About Bellingham

Coffee House Kayak Parking, Sean Stockburger. Photo provided by the City of Bellingham.

Located amid the green islands of the Washington coast and the majestic peak of Mt. Baker, Bellingham is a cozy community shared by about 82,000 people. Less than 20 miles south of Canada, Bellingham boasts one of grandest natural harbors in the northwest, able to dock the largest ocean vessels. Because of its central location and proximity to the coast, Bellingham is a transportation center connecting Seattle and

View from Boulevard Park, David Veatch. Photo provided by the City of Bellingham.

Vancouver with the San Juan Islands and Alaska. As a commerce hub for the region, this harbor town boasts a healthy economy, the gorgeous natural beauty the Pacific Northwest is known for, and some of the friendliest locals around. Bellingham combines local industry, the savvy of a college town, and a robust lifestyle dating back to 1852. The city is filled with magnificent scenery, a culture of outdoor recreation, Western Washington University, the Alaska Ferry, the Canadian border, Mt. Baker, the Salish Sea, local food, spirits, art and music. These are all part of the genuine Bellingham experience.

Click to learn more about our unrivaled outdoor recreation, educational opportunities, the art community and business opportunities. Scroll down to learn more about our fresh and local agruiculture.

Rural areas in Whatcom County are nearly indescribable. Credit: Jon Brunk Photo provided by Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism.

Buying local, eating local, and supporting local businesses is an essential mindset when it

Farm Fresh, Lauren McClanahan. Photo provided courtesy of the City of Bellingham.

comes to Bellingham culture. Bellingham has firmly embraced all things farmed, fished, and foraged in Whatcom County, which offers amazing diversity, from oysters, salmon and seafood, to the freshest beef, berries, greens and veggies in North America. With 130 miles of marine shoreline and 100,000 acres of highly productive farmland, Bellingham and Whatcom County are a fresh food haven stretching deliciously between the Salish Sea and snow-capped Mount Baker. Hungry patrons can discover more than 70 local farms and fisheries open to the public. A wide range of seafood, berries, apples, pears, vegetables, wine, fresh organic meats, cheeses and dairy products tantalize and satisfy every taste bud.

What’s for Dinner, Liza Aleksandra. Photo provided by the City of Bellingham.

Proximity to the water makes Bellingham a natural seafood destination. On the south side of town, Chuckanut Drive hugs the shoreline as it carries visitors to Taylor Shellfish Farm. Specializing in native clams, geoducks, mussels and oysters, Taylor Shellfish farms 1,700 acres of tidal flats in Samish Bay. Products fresh from the sea are available direct to customers in the farm store, and can be eaten at picnic tables overlooking the water or taken home to enjoy.