No building in Bellingham better displays the history and character of Bellingham better than the 1890 city hall building that is now the Whatcom Museum of Art and History that is shown in the photo to the left.

The main access to downtown Bellingham is Interstate-5 Exit 253, Lakeway Drive. Head west on Lakeway for three blocks to the light then take a diagonal right onto Holly Street. At the bottom of the hill you will find the core of downtown Bellingham.

The corner of Cornwall and Holly is the center of the downtown area. Continue on Holly Street for about 5 blocks and you will be in “Old Town” where Bellingham Began.

Geography

The City of Bellingham lies on Bellingham Bay in northwest Washington State 90 miles north of Seattle on Interstate-5 It has a population of nearly 70,000 and an elevation of 60 feet above sea level.

Downtown Bellingham was nearly a ghost town after Bellis Fair Mall was built in North Bellingham but in the years since then it has revived and it has a pleasant atmosphere with a wide variety of specialty shops.

The Waterfront

On our map to the right the Bellingham Waterfront is shown in the north end. It is shown by the black spur that drops to the southwest and then goes to the northwest below the words “Holly St.” on the map. We have included the waterfront in the downtown information on this page, not in North Bellingham as shown on the map.

If you continue through the downtown on Holly street and go down the hill to “Old Town” you will come to a stop light at F Street. Turn left on F St. go over the railroad tracks then turn right on Roeder Avenue and you will find yourself on the Waterfront.

Click here for a larger version of the map

Bellwether

There are three tourist friendly areas on the waterfront. The first one you will see on Roeder just past “F” street is the sign for “Bellwether” which points down the access road to the Bellwether center. You will find a hotel, several restaurants, and some shops in this waterfront area.

Squalicum Center

If you continue for ½ block past the Bellwether Drive you come to the Port of Bellingham’s Squalicum Center. In Squalicum Center you will find a restaurant, the Port of Bellingham’s offices, and a children’s touch aquarium. There are also a couple of shops in the center.

Squalicum Harbor

Drive 0.5 mile past Squalicum Center on Roeder Avenue and you will come to the access road (Coho Way) to Squalicum Harbor and the Squalicum Harbor center. Most of the shops in this area are oriented toward boaters and yacht supplies but you will also find two restaurants and Zuanich Point Park with its Fisherman’s Memorial. This waterfront park is a great place to fly kites.

Downtown Bellingham

As you enter Bellingham via Holly Street you will find that the Historic Downtown core begins at State Street and continues to Bay Street, a distance of four blocks. It also extends from Maple Street to the west to Chestnut Street on block southwest of Holly to Champion, two blocks northeast of Holly Street

Most of the buildings in Bellingham’s downtown are two stories with a couple of exceptions. However, most of the stores in downtown Bellingham are on the ground level. On Saturdays there is a farmers market at the southwest end of Railroad Avenue for about six months a year. Railroad Avenue got its name because the Milwaukee Railroad’s tracks used to run right up the middle of the street.

Old Town

If you continue past the downtown core on Holly Street you will go down a hill to “Old Town” where Bellingham began. You will find a couple of art galleries, a couple antique shops, a couple restaurants and a gas station in Old Town.

Directions to Historic Downtown Bellingham

Interstate-5 Exit 253 Lakeway Drive and City Center– turn west go 4 blocks to Ellis and take a 45° turn to the right onto Holly. Go down the hill to Cornwall Ave. and you are at city center.

Go one block farther, turn right on Commercial Street and you are at the entrance to the downtown parking garage.

Continue further west on Holly Street and you will go down a hill into “Old Town”. Turn left on “F” street (at the light in old town) go over the railroad tracks and turn right and you are on Bellingham’s waterfront.

Lakeway Center

East of Interstate-5 Exit 253, the Lakeway Exit, you will find a shopping center named Lakeway Center and between the shopping center and the freeway you will find one of Bellingham’s finest hotels, the Lakeway Inn, and a Fred Meyer center. There is also a limited services hotel, Guesthouse, on the north side of Lakeway and one block north is the Visitor Center at the corner of Potter and Lincoln Streets.

Samish Way

Old Highway-99 entered Bellingham from the south from Samish Way which crosses I-5 at exit 252. Samish Way from Exit 252 north for about one mile was Bellingham’s “Motel Row” in the 1960’s. Today many of the old motels are gone or remodeled and several new motels have been build.

At Exit 252 you will also find Sehome Center with Haggen Foods, an upscale grocery store, as the anchor. You will also find REI, as sporting goods store, and a Starbucks in the center. Samish Way and Sehome Center have a wide variety of restaurants.

A little History

Bellingham was founded in the 1850’s and its first business was a lumber mill built at Whatcom Falls on Whatcom Creek on the waterfront in “Old Town.” You will need a map to travel around in Bellingham because it is made up of three different street grids that are left over from the three cities, Whatcom, New Whatcom, and Fairhaven, that united to form the City of Bellingham.

“Old Town” located at the lower end of Holly Street is where Bellingham began. Originally the beach was at the bottom of the bluff behind the area and the railroad tracks and roads to the docks were on piling on the tide flats. Much of the tide flats have been filled in over the years.

Whale Watching Cruises

For a uniquely Washington State experience, take a day to see Puget Sound. There are hundreds of islands in the Greater Puget Sound (for simplicity we include the San Juan Islands and the Canadian Gulf Islands in the Greater Puget Sound). There are three pods of Orca Whales that call these waters home. On occasion you may also see grey or minke whales in the Sound. These whale watching excursions offer an opportunity to see these animals in their native environment. See recommended attractions below for more information.

Recommended Attractions

Shopping
Bellingham Farmers Market is held on Saturdays downtown in the new Depot Market Square building on the south end of Railroad Avenue and Wednesdays in the Fairhaven District. http://www.bellinghamfarmers.org/	Downtown Bellingham Downtown Bellingham was nearly a ghost town after Bellis Fair Mall was built but it the years since then it has revived and is a pleasant atmosphere with lots of specialty shops and restaurants. Interstate-5 Exit 253 – turn west go 4 blocks to Ellis and take a 45° to the right onto Holly. Go to Cornwall Ave and you are at city center. Go one block farther, turn right and you are at the entrance to the downtown parking garage.
Museums
Whatcom Museum of History and Art Whatcom Museum campus is composed of four buildings, featuring exhibitions of contemporary art and regional history, as well as the Children's Museum. The 1892 Old City Hall Building that houses the majority of the exhibits is a stunning large red brick building sitting on a bluff over looking Bellingham Bay. The Museum's collection holds more than 200,000 artifacts of regional importance, including a vast photographic archive. These archives are kept in the Syre Education Center, a 1926 Bellingham Fire Hall adjacent to the 1892 City Hall building. Whatcom Museum of History and Art T 121 Prospect Street; Bellingham, WA 98225 Phone: (360) 676-6981 e	Whatcom Children’s Museum 227 Prospect Street, Bellingham, WA 98225 360-778-8970 http://www.whatcommuseum.org/
Theaters	Whale Watching
The Mt. Baker Theatre 104 North Commercial Street Bellingham, WA 98225 360-734-6080 This beautiful theatre originally opened in 1927 as part of the Fox chain of national theaters. Its elegant architecture with a Moorish-Spanish motif has been well preserved over the years along with its elegant interior. Mt baker Theatre hosts a wide variety of world renowned performances including music concerts, orchestras, ballets, theatrical performances, and other special events. For more information on performances visit: http://www.mountbakertheatre.com/	*Island Mariner Cruises* 5 Harbor Loop Bellingham, WA 98225 360-734-8866 or 1-877-734-8866 http://www.orcawatch.com Experience the breath-taking San Juan Islands and see some whales, too. On their 70-90 mile cruises into the San Juan Islands, you will experience a seven hour long narrated scenic tour by qualified naturalists. There are always at least 2 on board. The San Juan Islands are home to extensive bird species like the Tufted Puffin, Peregrine Falcon and Bald Eagle, as well as Harbor Seals, Porpoises, Sea Lions, Minke & Gray Whales. Orca or Killer Whales are the main focus of the tour but their onboard naturalists will give you the history of the area, guide you through the geology of the Islands, point out significant landmarks such as lighthouses. The experience of seeing the whales in their natural setting is extraordinary, and at times they breach so close to the boat that you get splashed! Over 80 resident Orca whales make up "J", "K" & "L" pods, who call these waters home.
Yacht Charters
*Rosy Custom Cruises* 2814 40^th Street Bellingham, WA 98229-9231 360-676-0740 of cell: 360-201-9231 http://www.rosycruises.com/ A retired couple (master with captain’s license) owns this 36-foot cruiser. They offer custom cruises on Bellingham Bay and into the San Juan Islands. They have several standard cruises and prices on their web site. This is a great opportunity for the visitor to the northwest to see what it is like to own our own yacht and cruise into the islands and have the safety of a licensed captain that can give you a safe trip.
Parks	University
Bellingham Parks and Recreation http://www.cob.org/parks/index.htm	Western Washington University This beautiful campus is located atop Sehome Hill overlooking Bellingham Bay. It is noted for its outstanding outdoor sculpture collection. 516 High Street Bellingham, WA 98225 360-650-3000 http://www.wwu.edu/
Visitor Information
Bellingham ~ Whatcom County Visitors Bureau http://www.bellingham.org/	Bellingham Whatcom County Chamber http://www.bellingham.com/
The Port of Bellingham http://www.portofbellingham.com/

Other Attractions

Antiques

Aladdin’s Antiques – 360-647-0066

427 West Holly Street, Bellingham, WA 98225

Bellingham Bay Collectibles – 360-676-9201

314 West Holly Street, Bellingham, WA 98225

Diamond Antiques – 360-676-9100

1806 Cornwall Avenue, Bellingham, WA 98225

Everybody’s Antique & Collectibles – 360-733-5800

310 West Holly Street, Bellingham, WA 98225

Old Town Antique Mall – 360-671-3301

427 West Holly Street, Bellingham, WA 98225

Penny Lane – 360-647-9570

312 West Holly, Bellingham, WA 98225

Art Galleries

Blue Horse Gallery – 360-671-2305 - http://www.bluehorsegallery.com/

301 West Holly Street #M1, Bellingham, WA 98225

Le Rendez Vous Gift Art Gallery – 360-734-0067

202 East Holly Street, Bellingham, WA 98225

Pacific Marine Gallery – 360-738-8535 - http://www.pacificmarine.com/

700 West Holly Street, Bellingham, WA 98225

Gift Shops/ Specialty Shops

Bijoux – 360-733-8368 - http://www.bijouxtradingcompany.com/

1417 Cornwall Avenue, Bellingham, WA 98225

Magnolia Gifts – 360-392-2819

114 West Magnolia Street, Bellingham, WA 98225

Times ‘n Seasons – 360-671-9557

11 Bellwether Way, Bellingham, WA 98225

Golf

Museums

American Museum of Radio – 360-738-3886 - http://www.amre.us/

1312 Bay Street, Bellingham, WA 98225

Bellingham Railway Museum – 360-393-7540 - http://www.bellinghamrailwaymuseum.org/

1320 Commercial Street, Bellingham, WA 98225

Mindport Exhibits – 360-647-5614 - http://www.mindport.org/

210 West Holly Street, Bellingham, WA 98225

Parks/Gardens

Quilting/Needlecrafts

Fourth Corner Quilts – 360-714-0070 - http://www.fourthcornerquilts.com/

1844 North State Street, Bellingham, WA 98225

Two Thimbles Quilt Shop – 360-715-1629 - http://www.twothimbles.com/

1805 Cornwall Avenue, Bellingham, WA 98225

Scrapbooking/Crafts

Bramble Berry Soap Making Supplies – 360-734-8278 - http://www.brambleberry.com/

2138 Humboldt Street, Bellingham, WA 98225

Dakota Art Store – 360-676-8918 - http://www.dakotaartstore.com/

1411 Cornwall Avenue, Bellingham, WA 98225

Glad Bag Arts & Crafts – 360-733-0952

517 Potter Street, Bellingham, WA 98225

Otion Soap Making – 360-676-1030 - http://www.otionsoap.com/

301 West Holly Street, Bellingham, WA 98225

Stampadoodle Art & Paper – 360-647-9663 - http://www.stampadoodle.com/

915 Iowa Street, Bellingham, WA 98225

(Moving in late fall to 1825 Grant Street)