Top 12 Things To Do In Bellingham, Washington

things to do in bellingham
Victor
Victor 
Updated
| 4 min read

Bellingham City lies on Bellingham Bay and is considered one of the northernmost cities in the United States. It is blessed with a myriad of beautiful waters and breathtaking mountain views, not to mention the lovely historic homes and buildings, that make it a perfect destination for history aficionados. It is one of those destinations that won’t hit the headlines quite often, but harbor incredible attractions that will quickly fill up your itinerary during your trip. If you are wondering about the kinds of attractions you might find in this city, scroll down below for our list of the top things to do in Bellingham, Washington, to help you prepare adequately for your trip.

1. Unleash your artistic potential at Family Interactive Gallery

Perfect for a family vacation, this property in the Lightcatcher building of the Whatcom Museum features stunning artistic creations in the art galleries. Since 2009, this location has been a great place to find exciting things to do with entertaining events and activities, such as engaging at the Artist’s Corner.

This section offers everyone a place to let imagination run wild and unleash creative potential by creating crafts that include science, technology, and art applications, such as making leaf print cards, 3D star decorations, foam volcanoes, and painting stuff. In addition, it has storytime for children, and the property can host birthday parties.

Family Interactive Gallery

Address: 250 Flora St, Bellingham, WA 98225, United States

Website: Family Interactive Gallery

Opening hours: Wed - Sat: 10am - 5pm; Sun: 12pm - 5pm (closed on Mon & Tue)

Price: 10 USD

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2. Spend a vibrant time with performances at Mount Baker Theatre

This property, constructed in 1927, has undergone renovations over the years but has maintained the classic brilliance of its Moorish-Spanish Renaissance configuration, where you will enjoy live performances. Experience the joy of a day made better by watching the professional entertainers who bring their shows on the road, a source of glory for the region’s tourism sector.

Since it includes three separate venues Main Stage theater, Harold & Irene Walton Theatre, and Encore Room—this place is an excellent choice for hosting events with the assistance of the staff that will genuinely make guests feel comfortable and ecstatic.

Mount Baker Theatre

Address: 4408 104 N Commercial St, Bellingham, WA 98225, United States

Website: Mount Baker Theatre

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 10am - 2pm (closed on Sat & Sun)

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3. Enjoy the peace and serenity at Whatcom Falls Park

Whatcom Falls Whatcom Falls Park
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Mrs. Flinger used under CC BY 2.0

This is a city park located on the eastern edge of Bellingham. The lush vegetation, gently running streams, ponds, and flowers all work harmoniously to create the kind of peace and serenity that is depicted in heaven or paradise. It has plenty of open spaces for you to explore, properly maintained hiking trails, and modern park amenities to let you enjoy every minute you spend there. If you are looking for a place to relax and think while you soak in the beauty of nature, then this is one of the best options you will find around.

Whatcom Falls Park

Address: 1401 Electric Ave, Bellingham, WA 98229, United States

Website: Whatcom Falls Park

Opening hours: 6am - 10pm (daily)

Price: Free

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4. Sample fresh produce at Bellingham Farmer’s Market

Bellingham Farmers Market
Source: Needpix

The farmer’s market is located at Depot Market Square and it operates every Sunday from April to December. Take a trip here to sample fresh produce and other exciting local goodies from over 100 vendors. It is a great opportunity to learn about some of the things produced by the region ranging from fresh farm produce to local artisan goods and confections.

Bellingham Farmers Market

Address: 1100 Railroad Ave, Bellingham, WA 98225, United States

Website: Bellingham Farmers Market

Opening hours: Sat: 10am - 2pm (closed from Sun - Fri)

Price: Free

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5. Discover the city's rich history at SPARK Museum of Electrical Invention

SPARK Museum of Electrical Invention
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Joe Mabel used under CC BY-SA 4.0

To all the science buffs visiting Bellingham, here is your chance to walk down memory lane of over 400 years of electrical inventions. The museum is dedicated to celebrating the various experiments and inventions that followed the discovery of electricity. You will find invaluable exhibits that were initially used in the study of radio signals, static electricity, and telegraph among others. If you happen to visit during the weekend, you will be in for a live show where a 9-ft Tesla coil (0.3 m) is used to produce a lightning bolt that is up to 9 ft (2.7 m) long.

SPARK Museum of Electrical Invention

Address: 1312 Bay St, Bellingham, WA 98225, United States

Website: SPARK Museum of Electrical Invention

Opening hours: Wed - Sun: 11am - 5pm (closed on Mon & Tue)

Price: 8 USD

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6. Go for a stroll in the woods at Sehome Hill Arboretum

Forest
Source: Unsplash

Sehome Hill Arboretum has a long and rich history of being a jack of all trades through the years. It has been used as a center for coal mining, an education center, and a logging station. Currently, the area is being used as a park and an arboretum. It is a heavily wooded preserve that is worth a leisure stroll as you ponder over life. While in the arboretum, be sure to check out Old Quarry for the beautiful formation of ancient rock layers. Also, make a stop by the tower for a bird’s eye view of the entire arboretum.

Sehome Hill Arboretum

Address: 600 25th St, Bellingham, WA 98225, United States

Website: Sehome Hill Arboretum

Opening hours: 6am - 7pm (daily)

Price: Free

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7. Admire beautiful pieces of art at Big Rock Garden

Garden Park
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user James Steakley used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Big Rock Garden sits right about the evergreens of Lake Whatcom. It is a unique city park dotted with beautiful sculptures and several footpaths that lead to peaceful and calming landscapes. The parks are home to over 35 permanent works of honorable international and local artists. It is a place where nature and art have come together nicely to complement one another. Whether you love art or nature, you will find a lot of peace and relevance in this park. A visit to this area will never be a waste of your time.

Big Rock Garden

Address: 2900 Sylvan St, Bellingham, WA 98226, United States

Website: Big Rock Garden

Opening hours: 6am - 10pm (daily)

Price: Free

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8. Learn more about the underwater at Marine Life Center

Aquarium
Source: Pixabay

This is where you find a very unique opportunity to discover the kind of life that lurks beneath the bay. At this center, you will find an array of various marine lives and habitat that are present in Bellingham Bay, the coast of Washington, and Puget Sound. You will particularly fall in love with the touch pool experience where you will get really up close and more personal with some of the inhabitants of the marine world.

Marine Life Center

Address: 1801 Roeder Ave STE 100, Bellingham, WA 98225, United States

Website: Marine Life Center

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9. Admire beautiful works of art at Mindport Exhibits

Fine art exhibits
Source: Needpix

At Mindport Exhibits, you will find an inspiring blend of hand-built interactive exhibits and fine art that will not only be a sight for the sore eye, but also great stimulators for your thinking and awareness. In addition to admiring the beautiful works of art, you will also find a decent collection that you can buy and carry back home.

Mindport Exhibits

Address: 210 W Holly St, Bellingham, WA 98225, United States

Website: Mindport Exhibits

Opening hours: Wed - Fri: 12pm - 6pm; Sat: 10am - 5pm; Sun: 12pm - 4pm (closed on Mon & Tue)

Price: 3 USD

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10. Sample the region’s finest wines at Dynasty Cellars

Wine cellars
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Govorkov used under CC BY 2.0

Washington is a wine-producing region, and when in Bellingham, you must never leave without visiting Dynasty Cellars for some exciting wine-tasting experience. The tasting room is usually opened on Friday and Saturday between 1 pm and 6pm. When you visit, you will get a chance to sample the currently available wines alongside a food menu that will give you a good introduction to the region’s culinary diversity. Once you are done with the tasting, you will always be free to buy a few bottles for you to take back home.

Dynasty Cellars

Address: 2169 E Bakerview Rd, Bellingham, WA 98226, United States

Website: Dynasty Cellars

Opening hours: Fri - Sat: 1pm - 8pm (closed from Sun - Thu)

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11. Take a walk down memory lane at Whatcom Museum

Whatcom Museum
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Joe Mabel used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Whatcom Museum has been around for over seven decades. It is one of the most reputable regional showcases of the arts and cultures of the northwest. It houses over 200,000 artifacts featuring regional arts, photographic archives, and relics drawn from various cultures. Depending on your day of the visit, you may find workshops, summer camps, and lecture series that will make you appreciate better what the museum has to offer.

Whatcom Museum

Address: Lightcatcher, 250 Flora Street Old City Hall, 121 Prospect St, Bellingham, WA 98225, United States

Website: Whatcom Museum

Opening hours: Wed - Sun: 12pm - 4:30pm (closed Mon & Tue)

Price: 10 USD

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12. Go fishing at Lake Padden Park

Lake
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Lonelymiesarchie used under CC BY-SA 3.0

This is a popular recreational spot in Bellingham where most people head to whenever they want to hike in and out of the woods, enjoy mountain biking, or go fishing. It also has lots of picnic areas that will make wonderful spots for family day outs. If you don’t want to fish, hike or bike, then you can simply stroll the woods by the lake while you soak in the views as well as the soothing sounds of nature.

Lake Padden Park

Address: 4882 S Samish Way, Bellingham, WA 98229, United States

Website: Lake Padden Park

Opening hours: 6am - 10pm (daily)

Price: Free

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Make your trip to Bellingham a memorable one

No need to spend boring days and boring nights when visiting Bellingham. Consider some of the top things do to in Bellingham, Washington, discussed above to create lasting memories for your trip to the city.

Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Victor firmly believes that writing is a skill anyone can develop, and he is a living testament to that philosophy. With a genuine love for writing, he finds it to be a powerful means of sharing...Read more

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