church

205 12th St., 360.354.2334

6899 N. Enterprise Rd., 360.384.6310

Third Christian Reformed Church

Faith Bible Community Church

514 Liberty St., 360.354.1448

5702 3rd Ave., 360.393.3761

United Methodist Church Lynden

Ferndale Alliance Church

500 14th St., 360.354.4169

Ferndale Seventh-Day Adventist Church

Lynden URC (United Reformed Church) 8650 Benson Rd., 360.656.6140

Ferndale Church of Christ

6100 Church Rd., 360.384.4279

2488 Main St., 360.384.1526

First Baptist Church 5759 Vista Dr., 360.384.3111

Good News Fellowship 1252 W. Axton Rd., 360.384.1515

6300 Portal Way, 360.384.6741

St. Joseph Catholic Church

Christ Lutheran Church

5781 Hendrickson Ave., 360.384.3651

5904 Vista Dr., 360.384.1422

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 5800 Northwest Dr. , 360.734.2841

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5719 Church Rd., 360.384.1129 2034 Washington St., 360.384.3302

Whatcom New Life Assembly 2290 Main St., 360.384.4101

Blaine Birch Bay Bible Community Church 4460 Bay Rd., 360.371.2300

Christ Episcopal Church 382 Boblett St., 360.332.4113

Freedom Community Church 508 G St., 360.332.7506

Grace Lutheran Church 702 G St., 360.332.6589

Lighthouse Baptist Church 8373 Harborview Rd. , 360.371.7740

Northwood Chapel 580 C St., 360.332.8610

Advertorial Life

What Makes a Community Church?

St. Anne Catholic Church 604 H St., 360.332.8048

Unitarian Free Church 1218 Harrison Ave., 360.332.4781

United Church of Christ 885 4th St., 360.332.6906

Acme, Deming, Everson, Maple Falls, Nooksack Acme Presbyterian Church 2054 Valley Hwy., Deming, 360.595.2898

Bethany Chapel 3744 Mt. Baker Hwy., Everson, 360.927.4773

Christ Fellowship 1208 E. Main St., Everson, 360.966.3223

Immanuel Lutheran Church 5782 Lawrence Rd., Everson, 360.592.5876

North County Christ the King Kendall Campus 8794 Kendall Rd., Maple Falls, 360.318.9446

Nooksack Valley Reformed Church 602 E. 2nd St., Nooksack, 360.966.7903

Nooksack Christian Fellowship 201 Jackson St., Nooksack, 360.393.4138

Paradise Gospel Church 8629 Kendall Rd., Maple Falls 360.599.9267 River of Life Community Church 4037 Valley Hwy., Deming, 360.592.2279

Community is Christ the King’s Middle Name

C

HRIST THE KING Community Church began in 1988 with 54

people who committed to love God, love each other, and love the community around them. Today, as a network of five campuses across Whatcom County, the same values permeate every gathering, whether inside or outside a church building. Based on a deep conviction that God’s love is meant for everyone, serving our community has become a hallmark of Christ the King (CTK) Church.

So, what does it mean to be a community church?

For CTK, it starts by bringing people together to worship, find community, and make a difference—right where they live. Christ the King has campuses in Bellingham, Downtown Bellingham, Blaine, Ferndale, and Sudden Valley. Each location has its own pastor and own unique flavor, tailored to its unique community.

Being a community church also means caring for neighbors who are struggling. CTK partners with 15 local nonprofits—some faith-based, some not—to meet a range of human needs. In focus areas of homelessness, people with disabilities, kids and families, food insecurity, and survivor support, staff and volunteers from CTK actively serve alongside and learn from community partners who care about the same things God cares about.

In 1996, Christ the King started a food bank to address Whatcom County’s growing food insecurity. Today, that ministry has become the CTK Food Share & Farm. On just a few acres of donated land, the CTK Farm yields more than 50 tons of fresh produce per season and gathers nonperishables—all distributed to families through 22 local food share partners. Learn more about CTK’s community partners and the CTK Food Share & Farm at ctkserves.org.

Being a community church also means showing up when the community needs help. To help the Lighthouse Mission open their new facility, CTK Response Teams showed up to clean up after construction (pictured below).

CTK offers its facilities and staff at no cost to host memorial services for fallen first responders or when a death touches a large segment of the community.

Christ the King Church invites you to find out for yourself what it’s like to be part of their community. Learn more at ctk.church.

Silver Lake Community Church 7836 Silver Lake Rd., Maple Falls 360.599.2680

St. Innocent Antiochian Orthodox Church 7461 Goodwin Rd., Everson, 425.754.7726

St. Peter Catholic Church 6210 Mt. Baker Hwy., Deming, 360.599.2867

Valley Church 904 Nooksack Rd., Nooksack, 360.966.7631

Welcome Newcomers Guide 2025 75

Life Sports & Recreation Photo by Brandee Simons

Outdoor, Sports, and Recreation

W

HATCOM COUNTY IS

a dream destination for outdoor adventurers. No matter the season, its location allows for a variety of activities that would be hard to match anywhere else. Residents and visitors have access to a national park, several state parks, and many county parks within the county’s limits.

Mountain bikers from all over the country seek out Bellingham for its world-class trails on Galbraith Mountain. With more than 70 miles of single-track trails spread throughout 3,000 acres of forest, the mountain offers endless opportunities for adventure, exploration, and fun.

Thanks to the county’s proximity to Mount Baker and the North Cascades, runners, hikers, and backpackers have a goldmine of trails to traverse during the summertime.

Avid runners also have a variety of

races to choose from throughout the year, from the Bellingham Bay Marathon to the legendary Ski to Sea Race. In the winter months, you can ditch those hiking boots for skis or a snowboard and hit the slopes at the Mount Baker Ski Area.

Whether it’s July or December, the Chuckanut Mountains are easily accessible from Fairhaven and offer yearround activities such as hiking, camping, biking, fishing, and rock climbing.

Lastly, given our abundant lakes, rivers, and the Bellingham Bay, we can’t neglect to mention the recreational activities available on the water. You can set sail from Squalicum Harbor, jump in a sea kayak from Marine Park, catch fish, or watch the tide roll in at Larrabee State Park. If it’s a clear day, don’t forget to look inland for stunning views of Bellingham’s cityscape and the snow-capped peaks that lie behind it.

Golf Courses Bald Eagle Golf Club 1350 Pelican Pl., Point Roberts, 866.460.0368

Bellingham Golf and Country Club 3729 Meridian St., Bellingham, 360.733.3450

Birch Bay Village Golf Course 8169 Cowichan Rd., Blaine, 360.371.2026

Dakota Creek Golf Course 3258 Haynie Rd., Custer, 360.366.3131

Grandview Golf Course 7738 Portal Way, Custer, 360.366.3947

Homestead Golf Course 115 E. Homestead Blvd., Lynden, 360.354.1196, Ext. 2

Lake Padden Golf Course 4882 Samish Way, Bellingham. 360.738.7400

Loomis Trail Golf 4342 Loomis Trail Rd., Blaine, 360.332.1725

North Bellingham Golf Course 205 W. Smith Rd., Bellingham, 360.398.8300

Raspberry Ridge Golf Course 6827 Hannegan Rd., Everson, 360.354.3029

Sandy Point Golf Course 4460 Decatur Dr., Ferndale, 360.384.3921

Semiahmoo Golf and Country Club 8720 Semiahmoo Pkwy., Blaine, 360.371.7015

Shuksan Golf Club 1500 E. Axton Rd., Bellingham, 360.398.8888

Sudden Valley Golf Course 4 Clubhouse Cir., Bellingham, 360.734.6435

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Sports & Outdoor Clubs

Wild Whatcom

Bellingham Bells (Baseball)

Bellingham Mountaineers

bellinghambells.com

bellinghammountaineers.com

Whatcom Association of Kayak Enthusiasts

Bellingham Blazers (Youth Hockey)

Bellingham Triathlon Club

whatcomsportsandrec.com/blazers

bellinghamtri.org

Bellingham Roller Betties (Roller Derby)

Bellingham Yacht Club

bellinghamrollerbetties.com

Bellingham Pickleball Club

Chuckanut Bay Geoducks (Rugby) chuckanutrugby.com

Chuckanut Bay Mussels (Rugby) chuckanutrugby.com

Whatcom FC Rangers (Soccer) whatcomfcrangers.org

Photo by Judd M. Greenwood

Sports Teams

Whatcom Mountain Bike Coalition (WMBC) WMBC JoyRiders (Women's Bike Club)

bellinghampickleball.org

wmbcmtb.org/joyriders

Chuckanut Bay Rugby Club

Major Hiking & Walking Areas

chuckanutrugby.com

El Suenito Run Club elsuenitobrewing.com

Fairhaven Runners & Walkers

Arroyo Park

Home - Fairhaven Runners - Bellingham, WA

Chuckanut Mountain Park

Major Athletic Events Bellingham Bay Marathon

Master Swim Program at Whatcom Family YMCA

Bellingham Traverse

wakekayak.org

wmbcmtb.org

byc.org

Greater Bellingham Running Club

bellinghambaymarathon.org

wildwhatcom.org

gbrc.net

Interurban Trail Galbraith Mountain

whatcomymca.org

bellinghamtraverse.com

Mount Baker Club

Chuckanut 50k

mountbakerclubsite.wordpress.com

chuckanut50krace.com

Mount Baker Bicycle Club

Chuckanut Classic

mtbakerbikeclub.org

Hovander Homestead Park

Larrabee State Park Mount Baker National Recreation Area Sehome Hill Arboretum Semiahmoo Park

chuckanutclassic.org

Nooksack Nordic Ski Club

Lake Whatcom Triathlon

nooksacknordicskiclub.org

Silver Lake Park

lakewhatcomtriathlon.com

Queer Run Bellingham

Whatcom Falls Park

Ski to Sea

instagram.com/queerrunbellingham/

skitosea.com

Recreation Northwest

Special Olympics Washington

recreationnorthwest.org

specialolympicswashington.org

Shifting Gears

Tour de Whatcom

letsshiftgears.org

Major Biking Areas Bay to Baker Trail Chuckanut Mountain Park Civic Field Dirt Jump Park

tourdewhatcom.com

Galbraith Mountain

Photo courtesy of Bellingham Roller Betties

Interurban Trail Lake Padden Park Railroad Trail Semiahmoo Park Silver Lake Park Whatcom Falls Park

Welcome Newcomers Guide 2025 77

Life Pets

Pets

W

HATCOM COUNTY IS a

haven for pet owners, and if your four-legged friends like to explore the great outdoors, they’re sure to fit in fast. Our numerous dogfriendly parks offer stunning scenery and ample space for pups (and their humans) to get some exercise in.

If you’re out on the town, know that many of our breweries and bars are happy to accommodate canine companions. Most ask patrons to keep their pets on a leash, but Paws for a Beer allows well-behaved pups with memberships to roam free.

The area is also home to a plethora of doggie daycares, trainers, and groomers. Additionally, Whatcom County’s veterinarians can help your

Veterinary Hospitals BELLINGHAM Animal Emergency Care 4176 Meridian St., 360.505.0924

pet stay healthy and happy. Some vets are welcoming towards all species, while others, such as the Chuckanut Feline Center, are more specialized.

In the market for a furry friend?

Whatcom Humane Society will help match you with the forever companion that’s right for you and your family.

Alternatively, if you prefer reptiles to mammals, Kementari’s Creatures is the place to go for more exotic new additions to the family.

For animal lovers who aren’t looking for commitment, a visit to NEKO Cat Cafe or Are You My Human? Dog Rescue & Lounge might be in order. Be warned, though: Their animals are adoptable, so if you find yourself falling in love, you might not be going home empty-handed.

Mountain Veterinary Hospital 3413 Mt. Baker Hwy., 360.592.5113

Northshore Veterinary Hospital 1486 Electric Ave., 360.738.6916

Whatcom Veterinary Hospital 5610 Barrett Rd., 360.384.0212

LYNDEN Lynden Veterinary Hospital 1919 Front St., 360.354.7988

Kulshan Veterinary Hospital 8880 Benson Rd., 360.354.5095

NOOKSACK/SUMAS Nooksack Animal Hospital PC Inc. 302 W. Columbia St., 360.966.3207

Dog Friendly Parks Arroyo Park 1700 Old Samish Rd., Bellingham

Bender Fields 8770 Bender Rd., Lynden

Bloedel Donovan Park

Banfield Pet Hospital

The Chuckanut Valley Feline Center

4379 Guide Meridian St., 360.734.9459

1214 Dupont St., 360.671.7707

Fairhaven Park

Bellingham Veterinary

Village Veterinary Hospital

107 Chuckanut Dr. N., Bellingham

720 Virginia St., 360.734.0720

236 36th St., 360.495.8635

Boundary Bay Veterinary Specialty Hospital 4176 Meridian St., 360.982.0166

Fairhaven Veterinary Hospital 2330 Old Fairhaven Pkwy., 360.671.3903

Fountain Veterinary Hospital

2114 Electric Ave., Bellingham

Hovander Homestead Park 5299 Nielsen Ave., Ferndale

BLAINE

Lake Padden Dog Park

Northwest Veterinary Clinic

4882 S. Samish Way, Bellingham

8115 Birch Bay Square St., Ste.135, 360.366.5434

Lincoln Park 1800 H St., Blaine

Little Squalicum Park

2430 Meridian St., Ste. 2., 360.733.2660

FERNDALE

Larrabee Animal Medicine PLLC

Ferndale Veterinary Hospital

Lynden City Park

1110 Larrabee Ave., 360.527.9533

2069 Main St., 360.389.5989

8460 Depot Rd., Lynden

Maplewood Animal Hospital

Kulshan Veterinary Hospital

Sehome Hill Arboretum

2869 W. Maplewood Ave., 360.715.1430

6220 Portal Way, 360.354.5095

600 25th St., Bellingham

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640 Marine Dr., Bellingham

Semiahmoo Park

El Suenito Brewing Company

9261 Semiahmoo Pkwy., Blaine

1926 Humboldt St., Bellingham, 360.543.6809

Skallman Park

FrinGe Brewing

1190 Yew Ave., Blaine

5640 3rd Ave., Ferndale, 360.398.6071

Squires Lake Park

Goods Local Brews

2510 Nulle Rd., Bellingham

2620 Northwest Ave., Bellingham, 360.671.3085

Squalicum Creek Park 1001 Squalicum Way, Bellingham

GRUFF Brewing Co.

Sudden Valley Dog Park

104 E. Maple St., Ste. 101, Bellingham

22 Marina Dr., Bellingham

Kulshan Brewing Co.

Sunset Pond Park

2238 James St., Bellingham, 360.389.5348

3424-3462 James St, Bellingham

North Fork Brewery

VanderYacht Park

6186 Mt. Baker Highway, 360.599.2337

1945 Washington St., Ferndale

Otherlands Beer

Whatcom Falls Park

2121 Humboldt St., Bellingham, 360.746.8118

1401 Electric Ave., Bellingham

Photo courtesy of NEKO Cat Cafe

Paws for a Beer 501 Harris Ave., Bellingham, 360.733.7297

Dog-friendly Breweries & Bars Beach Cat Brewing 7876 Birch Bay Dr., Ste. 101, Blaine, 360.366.8065

Elizabeth Station

Schweinhaus Biergarten 1330 N. State St., Bellingham, 360.671.0206

Stemma Brewing Co. 2039 Moore St., Bellingham, 360.746.8385

Stones Throw Brewing Co.

Humane Societies, Shelters, Pet Stores, & Wildlife Rescues Alternative Humane Society 360.671.7445

1009 Larrabee Ave., Bellingham 360.362.5058

Are You My Human? Dog Rescue & Lounge

1400 W. Holly St., Bellingham, 360.733.8982

1307 Cornwall Ave., Bellingham areyoumyhumandogrescue.com

NEKO: A Cat Cafe 1130 Cornwall Ave., Bellingham, 360.656.6217

Kementari’s Creatures 207 E. Chestnut St., Bellingham, 509.607.6971

Sardis Raptor Center 7472 Valley View Rd., Ferndale, 360.366.3863

Whatcom Humane Society (WHS) 2172 Division St., Bellingham, 360.733.2080

WHS Northwest Wildlife Rehabilitation Center 5602 Mission Rd., Bellingham, 360.966.8845

Red’s Aquarium and Pet Supply 1701 N. State St., Bellingham, 360.393.6121

Bow Wow & Woofs 8115 Birch Bay Square St., Blaine, 360.332.3647

Bailey’s Neighborhood Pet 1633 Birchwood Ave., Ste. 104, Bellingham, 360.733.9274

Wild Bird Chalet 108 Ohio St., Bellingham, 360.734.0969

Welcome Newcomers Guide 2025 79

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NEW TESLA SUPERCHARGERS 14 Superchargers – up to 150kW max with 24/7 access

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Retail F

ROM SUMMER SANDALS to cozy winter

jackets, Whatcom County has you covered when it comes to clothing. Bellis Fair Mall is the spot for familiar brand names and big box stores, but if you’d prefer to shop local, look no further than downtown Bellingham and Historic downtown Fairhaven. You’ll find boutiques and shops offering curated selections of everything from clothing to shoes, jewelry, and more. Keep your eyes peeled for our many pop-up markets with hyper-local, artisan offerings! Venturing just outside of Bellingham, Birch Bay Square in Blaine and downtown Lynden are also must-visit hubs for shopping, dining, and fun.

No matter the weather, our local businesses have everything you need for year-round fashion. (Pro tip: Just remember that layering is key!)

Fashion

Dressed by the Best

Welcome Newcomers Guide 2025

81

Retail

Asymmetric Zip Puffer Vest

Betty Be Good, $45 Photo courtesy of Betty Be Good

82

BellinghamAlive.com

$

Dressed by the Best Some of Our Favorite Pieces From 2024’s Best of the Northwest Fashion Retailers WRITTEN BY ANNE GODENHAM

Please note: these specific items were gathered in October 2024 and may no longer be available, but the retailers are certain to have something just as stunning for you!

L

OOK YOUR BEST from head to toe with

these fabulous pieces from our readers’ local favorites! We’ve put together three outfits with items from our 2024 Best of the Northwest Gold, Silver, and Bronze winners in the following categories: Best Men’s Clothing, Best Women’s Clothing, Best Boutique, Best Jewelry Shop, and Best Shoe Store. Whether you’re looking to keep it casual, fight the PNW chill, or dress the part for a special occasion, these winners have what you need!

14K Yellow Carabiner Charm 16” Necklace

Borthwick Jewelry, $2,050 1730 La Bounty Dr., Ste. 5, Ferndale, 360.384.2803 borthwickjewelry.com JaxKelly Clear Quartz Point Ring

Fringe Boutique, $60 201 W Holly St., Bellingham 360.312.4067, wearfringe.com

Tasteful and Toasty

Just because the temperatures might take a dive, that doesn’t mean your sense of style has to go into hibernation! A well-cut pair of jeans and a great leather jacket will get you everywhere, warmly, while a beautiful watch is appropriate in any season.

Jimmy Slim Straight Jeans

Adored Boutique, $195 913 Harris Ave., Bellingham shopadoredboutique.com

Quinn + Foster, $220 1402 11th St., Bellingham 360.671.2000 quinnandfoster.com

Nike Women’s Pegasus

Kuhl Kastaway Sweater

Fairhaven Runners & Walkers, $140 1209 11th St., Bellingham 360.676.4955 shop.fairhavenrunners.com

Yeager’s Sporting Goods, $139 3101 Northwest Ave., Bellingham 360.733.1080 yeagerssportinggoods.com

Large Classic Tote in Honey

Cozy, Casual, and Chic

Dressing in the North Sound is always about layering—with the right pieces in your wardrobe, you can stay cute while also staying warm, dry, ventilated, and comfortable, whatever the weather.

Hunter Cable Knit Top

Betty Be Good, $40 1758 Front St., Ste. 103, Lynden 360.685.6552 or

8125 Birch Bay Square St., Ste. 201, Blaine 360.441.7691, shopbettybegood.com Asymmetric Zip Puffer Vest

Betty Be Good, $45 1758 Front St., Ste. 103, Lynden 360.685.6552 or

8125 Birch Bay Square St., Ste. 201, Blaine 360.441.7691, shopbettybegood.com Wrangler Wanderer High Rise Flare Jean in Ski Patrol

Kuhl Kastaway Sweater

Cheeks Jeans, $109 420 Front St., Lynden 360.778.1849, cheeksjeans.com

Yeager’s Sporting Goods Photo courtesy of Yeager’s Sporting Goods

Welcome Newcomers Guide 2025

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Retail

$

Stylish Special Occasion Milestone Lance Leather Jacket

Quinn + Foster, $675 1402 11th St., Bellingham 360.671.2000 quinnandfoster.com Good Man Tartan Plaid Scarf

Quinn + Foster, $198 1402 11th St., Bellingham 360.671.2000, quinnandfoster.com IWC Schaffhausen IWC Big Pilot Watch

Neeter House of Luxury, price upon request 21 Bellwether Way, Ste. 107, Bellingham, 360.778.1613 Blundstone Original Chelsea Boot

Yeager’s Sporting Goods, $190 3101 Northwest Ave., Bellingham 360.733.1080 yeagerssportinggoods.com

Good Man Tartan Plaid Scarf

Quinn + Foster, $198 Photo courtesy of Quinn + Foster

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Whether it’s a work event, a date night, or a friend’s wedding, this outfit is fancy enough to make you feel like a million bucks while still being casual enough to fit in with the eternally laidback vibe here in the PNW. Vilagallo Navy Blue Suzany Dress

ORSYN Rome Crossbody

Quinn+Foster, $435 1402 11th St., Bellingham 360.671.2000, quinnandfoster.com Bueno Ida

12th Street Shoes, $130 1204 Harris Ave., Bellingham 360.733.2066, 12thstreetshoes.com

Quinn+Foster, $180 1402 11th St., Bellingham 360.671.2000, quinnandfoster.com HYFVE Suedette Zip Jacket in Black

Fringe Boutique, $58 201 W Holly St., Bellingham 360.312.4067, wearfringe.com Quality Gold 14K White Gold Lab Grown Diamond VS/SI FGH Earrings

Neeter House of Luxury, $601 21 Bellwether Way, Ste. 107, Bellingham, 360.778.1613

Vilagallo Navy Blue Suzany Dress

Quinn+Foster, $180 Photo courtesy of Quinn + Foster

Something for Everyone Crystals, Jewelry, Clothing, Decor, Gifts, Candles, Incense, Accessories, Body Jewelry, and more

200 W HOLLY ST., BELLINGHAM, WA 98225 | THIRDPLANETBOUTIQUE.COM | 360.778.3765

See what’s New!

We’ve been freshening up our store to give you the best shopping experience possible! Come browse our relocated La-Z-Boy Comfort Studio and check out the new Mattress Shoppe sleep gallery!

Bob & Lori Dodge Owners, Samuel’s Furniture

2024

BEST

Voted BEST PLACE TO BUY NORTH FURNITURE 10 Years in a Row WEST of the

1904 MAIN ST. FERNDALE, WA 98248 360.384.3388 • SAMUELSFURNITURE.COM

GOLD

Retail

BELLINGHAM

of the

2024

BEST

NORTH

WEST GOLD

12TH STREET SHOES 1204 Harris Ave., Bellingham 360.733.2066, 12thstreetshoes.com

Welcome to Kent’s Garden & Nursery, proudly serving our community with quality plants since 1976!

12th Street Shoes prides themselves on carrying fashionable, yet comfortable shoes for women! Yes, you can have both. We have been providing amazing footwear to the women of Bellingham since 1999. We also carry an array of handbags, accessories and hosiery.

Visit our 5-acre paradise packed full of just about any plant that belongs in the Northwest.

If you are overwhelmed by the selection, we can help with a variety of services:

A LOT OF FLOWERS

• Kent’s Plant Design Services • Planting Services • Jobsite Delivery

1011 Harris Ave., Bellingham 360.647.0728, alotofflowersfairhaven.com alotofflowersbham@gmail.com For over 35 years we have been providing a unique mix of plants, gifts, and floral arrangements for the Bellingham community and it’s visitors. With an emphasis on locally made, Northwest grown and fairly traded items, our selection provides a feast for the senses with an evolving mix of plants and home décor.

Our amazing team is here for you, and we are so grateful for your support! Open Valentines Day to Christmas Eve or by appointment year-round.

ADORED BOUTIQUE

5428 Northwest Dr., Bellingham | 360.384.4433 Kent’s Garden & Nursery | kentsgardenandnursery.com

913 Harris Ave., Bellingham shopadoredboutique.com A lovely boutique located in Historic Fairhaven offering women’s clothing, bath and body, and unique gifts as well as locally handmade jewelry and handbags. You are sure to find something special for yourself and your loved ones!

APPLE YARNS 1405 Fraser St., Ste. F104, Bellingham A fiber lovers’ paradise, Apple Yarns recently celebrated 15 years with a new bigger and better location. The new shop is filled with and yarns from around the world and locally dyed Apple Fiber Studio. Come for the beautiful yarns and the locally-made gifts.

Local. Craft. Cannabis. +21

BINYON VISION 411 E. Magnolia St., Bellingham 360.647.2020, binyonvision.com

I-5 Exit 270 (Next to The Market) 8125 Birch Bay Square Street #222 360.506.7117 BirchBayBud.com MARIJUANA CAN IMPAIR CONCENTRATION, COORDINATION, AND JUDGMENT. DO NOT OPERATE A VEHICLE OR MACHINERY UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THIS DRUG. THIS PRODUCT HAS INTOXICATING EFFECTS AND MAY BE HABIT FORMING. THERE MAY BE HEALTH RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH CONSUMPTION OF THIS PRODUCT. FOR USE ONLY BY ADULTS TWENTYONE AND OLDER. KEEP OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN.

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Where Your Budz Are

Binyon Vision Center is passionate about helping Whatcom County residents see and look their best. From thorough eye exams and personalized eyewear selection, the experience at Binyon is memorable. We are proud to be an independent, woman-owned business in Downtown Bellingham.

FAIRHAVEN RUNNERS & WALKERS 1209 11th St., Bellingham 360.676.4955, fairhavenrunners.com

BUY LOCAL

Hour Happy ay ry D

15% EveClose 9pm -

Fairhaven Runners is a super-friendly store for walkers, runners, travelers and people who just want their feet to feel happier. We carry shoes, socks, watches, clothing, packs, sport nutrition, sunglasses, headlamps, and more!

$

FLOWER FEATHER FARM flowerfeatherfarm.com Bellingham, WA, Open by appointment only Flower Feather Farm is your source for locally hatched chicks; we hatch year-round, so you always have an alternative to shipped chicks.

Swedish Flower Hens, Jubilee Orpingtons, Wheaten Olive Eggers, Wheaten Ameraucanas, Wheaten Marans. We also offer farm-fresh table eggs, hatching eggs, dahlia tubers, hemp bedding, and animal feed. Woman-owned.

GARDEN SPOT 2945 Newmarket St., Bellingham 360.734.9595, statement-apparel.com Nestled behind Trader Joe’s, our small business offers a big variety! Explore unique outdoor plants, stunning garden art, high-quality houseplants, and thoughtful gifts. Many of our pieces are created by talented local artists.

From tools to soils, we have all your gardening needs covered. Join our fun, informative weekly classes and connect with our passionate, knowledgeable team. Proud stewards of nature and community, we’re here to help your garden thrive. We grow better together!

GOOD EARTH POTTERY 1000 Harris Ave., Bellingham 360.671.3998, goodearthpots.com Good Earth Pottery is a contemporary ceramics gallery located in the historic Fairhaven District of Bellingham since 1969. The gallery offers a carefully curated collection of handmade pottery and ceramic art by artists from the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

NORTHWEST YARNS & MERCANTILE 1401 Commercial St., Bellingham 360.738.0167, nwyarns.com One of the best fiber arts shops in the Northwest! Located in historic downtown Bellingham, we offer a wide variety of fiber arts supplies including yarn, fabric, fiber, spinning wheels, embroidery kits, classes, events, and so, so much more. Pop in to see everything we have to offer.

PEAK HYDRATION peakhydrationlounge.com 1216 Bay St., Bellingham, WA 98225 360.526.2125 Rejuvenate, rehydrate, and refuel at Bellingham’s premier IV Therapy and Wellness Lounge, offering Nutrient IV bags, Wellness Shots, Medicinal and Cosmetic Botox, Dietician Services, and a Weight Loss Program all by an experienced, professional staff, using hospital-grade supplies, and the highestquality nutrients. #wehaveabagforthat THE CLOTHES RACK 2426 Yew St., Bellingham 360.738.7759 The Clothes Rack Women’s Consignment Store specializes in selling quality gently-used clothing, shoes, handbags, and accessories.

Our clothing features brand names in modern, classic, and timeless styles. We have a wide variety of sizes, including plus sizes.

By recycling current fashions we are creating a sustainable lifestyle.

THIRD PLANET BOUTIQUE 200 W Holly St., Bellingham 360.778.3765, thirdplanetboutique.com Third Planet Boutique is a queer, womanowned small business in the heart of downtown Bellingham, WA. Our mission is to create a safe, inclusive, welcoming shopping experience for our community where there is something for everyone, while supporting small and ethical artisans. We offer something for everyone. Crystals, Jewelry, Clothing, Decor, Gifts, Candles, Incense, Accessories, Body Jewelry, and more.

THREE FRENCH HENS 1100 Harris Ave., Bellingham 360.756.1047, threefrenchens.com Located in the heart of Historic Fairhaven, we carry sophisticated, elegant clothing that elevates your everyday style. Many of our brands are made in the USA, and crafted with organic fabrics and leathers that are built to last forever.

Major brands include Joseph Ribkoff, Eileen Fisher, AG Jeans, Paige, and Nic & Zoe. We love finding the perfect look for your everyday style, or any occasion.

QUINN AND FOSTER 128 W. Holly St., Bellingham 360.671.2000, quinnandfoster.com Quinn and Foster is a contemporary clothing boutique for women and men situated in the heart of downtown Bellingham. We are founded on a passion for style, design, and building strong relationships with our community. Chris has had a long career in the fashion industry. She has worked for years helping women find their own style.

She created Quinn and Foster on the belief that style does not have to wait for anything.

We want you to love how you look and feel and to find the best pieces to bring out the best in you.

BIRCH BAY | BLAINE BOW WOW & WOOFS bowwowandwoofs.com 8115 Birch Bay Square Ste 111 Blaine, WA 98230 360.332.3647 Bow Wow & Woofs is a family-owned pet store and have been serving the local community since 2005. The shop features an extensive selection of natural foods and treats for both dogs and cats. We offer a variety of raw foods, dehydrated foods, and a number of kibbles, as well as a selection of gently cooked and canned foods. 24/7 online ordering and self-pickup.

THE C SHOP 4825 Alderson Rd., Blaine 360.371.2070, thecshop.com The C Shop is a must-see candy store, bakery, café, and pizzeria for summertime visits to picturesque Birch Bay. Housed in a charming yellow storefront, The C Shop is the stuff of beachside family memories, specializing in goods that start with “C” or rhyme with “sea.”

FERNDALE MARIES BEES mariesbees.com Award-Winning Raw local honey for our family to yours. Try our famous Zinger Creamed Honey, Savory Honey and our Honey Oxymel. Try them all in cocktails, on cheese, or on toast. Hive tours in the summer. 100% Woman-owned.

LYNDEN BETTY BE GOOD Birch Bay Square 8125 Birch Bay Square St, #201, Blaine Fairway Center 1758 Front Street, #103, Lynden shopbetttybegood.com Betty Be Good offers hand-picked, boutique styles for the frugal fashionista. Everything in their curated collection is under $75 so you’ll find a stylish new look without breaking the bank! Plus, the boutique gives back 2% of sales to clothe survivors of human trafficking.

SURROUNDINGS HOME & GIFTS 1758 Front St. #104, Lynden 360.354.3101, surroundingslynden.com Surroundings offers a unique collection of home décor and gifts. Refresh yourself in the beauty, faith, joy and fragrance of this wonderful collection for you and your home. We celebrate each season with colorful florals and accent pieces that will inspire you.

Located in Lynden’s Fairway Center, across from the fairgrounds.

CHEEKS JEANS 420 Front St., Lynden 360.778.1849, cheeksjeans.com We are a Women’s Clothing Store, located in historic downtown Lynden. We’re classic, effortless, comfortable, yet put-together, a mix of vintage, street, and pretty, all with a Northwest twist. We are known for our beautiful selection of designer jeans. We’d love to see you! Mon–Sat: 10 am–6pm, Thur: 10 am–8pm, Sun: Closed.

420 Front St., Lynden 360.778.1849, cheeksjeans.com

COA MEXICAN EATERY & TEQUILERIA MODERN MEXICAN FOOD

COME VISIT OUR NEW LOCATION IN BELLINGHAM!

BEST TEQUILA BAR SHOWCASES ONLY 100% AGAVE TEQUILAS AND MEZCALES

LOCATIONS 1810 Riverside Drive Mount Vernon, WA | 360.466.0267 623 Morris St. La Conner, WA | 360.466.0267 1065 E Sunset Drive, Bellingham, WA | 360.526.2108

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Taste

Feature

Unexpected Ingredients

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Taste Unexpected Ingredients

Unexpected Ingredients

WRITTEN BY COCOA LANEY AND KRISTEN BOEHM

W

HEN YOU THINK of cocktails, does your mind

conjure up images of tumblers full of amber liquid, an olive speared in a frosted martini glass, maybe even some lightly muddled greenery? Cocktails as we know them only really entered the drinker’s zeitgeist around the year 1800, and classic mixed drinks remain popular to this day. But after 200 years of spirits, water, sugar, and bitters, it’s time for a renaissance! Inventive bartenders from all over are reaching out for excitingly unexpected ingredients. In 2023, we rounded

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up some curious examples from local establishments, and went into detail about a few fun ways to expand your drink horizons at home.

Keep in mind that craft cocktail menus change constantly with the seasons and ingredient availability. Although some of the drinks we loved while writing this are no longer with us, the ingredients still deserve to be recognized! We’ve added alternative suggestions to help you get out there and find your next unique drink experience.

Aquafaba The Beetnik at Banter

T

HE NEXT TIME you make hummus from canned

chickpeas, don’t drain away the water: That sticky yellow liquid is called aquafaba, and it makes the perfect vegan substitute for egg white. It can be whipped with sugar for meringue, combined with cocoa for a fluffy mousse, or even baked into egg-free macarons (yes, it’s possible!)—but our favorite way to use aquafaba is in a cocktail.

If you’re avoiding eggs, you don’t have to forgo fluffy cocktails. At the time of writing, we tried the Beetnik at Banter to get our whipped fix. Banter is known for their vegetarian- and vegan-friendly bites, so it should come as no surprise that their cocktails are also accessible to those who wish to avoid animal products. Moreover, Bartender Samuel Ross-Smith notes that aquafaba is easier to maintain on a day-to-day basis when compared with egg whites.

“Aquafaba is just a vegan alternative for egg whites, so it just helps the whole thing and gives a nice frothy texture,” says Ross-Smith. “[The Beetnik] is one of the

only cocktails, if not the only one, that’s been on the menu since we opened.”

This cleverly-named libation gets its signature foam from aquafaba, but that was far from the only notable ingredient in this cocktail. The flavor came from a combo of housemade beet and lavender shrubs, which are vinegar-based syrups. The shrubs were then balanced with lemon, Strega liqueur, and London Dry Gin for a drink that was earthy, herbal, and unexpectedly refreshing. It even came served with a ring of beet sugar for added pizzazz.

Although the Beetnik may have performed its last poem at Banter, you can find aquafaba at plenty of bars around Whatcom! If you’re interested in a drink with egg whites listed, ask if they have aquafaba as an alternative. Or, if you’re happy to cut the alcohol along with the eggs, try The Final Boss and The Sour Poet off of Bantam Kitchen & Bar’s zero proof menu, which already come with it! 114 Prospect St., Bellingham, banterhospitality.comt

Photo by Cocoa Laney

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Hazelnuts Oro Hazelnut Dessert Wine at Samson Estates

Most wine is made from grapes.

Certain wineries, such as Everson’s own Samson Estates, might use other fruits like strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries. But wine made from hazelnuts?!

Such a concoction might sound unusual, but just trust us—hazelnut wine is nothing short of delicious, and you can try some for yourself at Samson Estates.

Samson Estates is the oldest operating winery in Whatcom County, and they’re well known for their award-winning fruit wines as well as traditional wines fermented from Eastern Washington grapes. But their most unusual offering is their award-winning Oro Hazelnut Dessert Wine, which is made with locally sourced nuts from Holmquist Hazelnut Orchards.

Unlike Samson’s other libations, hazelnut dessert wine isn’t fermented.

According to Owner Rob Dhaliwal, it’s made similarly to a cordial, yet still fortified like typical dessert wines. As for the flavor profile? Unsurprisingly, the first descriptor that comes to mind is “nutty.”

“It does have a small smoking note to it because we use roasted hazelnuts,” Dhaliwal continues. “It’s very velvety. It’s not quite as intense as what you think of [with] Frangelico; it’s a lot more mellow and smooth.”

If you’re picking up Oro for a dinner party, Dhaliwal suggests pairing it with tiramisu, chocolate, eggnog, or a light-bodied pastry.

Alternatively, stop by Samson Estates’ tasting room in Everson to pair your glass with artisanal wine truffles and picture-perfect pastoral views. 1861 Van Dyk Rd., Everson, 360.966.7787, samsonestates.com t

Photo by Cocoa Laney

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Photo by Cocoa Laney

A

LLOW US TO state the obvious:

Ancho Chiles

Smoke Signal at Redlight Kitchen & Bar

I

F YOU’RE AIMING to add

ey Photo by Cocoa Lan

some spice to your life—or, more specifically, your cocktails—then Ancho Reyes liqueur should be a staple at your bar cart. This one-of-a-kind liqueur originated in Puebla City, Mexico and is made from the city’s most famous crop: ancho chiles, which are dried poblano peppers. While a chile-based liqueur might be foreign to PNW palates, it’s actually a time-honored tradition. Ancho Reyes was first produced by Pueblas families in 1927, and today’s version is still based on this original recipe.

In an effort to bring the heat, The Smoke Signal at Redlight utilized not just Ancho Reyes but mezcal, house-made cinnamon/ nutmeg-infused bourbon, mole bitters, and a hint of sugar. We thought of it as a spiced-up Old Fashioned, Oaxacan style. “[It’s] the warm fuzzies in a glass,” says Bartender Ocea Davis, who created the Smoke Signal. “During the pandemic, when we had to have our ‘bubbles,’ I would always get together with my friends and have bonfires. We would just sit there for

hours and talk about everything that was going on in the world.

And so I wanted to come up with a drink that encapsulated the feeling of sitting around a bonfire commiserating with your best friends. I think that’s exactly what we got.”

But the Ancho Reyes wasn’t the only unusual thing about this libation. While mezcal and bourbon aren’t often used in the same drink, they complemented each other surprisingly well in the Smoke Signal, almost like “two different friends hanging out.” Between the rich bourbon, smoky mezcal, autumnal spices, and hint of heat, Smoke Signal was the perfect cocktail for early fall.

Sadly, this cocktail is no longer available, but Redlight has an expansive seasonal drinks menu that’s sure to supply you with something unusually delicious. If you’re dead set on lighting a controlled burn, they have a couple of house cocktails for you to try: Black Mirror (blanco tequila, ghost pepper syrup, pineapple juice, blueberry preserves, fresh lime juice, chili salt rim, served on the rocks) and and Anti-Todo (mezcal, house-made sour mix, habanero-hibiscus syrup, egg white, served up). 109 Grand Ave., Ste. 101, Bellingham, redlightkitchenandbar.comt

Photo by Cocoa Laney

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Milk, Citric Acid, and Absinthe The Coup de Grace at The Foxhole

T

HE FOXHOLE OPENED in 2023 and is still the new

kid on Holly Street’s bar scene. If you’re into the combo of old-world decor and cutting-edge cocktails, it’s sure to have become one of your favorite haunts. With a creative drink menu that features tea, coffee, and absinthe concoctions, the cocktails at The Foxhole are some of the most interesting in downtown Bellingham.

When we visited in September 2023, we were especially intrigued by the Coup de Grace milk punch, which is a take on an old-fashioned tiki drink called the Zombie. A Zombie uses three types of rum, grenadine, and three juices (grapefruit, lemon, and lime), and the Foxhole’s version also adds Falernum liqueur. There’s a few other key differences: Firstly, while a traditional Zombie is booze-forward, the Coup de Grace was much smoother thanks to a clarifying process using citric acid and milk.

The idea of whole milk in a tiki drink might sound unusual, but Bartender Jordan Jenson says you shouldn’t be able to taste it. You see, when a cocktail is clarified, the milk proteins bind to the molecules like polyphenols that are responsible for astringent, bitter tastes. These curds (and thus polyphenols) are then strained out to create a smooth, easydrinking cocktail. “It takes 24 hours to clarify, and it’s just titrating the entire time,” explains Jenson. “When that process happens, and because you add the milk to it, it takes away the intensity of the drink and makes it a lot more approachable.”

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“It takes 24 hours to clarify, and it’s just titrating the entire time,” explains Jenson. “When that process happens, and because you add the milk to it, it takes away the intensity of the drink and makes it a lot more approachable.”

But the clarification isn’t the only interesting part about the Coup de Grace. This cocktail also includes a splash of absinthe, which is a wormwood-based liqueur often associated with dreamlike states and hallucinations (though these tales are myths, not reality). The Foxhole bills itself as an absinthe bar, which makes perfect sense when you consider its ethereal Victorian atmosphere. You can sample this anise-flavored spirit in other cocktails at The Foxhole, or even via an absinthe “drip,” which dilutes the high-proof spirit with a touch of water and sugar. 215 W. Holly St., Ste. 101, Bellingham, @thefoxholebhamt

Stinging Nettles Stinging Nettle Martini at Matthew’s Honest Cocktails

Photo by Cocoa Laney

M

ATTHEW’S HONEST COCKTAILS is a mainstay

among downtown Bellingham’s upscale-yetaccessible bars, and while their drinks cater to all palates, they also aren’t afraid to get creative. Case in point: the Stinging Nettle Martini. No one looks forward to run-ins with stinging nettles on a hike, but what about in a cocktail?

This unusual libation started off with a syrup that Owner Matthew Twining reduces from stinging nettle tea. It was shaken up alongside simple syrup, lemon, and Botanist Islay Dry Gin to create an herbal, surprisingly complex cocktail that hits all the right notes with very minimal ingredients.

Twining is no stranger to tea in cocktails, as earl gray reduction is frequently on his menu. But while earl gray is a familiar flavor, most people don’t know what stinging nettles taste like—especially when served in martini form. Twining says that nettles have an earthiness (“almost like a minty mushroom”) that tastes somewhat gamey on its own but works well when brightened with lemon and sugar.

“Where do you go with cocktails since everything’s been done? And I think the answer is not so much out, but more inward,” says Twining. “So, let’s get what we’ve got growing right here and see if we can make something delicious.”

“Where do you go with cocktails since everything’s been done?

And I think the answer is not so much out, but more inward,” says Twining. “So, let’s get what we’ve got growing right here and see if we can make something delicious.”

As for how Twining procured those local nettles? The answer is simple: He foraged them himself. In the summer, he might be found scouring the old growth forests near Sudden Valley for young, tender nettles that can be brewed into tea.

He leaves their roots intact but does include some of the “tiny needle-like hairs” that contain their venom. This venom is safe to consume and doesn’t sting or itch, but Twining says it added a certain “zing” to the final product.”

When stinging nettle drinks aren’t available, look for other curious herbaceous ingredients like pandan leaves, génépi liquor, and muddled arugula. 132 E. Holly St., Bellingham, 360.325.7802, matthewshonestcocktails.comt

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Tayberries Spontaneous Ferment: Tayberries & Plums at Garden Path Fermentation

H

AVE YOU EVER heard of a tayberry

before? This unusual fruit is a hybrid between a raspberry and a blackberry, and because they can’t be machineharvested, you’re not likely to spot them in grocery stores. You can occasionally pick up a punnet from the farmers market, but for a more adventurous experience, we recommend consuming them in the form of beer—particularly in the Spontaneous Ferment: Tayberries & Plums by Garden Path Fermentation. “[Tayberries are] really bright, really savory, and they’re really, really hard to work with,” says Garden Path Co-Owner Amber Watts. “So this beer is 100% spontaneously fermented using yeast from the air, aged for several years in oak, and then we re-fermented it with tayberries and locallyharvested plums.”

Photo by Cocoa Laney

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The result is a beer that lines up perfectly with Garden Path’s goal: to create unique, tasty brews that make full use of Skagit’s abundant agricultural resources. Garden Path’s beers are fermented with 100% native yeast, and they’re one of the few breweries in the world that makes beer, wine, cider, and mead with such hyper-local ingredients.

Watts says that creating spontaneous ferments is a years-long process, and in this case, the result is a beer that’s “a little bit tart, a little bit funky, but the

berries are gonna shine through.”

To sample some of these spontaneous and fascinating potions, you can stop in at Garden Path’s Burlington headquarters, or visit The Great Northern Bottle Shop & Lounge in downtown Bellingham. 11653 Higgins Airport Way, Burlington | 1319 Commercial St., Bellingham, 360.503.8956, gardenpathwa.comt

Wineries of Whatcom County WRITTEN BY AMBERLEIGH BROWNSON

Van Vino Vineyards

Lagom Vineyards

Barmann Cellars

Snuggled on the border of Lynden in the beautiful farmlands of Blaine is Van Vino Vineyards. Their awardwinning grower of estate Pinot Noir, Zach Deloof, also makes wine with various varietals from Washington’s esteemed Red Mountain AVA. Open to tastings by appointment (and hoping to open a public tasting room soon), this is an ideal trip to see the hillsides and sprawling growing region coupled with tasting some extremely well-made wine as a finale. Blaine, vanvinovineyard.com

This family-owned and -operated winery spans six acres in the lush Nooksack Valley.

With the goal of producing high-quality wines starting with the highest-quality grapes, Lagom implements sustainable and regenerative farming practices and handharvests their estate fruit. While their farm is not usually open to the public, their wines are available on their website for shipping and local pickup. Try the Siegerrebe, a fruity and floral variety of white wine made from grapes grown almost exclusively in Germany, England, Vancouver Island, and Washington state! 4298 Mt. Baker Hwy.,

Not only can you find sustainably-made wine with minimalistic simplicity, you will also find ciders and piquette to delight your senses and push the “normal” of wine-making to its outer-edges.

Embracing pet-nat and natural fermentation, owners Stephanie Barmann and Jesse Nickerson employ techniques to showcase the flavors nature intended. 7802 Silver

GLM Wine Co.

Lake Rd., Maple Falls, 360.319.0847, barmancellars.com

Everson, 360.393.3247, lagomvineyards.com

Making wine as GLM Wine Co. since 2002, Tom Davis and Tracey DeGraff have a quaint and trendy garage winery in Blaine, just before you cross into Canada. With a vine growing along the entrance and a large garage door that invites the outdoors in, the winery creates the perfect atmosphere to taste their Eastern Washingtonsourced wine and learn about the terroir that makes Washington special.

Specializing in “enrobed” wine (think opposite of rosé), and Double Gold iterations of less commonly known varietals, GLM Wine Co. is sure to please every palate. 1678 Boblett St., Blaine, 360.332.2097, glmwine.com

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Dynasty Cellars

Samson Estates Winery

Welcome Road Winery

Multi-award-winners for too long to count, winemakers Peter and Olga Osvaldik harness their love for Walla Walla fruit into the glass with Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and their 100%-forcharity 400 STRONG red blend. Their tasting room in Bellingham is the perfect spot to pause between shopping and visiting Puget Sound to sip, sample, chat, and mingle with locals. 2169 E.

With fruit wine being Rob Dhaliwal’s strength and mainstay, including all the berry options, Samson Estates has branched out to feature other offerings such as Syrah, Chardonnay, Merlot, and Riesling. If you venture to Everson though, be sure to try their Oro hazelnut wine—it really is liquid gold. 1861

Owners Leigh McMillan and Kristen Dorrity source their certifiedsustainable grapes from top growers in Yakima Valley and have tasting rooms in Seattle and Bellingham. With a cozy, laid-back feel, their downtown Bellingham location offers samples of their humble award-winning wines, and is replete with a coffee shop and retail offerings. 300 W.

Bakerview Rd., Bellingham, 360.220.4111, dynastycellars.com

Van Dyk Rd., Everson, 360.966.7787, samsonestates.com

Champion St., Bellingham, 206.486.0788, welcomeroadwinery.com

Vartanyan Estate Winery Owner and Winemaker Margarita Vartanyan welcomes visitors from near and far in her cottage-like tasting room with beautiful views of Mount Baker and a plethora of varietals to choose from including Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, Gruner Veltliner, Merlot, Pinot Gris, and Syrah, to name a few. 1628 Huntley Rd., Bellingham, 360.756.6770, vewinery.com

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Taste Dining Guide THE BLACK CAT American

DINING KEY . . . . . . . . . . . . . under $20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $20–34 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$35–49 . . . . . . . $50 or greater . . . . . . . . . . . . . Breakfast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brunch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lunch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dinner . . . . . . . . . .Family-Friendly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Takeout . . . . . . . . Outdoor Seating . . . . . . . . . . Reservations . . . . . . . . . . . Happy Hour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vegan . . . . . . . . . . . New Review Menu items and prices are subject to change, so check before you go. See all our restaurant reviews on our Taste tab at bellinghamalive.com * Review provided by restaurant.

1200 Harris Ave., Ste. 310, Bellingham 360.733.6136, blackcatbellingham.com Tucked away in the heart of Fairhaven, this iconic Bellingham eatery serves up craft cocktails and American fusion eats on the third floor of the Sycamore Square building.

Come for happy hour and stay for the delicious food and warm, welcoming atmosphere.

CAFE VELO Coffeehouse, Deli 120 Prospect St., Bellingham 360.392.0930, cafe-velo.cc Cafe Velo is a European-inspired cafe with a twist— in addition to serving fresh espresso, the cafe also doubles as a bike shop. With plenty of outdoor seating—and bike racks—customers can bask in the fresh air while enjoying a beverage or sandwich named after one of the owner’s favorite climbs from bicycle racing. This is more than just a place to quickly grab a bite; it’s a place to build community.

COA MEXICAN EATERY Mexican 1065 E Sunset Dr., Bellingham, 360.526.2108 1810 Riverside Dr, Mount Vernon, 360.840.1938 214 Maple Ave., La Conner, 360.466.0267 coaeatery.com

AMBO ETHIOPIAN CUISINE Ethiopian 902 N. State St., Bellingham 360.756.1627, amboethiopian.com If you’ve never had Ethiopian food before, get ready—you’re in for a treat. Ambo has something to offer meat eaters and vegans alike, and it’s the best kind of comfort food: Hearty, healthy, and warming on a soul-deep level.

One bite of a taco or one sip of a margarita and you’re hooked. This eatery offers frequent customer appreciation days, offering 50 percent off food if you pay in cash. Deals and good food — what more could you want? Even on a different night, with the choice of fajitas, burritos, chimichangas, or flan, you won’t be disappointed.

FAT SHACK American 414 W. Bakerview Rd., Bellingham 360.366.8752, fatshack.com

BIG LOVE JUICE American 1144 10th St., Bellingham 360.383.5336, biglovejuice.com Cold press juices make up the bulk of the menu at Big Love Juice. However, these aren’t your average juices. Big Love Juice uses a hydraulic press, rather than the traditional high-heat methods that eliminate much of the vitamins and nutrients found in fruits and vegetables. Customers looking for something a little heartier can also pick from a multitude of smoothies, soups, salads, bowls, and loaded toasts.

Fat Shack offers a variety of burgers, wings, and their specialty: densely packed sandwiches.

The typical “fat” sandwich is some combination of grilled steak and fried chicken, along with cheese and a host of sides, all pressed inside a fresh hoagie roll. It is not for the meek, or for someone looking for a salad bar. Along with its unapologetic embrace of deep-fried food, Fat Shack serves up some surprises. Its hamburgers are hand-pressed, hand-seasoned, and never frozen.

B-TOWN KITCHEN AND RAW BAR

KEENAN’S AT THE PIER

eight years. She is a four-time award

Seafood, American

winner from Wine Spectator for

714 Lakeway Dr., Bellingham 360.392.6520, btownkitchen.com

804 10th St., Bellingham 360.392.5510, keenansatthepier.com

If fresh shellfish is your gastronomic highlight, you’re in the right place at B-Town Kitchen and Raw Bar. Items from the Small Plates menu make terrific appetizers or adult-beverageworthy snacks. The heated patio provides an urban vibe suited for parties or gatherings.

Located inside the Chrysalis Inn & Spa in Fairhaven, Keenan’s at the Pier features fresh, local cuisine and a full bar. Keenan’s highlights the beauty and style of the Pacific Northwest with fresh ingredients that are seasonal and regionally sourced. Enjoy Bellingham Bay views from every table. Reservations are highly recommended.

Photo by Brandee Simons

GUEST SOMMELIER Amberleigh Brownson Amberleigh Brownson has been a local sommelier and international wine judge in Whatcom county for

her wine program and wine pairing dinners, and has become an opinion leader in the Washington wine world, particularly in Whatcom County.

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Northwest, American & Seafood

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Skagit’s Own Fish Market

Fat Shack

Skagit’s Own Fish Market offers the kind of high-quality fresh and local seafood expected from a best of the northwest winner, coupled with personal and knowledgeable service.

We also have a range of delicious freshly-prepared dishes including fish tacos, prawn tacos, crab sandwich, lobster roll, oyster hoagie, pan fried oysters, shrimp cocktail, and crab cocktail. Come to Skagit’s Own Fish Market, where you’re assured a warm welcome, and where you’re guaranteed to see the very best local seafood..

Get all your late night cravings in one spot. Enjoy our mouthwatering burgers made of 100% Angus beef on a toasted brioche bun, our delicious deep fried desserts, or one of our classic late night munchie foods like cheese fries or mozzarella sticks. Our Iconic Fat Sandwiches are what keep customers coming back time and again. Jam-packed with your favorite late-night food, these sandwiches are a craving you won’t be able to resist.

18042 WA-20, Burlington 360.707.2722, skagitfish.com

414 W Bakerview Rd. Suite 112 Bellingham, Delivery available @ fatshack.com 360.366.8752

The Bagelry

The North Fork Brewery

Since 1984, The Bagelry has been a landmark in Bellingham, the place to meet for breakfast, lunch, coffee, or snacks and to enjoy one of our fabulous bagels. You can find a great cross section of local people at any time of day enjoying these traditional bagels.

There is nothing like a good bagel, and at The Bagelry, we proudly produce the best bagels in the Northwest. The bagels at The Bagelry are made in the time-honored tradition that is hard to find today even in New York. With no preservatives or additives, The Bagelry’s bagels taste like the bagels that our grandparents loved!

The North Fork is a rustic roadhouse at MP 20 on Mt. Baker Highway. Enjoy hand tossed pizzas, grinders, appetizers, salads and craft beer. All of our beer is made on-site and includes an assortment of freshly brewed, small batch ales, lagers, and barrel-aged sours. Relax in our Beer Shrine dining room that is family friendly. Come for weekly food specials and daily Happy Hour. Wines, ciders and house-made root beer are also available. We are open year-round.

1319 Railroad Ave. 360.676.5288 bagelrybellingham.com

100 Welcome-Whatcom.com BellinghamAlive.com

6186 Mt. Baker Highway, Deming 360.599.BEER northforkbrewery.com

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KURUKURU SUSHI Japanese, Sushi 11 Bellwether Way, Bellingham 360.392.8224, kurukurubellingham.com KuruKuru Sushi, which translates to “go around Sushi,” offers not only a good meal, but a good experience as well. Along with the more traditional sushi, delicious lightly tempura-fried sushi also makes its way around the conveyor belt. If you don’t see something you like, the chefs behind the counter will gladly make something for you.

LEADER BLOCK TRATTORIA & BAR Italian 2026 Main St., Ferndale 360.306.8998, leaderblock.com Leader Block pairs their extensive wine list with an Italian, from-scratch menu that emphasizes flavors of the region. This upscale menu makes it a perfect spot for a date or special occasion, while the friendly Ferndale atmosphere and kids’ menu keep it appropriate for family dinners as well.

LITTLE CHEERFUL American 133 E. Holly St., Bellingham 360.738.8824 Little Cheerful is a bustling breakfast spot, ideal for customers looking to enjoy a mouthwatering meal over conversation or a newspaper. The cafe has maintained its popularity through the growth of breakfast cafes in the area.

Their menu includes something for everyone, whether you are gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, or an omnivore—and if you are craving eggs benedict, Little Cheerful is definitely for you.

THE MILL AT SEVENTH French 655 Front St., Lynden 360.778.2760 The Mill is the type of place where one could spend a full afternoon grazing on cheeses, sipping cocktails, and enjoying a good book.

The bistro-like atmosphere gives the restaurant a European vibe without losing the welcoming small-town service of Lynden. The menu is full of bistro plates like fresh salads, paninis, soups, and, of course, meats and cheeses.

NEW WHATCOM PASTRIES American No storefront, pre-order required 360.223.0613 newwhatcompastries.square.site Order today for warm, fruit filled, flaky danish, bear claws, homemade “hearty” buttermilk scones, strudel, and more for tomorrow morning.

Choose between convenient, no-contact porch pickup or delivery in the greater Bellingham area. Enjoy 5% off your next order with coupon code NWPALIVE2025*

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Nickis Bar and Grill on the waterfront in Bellingham serving award winning, hand dipped, tempura style fish & chips. Build your own burger featuring our handcrafted USDA chuck patties and fresh baked buns.

VOTED BEST FISH & CHIPS

VOTED BEST BURGER

2615 South Harbor Loop Drive, Bellingham 360.332.2505 | nickisbellamarina.com

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McKay’s Tap House & Pizzeria McKay’s has been a family owned, family friendly tap house & pizzeria since 2003. We offer 54 different craft beers and ciders on tap, pizza, hot subs, & wings. We also offer gluten free and vegans options. We host several weekly events and nightly shenanigans. If you’re not able to visit us in the tap house we have our own inhouse drivers that will deliver your order right to your door, including select beers for those 21 and over.

The Oyster Bar on Chuckanut Drive Perched on a cliff overlooking the San Juan Islands, we deliver an elevated dining experience as unforgettable as the view. Indulge in fresh seafood, premium steaks, and vegetarian options, all thoughtfully paired with our extensive, award-winning wine list.

Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion, sharing a romantic evening, or simply treating yourself, we invite you to discover a true gem of fine dining in the Pacific Northwest.

1118 E Maple St., Bellingham 360.647.3600 | McKaysTaphouse.com

2578 Chuckanut Dr, Bow, WA 360.766.6185 theoysterbar.net

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THE ULTIMATE DINING EXPERIENCE

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• Dinner Monday-Thursdays 4PM-9PM • Dinner Friday & Saturday 4PM-10PM • Closed Sundays; Opening Sundays Winter/Spring 2025 • Free perimeter parking and adjacent lots • Special Occasion Specialists...All events including most Holidays • Happy Hour Monday-Thursday 4PM to 6PM • Wine Dinners in effect now & held every 2nd or 4th Sunday of the month • Weekend Brunches resuming this Winter of 2025 • Casual attire, kid friendly. Dietary restrictions sensitive • On-Premise/Off-Premise catering. Restaurant Rental, Bottle wine to go

2023 GOLD WINNER

BEST ITALIAN RESTAURANT

Leader Block Trattoria & Bar

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Located in the heart of Downtown Ferndale in the historic Leader Block building

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2026 Main St, Ferndale, WA 98248 Reservations via Cell/Text 206.484.9255 / Main: 360.306.8998 | New website to be completed soon!

Follow us on Meta & Instagram

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Dining Guide Taste

Bellingham Cider Company

Galloway’s Cocktail Bar

Bellingham Cider Company is a local craft cider producer and restaurant with a full bar overlooking Bellingham Bay and the Waterfront District of downtown. We practice sustainability through our net-zero fully solar-powered facilities while sourcing from local farms and businesses. We make smallbatch ciders from 100% Washington apples with no added sulfites, colors or preservatives. Our award-winning lineup of ciders reflects the freshest ingredients. We are committed to being Fiercely Local.

Step into the timeless allure of Fairhaven’s deco-era cocktail bar. Indulge in award-winning signature cocktails crafted with precision and flair. Explore seasonal menus with our tasty small bites designed to tantalize your taste buds. Whether you prefer the ambiance of indoor dining or a heated outdoor space, we’ve got you covered. Looking to host a memorable event? Discover our private event spaces for an unparalleled party experience.

205 Prospect St., Ste. A-105, Bellingham 360.510.8494, bellinghamcider.com

1200 10th St., Ste. 102, Bellingham 360.756.2795 gallowayscocktail.bar

CHeBA Hut

The Score Sports Bar & Grill

CHeBA Hut Bellingham-Oldtown is located in the iconic “Rocket Donuts” building in Oldtown, beside the restored Rocket itself! The decor boasts murals from local artists highlighting PNW lure! Play a board game or attend weekly events like Video Game nights, Bingo, or Trivia nights! To top off our stellar vibe, we serve up the best dang “toasted” subs, salads, and munchies, AND have a FULL BAR! Fun for all ages in all stages!

The Score Sports Bar & Grill is proud to be Whatcom County’s best place to eat, drink and watch the game!

Located at 2030 Main Street – in the heart of Ferndale – we have an incredible menu, a fully-stocked bar, TVs in sight of every seat, and walls covered in sports memorabilia to create the perfect elevated atmosphere.

Come by to check out our food, our drinks, our atmosphere and our service: Come Check The Score!

306 W Holly St., Bellingham 360.684.3323

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

2030 Main Street, Ferndale, WA 360.920.7891, thescoredowntown.com

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Taste Dining Guide NICKI’S BAR AND GRILL/ NICKI’S BELLA MARINA American, Seafood

a.k.a. paninis. You can also find coffee from Bellingham Coffee Roasters and select desserts.

2615 S. Harbor Loop Dr., Bellingham 360.332.2505, nickisbellamarina.com Harborside visitors can grab a bite at Nicki’s Bar and Grill or rent out the floor above, Nicki’s Bella Marina, for private events with spectacular views of Bellingham Bay. Once you’ve had a chance to check out the water, take your first glance at the large menu. The burgers are big, juicy (there are even Wet-Naps on the table), and flavorful.

RED GINGER ASIAN CUISINE Asian

THE NORTH FORK BREWERY Eclectic, Bar

SKYLARK’S HIDDEN CAFE Eclectic

6186 Mount Baker Hwy., Deming 360.599.2337

1308 11th St., Bellingham 360.715.3642, skylarkshiddencafe.com

Pizza and beer is a pairing that truly stands the test of time. At Deming’s long-running North Fork Brewery, which opened in December of 1997, the two remain as strong as ever.

The North Fork’s brews are made in small batches by their longtime brewer and his custom draft system. The old-style pub feels homey and familiar, with quirky decorations like a glass wall encasing rows and rows of beer bottles. It’s a warm, inviting place to escape the biting temperatures outside.

Skylark’s Hidden Cafe in Fairhaven is worth seeking out. From decadent breakfast items and house specialties to hearty dinner entrees, the menu at Skylark’s is varied and every bite delicious. Come for the food and stay for the jazz on select evenings.

NORTHWATER Regional NW 4260 Mitchell Way, Bellingham 360.398.6191, northh2o.com From breakfast to late night dinner, northwater’s 185-seat restaurant features a diverse menu of Pacific Northwest dishes made from locally sourced and sustainable ingredients. The restaurant’s waitstaff is personable and enthusiastic — eager to answer our questions about ingredient sources and what desserts they’d recommend.

THE PENNY FARTHING BAR & RESTAURANT American

1309 Cornwall Ave., Bellingham 360.738.7179, chuckanutbaydistillery.com Between craft cocktails and creative dishes designed for sharing, a night spent at the Penny Farthing will be one to remember. The bar and restaurant are operated by (and located within) Chuckanut Bay Distillery, and their house-made spirits are complemented by creative and locally-sourced dishes.

THE PURPLE FLAMINGO CAFE American 929 E. Bakerview Rd., Bellingham, mygardennursery.com Longtime customers of My Garden Nursery are in for some exciting and delicious news: Your next visit to the nursery can include flowers, fruit trees, flamingos, and food. The menu features a selection of soups, sandwiches made from Avenue Bread bread, salads, and “flaminis,”

104 Welcome-Whatcom.com BellinghamAlive.com

1208 E. Maple St. Bellingham, WA 98225 360.306.8629 redgingerbellingham.com Newly opened this summer, Red Ginger offers traditional authentic asian cuisine at a great price point. Their take on mongolian beef, Seven Flavor Beef,isexceptional.Dine-inortake-out,givethematry.

TASTE OF INDIA Indian 3930 Meridian St., Ste. 107, Bellingham 360.647.1589, tasteofindiabellingham.com At Taste of India, all the dishes are rich, delicious, and authentic. Dishes come with your choice of pulao rice or the classic Indian bread naan. Taste of India offers a variety of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes, all with exquisite and well-developed flavors. For those unsure of what to order, or those who want to try multiple dishes at once, try the lunch buffet.

TERRAMAR BREWSTILLERY Bistro, Bar 5712 Gilkey Ave, Edison, WA 98232 360.399.6222, terramarcraft.com Terramar Brewstillery and Pizza - A craft Brewery, Cidery, Distillery, Artisan Pizza in Edison, WA sourcing our ingredients from the fertile Skagit Valley. Multiple tasting rooms with a family and pet friendly taproom, 21+ speakeasy, and large outdoor space to enjoy views of Puget Sound, Skagit farmland, and Chuckanut Mountains.*

SLO-PITCH SPORTS GRILL AND CASINO 3720 Meridian St., Bellingham 360.733.2255, slopitchcasino.com Conveniently located right on Meridian, SloPitch serves up a great burger and fries. With excellent happy hour specials in a casual, sports atmosphere, Slo-Pitch is a great place to watch the game or take a midday break.

TEMPLE BAR Bistro, Bar 306 W. Champion St.,Bellingham 360.676.8660, templebarbellingham.com Continually recognized for their craft cocktails and small plates, Temple Bar aims to please.

In between delicious bites made from locally sourced ingredients, sip on a unique cocktail with house-made infusions and bitters.

STORIA CUCINA AND BAR CICOTTI Italian

109 Grand Ave., Ste. 102, Bellingham 202 Grand Ave., Bellingham 360.734.1929 | 360.656.6802 storiacucina.com | barcicotti.com

WAKE ‘N BAKERY American 6903 Bourne St., Glacier 360.599.1658, getsconed.com

Storia Cucina & Bar Cicotti are local Italian restaurants keeping the classics alive! Every dish, cocktail, and wine has a rich connection to Italy’s food and beverage history while adding Pacific Northwest flair. We have rotating daily specials and a daily happy hour.

Wake ‘n Bakery is a staple rest stop along Mount Baker Highway. If you’re in need of a sweet treat and hot coffee to bring the feeling back to your numb fingers, this will fit the bill. Whether you’re traveling to or from the mountain, watch for its signs as you pass through Glacier — the cafe is about a block off the highway.

THE STEAK HOUSE AT SILVER REEF

WANIDA THAI CUISINE Thai

4876 Haxton Way, Ferndale 360.383.0777, silverreefcasino.com

1213 Dupont St., Bellingham, 360.746.8642, wanidathai.com 3200 Northwest Ave., Bellingham, 360.393.3138, wanidathaibistro.com

Steak, Seafood

This award-winning restaurant offers elegant dining and an intimate atmosphere. Prime-grade steaks are broiled at 1,800 degrees to lock in the natural juices and finished with a special steak butter.

They also have an extensive wine list. This dining experience rivals any of the big-town steakhouses in quality and service without the big-city price tag.

Bellinghamsters who love Thai know the name Wanida! Now with two locations, Wanida Thai serves up authentic Thai food from appetizers, soups, noodles, curries, and stir-fry. Whether you’re satisfying a craving with Phad Thai or trying something fresh like their Papaya Salad, you won’t be disappointed by their menu.

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Drayton Harbor Fresh Oysters

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all made in-house from scratch. ​

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ƐĂůĂĚƐ͕ ĂƉƉĞƚŝnjĞƌƐ ĂŶĚ ŚĞĂƌƚLJ ĚŝƐŚĞƐ Ăůů ŵĂĚĞ ŝ ŶͲŚŽƵƐĞ ĨƌŽŵ ƐĐƌĂƚĐŚ͘ 685 Peace Portal Dr. Blaine, WA​ ŶũŽLJ Ăů ŽŶŐƐŝ ĚĞ ůŽĐĂů ƚĂƉƐ ĂŶĚ ŐůŽďĂů ǁŝŶĞƐ ŝŶ Ă ĐŽnjLJ͕ ĨĂŵŝů LJͲĨƌŝĞŶĚůLJ ĂƚŵŽƐƉŚĞƌĞ ǁŝƚŚ ĚĞůŝŐŚƚ ĨƵů ŚĂƌďŽƌ ǀŝĞǁƐ͘ ŝŶĞ ŝŶ͕ ƚ ĂŬĞ ĂǁĂLJ͕ Žƌ ƐŚŽƉ ŽƵƌ 360.656.5958 ​ ĨĂƌŵ ƐƚŽƌĞ͘ &ĂŵŝůLJͲŽǁŶĞĚ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚ LJͲori ented, we’re here for you! draytonharboroysters.com ϲϴϱ WĞĂĐĞ WŽƌƚĂů ƌ͘ ůĂŝŶĞ͕ t ϯϲϬͲϲϱϲͲϱϵϱϴ

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116 1st St., LaConner, WA​ 360.466.4261 ​ nellthorn.com

Now Booking for 2025

Visit our Bistro

Our location and planning team offers everything needed to create an amazing event to remember.

A Stunning Venue for your Big Day!

Join us at our modern fusion bistro overlooking our amazing golf course views.

Picturesque 18 Hole Golf Course

Inspired Dining & Cocktails with a View

1500 E Axton Rd, Bellingham, WA 98226 • ShuksanGolf.com • (360) 398-8888 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Welcome Newcomers Guide 2024 105 2025 105

Pros to Know We are pleased to share with you these select professionals, from building to home improvement, who can assist you on all your projects—large and small. Whether you’re planning a minor update or a major build, start your project on a firm foundation!

106 BellinghamAlive.com

The Pros Whatcom Lawns p.108 Highline Construction p.109 Edwards Window Fashions p.109 Aqui Esta Tile p.110 Haven Design Workshop p.110 Jennifer Ryan Design p. 111 The Glass Guru p. 113

Welcome Newcomers Guide 2025 107

CONSTRUCTION / PROS TO KNOW

HIGHLINE CONSTRUCTION Five-time gold winner for Best Builder, Highline Construction consistently ranks at the top for quality customer care and expert level design, building, and excavation services. Clients choose Highline for their endto-end service and their ability to deliver on their promises.

Their respected design-build team has long been known for their large-scale residential remodels, additions, and new builds. In recent years, they added civil construction/ excavation services including: site prep, stormwater management, grading and yard expansion, gravel driveways, block walls, and more.

Continued growth places Highline as a business to lookout for in the commercial and multi-family construction arenas. With the same promise for high-quality, comprehensive, and timely service to commercial clients and multi-family housing developers, we expect to see an even broader portfolio from Highline in coming years.

Clients have deemed Highline a “first-class, five-star builder” who is “timely, pleasant, and responsive” resulting in a “fantastic experience from start to finish.”

360.746.5455 highlinewa.com

WINDOW COVERINGS / PROS TO KNOW

EDWARDS WINDOW FASHIONS Introducing John and Sara DeBoer, the driving force behind Edwards Window Fashions. With a passion for design and years of industry experience, Sara specializes in creating solutions that marry functionality with aesthetic appeal. Her keen eye for detail ensures each window treatment complements and enhances any space. Supporting Sara’s creative vision is John DeBoer, known for his impeccable installation and project management skills combined with a dedication to customer satisfaction. Together, they are committed to delivering seamless experiences from initial consultation to final installation. Together they excel in personalized service, collaborating closely with clients to understand their needs and style preferences. Their portfolio spans residential and commercial projects, distinguished by innovative solutions and top-notch craftsmanship. Edwards Window Fashions is not just about beautiful window treatments; it’s about transforming spaces with professionalism and care. John and Sara DeBoer’s passion and proficiency make them trusted partners in the art of window coverings, turning visions into reality with precision and flair.

1002 Benson Ln, Lynden 360.966.4142 edwardswindowfashions.com

Welcome Newcomers Guide 2025 109

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2124 Grant Street Bellingham 360.734.7374 • aquiestatile.com Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm Saturday 10am - 2pm

FACES

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Haven Design Studio FACES

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THE FACE OF

INTERIOR DESIGN Jennifer Ryan Design 360.319.7092 jenniferryandesign.com

Jennifer is a multi-talented authority on all things beautiful, fashionable, and functional, with a passion for bringing style and personality to your home’s most important spaces. Jennifer Ryan Design offers it all —design, planning, production, and contractor services. A chameleon of sorts…starting in her “designer” heels and then transforming into her contractor wear. From start to finish, Jennifer will help you create the surroundings you’ll enjoy for a lifetime.

“Creating beautiful rooms that are well designed, comfortable, and reflective of the people who live there is my goal as a designer.”

“Creating rooms that are well built, with quality materials, attention to detail, while making sure my clients are well taken care of during the process is my goal as a contractor.”

Welcome Newcomers Guide 2025 111

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“Home is what you take with you, not what you leave behind.”

N.K. JEMISIN

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GLASS, WINDOW & DOOR SOLUTIONS FOR HOMES AND BUSINESSES

7344 GUIDE MERIDIAN, LYNDEN, WA

THE GLASS GURU Welcome to The Glass Guru of Bellingham, where expertise meets excellence in glass services!

Serving Whatcom and Skagit counties, our team takes pride in being your premier destination for all things glass. With a rich history of serving the local community, we have earned a reputation for delivering top-notch craftsmanship and unparalleled customer service. As your trusted neighborhood glass specialists, we offer a comprehensive range of services tailored to meet your every need, from residential

360.927.9395

glass repairs and installations to commercial glazing projects.

At The Glass Guru of Bellingham, we understand that each client is unique, which is why we prioritize personalized attention and customized solutions. Our team of skilled professionals boasts years of collective experience and is committed to exceeding your expectations at every turn.

Whether you’re looking to enhance the aesthetics of your home with a stunning new shower enclosure or seeking energy-efficient solutions for your commercial property, we have the knowledge and expertise to bring your vision to life.

THEGLASSGURU.COM We’re more than just your local glass experts – we’re your partners in transforming spaces and creating lasting impressions. Whether you’re a homeowner, business owner, or contractor, we invite you to experience the unparalleled service and craftsmanship that have made us a staple in the Bellingham community. Get to know us, and discover why we’re the go-to destination for all your glass needs!

®

We

Whatcom!

Come see why our team received “Best Bank” in Best of the Northwest by Bellingham Alive. We’re excited to help you navigate your options on the path to financial well-being.

Arne Arnesen

Jami Peterson

Joel Smith

Jorge V. Alvarez

Julie Ranson

Tiffany Bergsma-Evans

Sr. Director of Commercial Banking aarnesen@ourfirstfed.com 206-790-2742

Branch Manager Ferndale Branch NMLS# 720584 jalvarez@ourfirstfed.com

Branch Manager Bellingham Barkley Branch NMLS# 1688652 jpeterson@ourfirstfed.com

Branch Manager Bellingham Fairhaven Branch NMLS# 422234 jranson@ourfirstfed.com

Director of Mortgage Lending NMLS# 1751983 jsmith@ourfirstfed.com

Mortgage Loan Officer NMLS# 487561 tbergsmaevans@ourfirstfed.com 360-303-9540

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