W H AT C O M C O U N T Y
HIT THE WAVES: Walk all the way out to the water’s edge at low tide. You’ll be amazed at how 43far you’ll get. GET RIDING: Pedal up Alderson Road to the rolling hills behind the water’s edge, or ride along the bay from Birch Bay State Park to Birch Bay Village. COMB THE BEACH: Walk along the tide line and search out the curiosities that wash in with the tide. Look for interesting shells, sea glass, driftwood, pretty rocks and more.
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BUILD A SANDCASTLE: Try your hand in a sandcastle contest, and give your sandy creativity free rein. A little imagination goes a long way – create a sea monster, pirate ship, beach scene or whatever your mind dreams up.
photograph top by ruth lauman
THINGS TO DO IN BIRCH BAY:
p h o t o g r a p h b o t t o m b y b i r C h b ay W at e r s l i d e s
simpler time. Discovery Days kicks off with a parade that begins at The C Shop on Alderson Road and rolls along the water down Birch Bay Drive to the Bay Center Market at Harborview Road. The parade is known for its creative and quirky floats entered by local businesses and organizations. After the parade, head to the center of bay for the Discovery Days arts and crafts festival. Browse the booths for locally made handicrafts and enjoy a selection of tasty food from one of many local vendors. The festival wouldn’t be the same without an annual Ducky Derby contest. How fast can your rubber duck float down Terrell Creek? Stop by during the festival and find out. Cool off on a sunny afternoon and take a swim in the bay – no frigid waters in Birch Bay. Like Maple Beach in Point Roberts and Centennial Beach in Tsawwassen, the combination of expansive tide flats warmed by the sun followed by a slow incoming tide makes for warm swimming. Here’s something interesting about the bay: Birch Bay gets approximately 25 percent less rain annually than Bellingham, just 20 miles away. W For more info, visit birchbaychamber.com.