The Urban Hiker

Listen, you East Coast elitists, New York City urbanites and suburbanites, and Bay Area yuppies. Your city is the equivalent of a Baz Luhrmann movie–bloated, loud, and manic. Situated along Bellingham Bay (north Puget Sound) and Whatcom Creek, downtown Bellingham is walk-able with plenty of shops, restaurants, and easy parking, which is probably a thing you miss. Also, if you’re not in the mood for an all-night party on Friday, you can catch the monthly Bellingham Art Walk hosted in multiple sites throughout downtown.

M&K recommend: walking through downtown from it’s heart at the corner of Railroad and Holly, the Saturday morning farmers market (go before the wedding!), Maritime Heritage Park, Mindport (great for kids). Check out Avellino Coffee, where Michael played barista and baker despite never actually being an employee. 

Fairhaven is a quaint, historic district with shops and casual restaurants. Only a few square blocks, it’s a great area to spend an afternoon or evening. Michael took Kevin to The Black Cat restaurant on their first weekend to impress him, or so Kevin keeps telling people.

M&K recommend: The Black Cat, Village Books, The Abbey Garden Tea Room, Skylark’s

The Actual Hiker

Bellingham is in close proximity to Mount Baker and Chuckanut Mountain, but if you’re looking for something a little closer, the Washington Trails Association recommends these 5 trails within 30-minutes’ drive of Bellingham.

M&K recommend: Oyster Dome, Raptor Ridge. For something more leisurely, we recommend Lake Padden Park, Whatcom Falls Park, and South Bay Trail.

The Lush

Remember what a $7-$8 cocktail tastes lake? No? Us neither, because they’re so cheap that we each drank TWELVE OF THEM!

M&K recommend: Boundary Bay Brewery, Chuckanut Bay Distillery, Whatcom Wine Trail (a pretty drive to make responsibly). Check out Bellingham’s Tap Trail’s page for a list of local breweries and beer-related events.

The Introvert

“The Introvert” is not a drink (any drink) sipped from a glass so blindingly reflective that onlookers excuse themselves from the table. Rather, it is a type of person, (a groom, perhaps) who might find a weekend full of social time a bit overwhelming.

M&K recommend: Village Books, Henderson Books, Spa at The Chrysalis (where Michael used to work), The Whatcom Museum, SPARK Museum of Electrical Invention, and the fun-for-the-whole-family Mindport Exhibits. Michael’s alma mater, Western Washington University, also has an impressive, international collection of sculpture art across their sprawling hillside campus.

The Glutton

Good neighborhood pubs and restaurants abound in Bellingham. We recommend lunch at Avenue Bread (there are several locations). If you’re arriving a bit early or staying a bit late, consider making a reservation at one of these restaurants:

• Keenan’s at the Pier – Restaurant at The Chrysalis on Bellingham Bay
• Brandywine Kitchen – Casual farm-to-table dining
• Rock and Rye Oyster House – Located in the historic Bellingham Herald Building
• Pepper Sisters – Southwestern gem
• Honey Moon Mead & Cider – Light bites, great mead, live music
• Ciao Thyme – Eclectic and excellent
• La Fiamma – National award-winning pizza