Bellingham is a scenic coastal city nestled between Mount Baker and the Puget Sound in Washington State. Its waterfront port is the launch point for fishing trips, leisure boating, and cruises to Alaska — a convenient starting point, since the city is only 25 miles south of the Canadian border. Sprawling Whatcom Falls Park showcases the best of the Northwest's natural forested beauty, one of the features that make Bellingham a top Washington destination. Plus, it's only a short drive to the #1 most instagrammable National Park, North Cascades National Park.
Kiddos will light up when they visit the SPARK Museum of Electrical Inventions, home to hands-on science exhibits and live demonstrations. If you're traveling without kids, prepare to hit up Bellingham's brewery scene. Bars, wineries, cideries, and more fine establishments offer quality drinks at prices that still lure students from local Western Washington University. Find some of the best restaurants and shops in the Fairhaven Historic District, distinctive for its Victorian architecture and views over Bellingham Bay.
FlixBus, Quick Shuttle, and Amtrak Thruway buses connect Bellingham to major cities in the Northwest like Seattle. Ambitious travelers can even travel to Bellingham by bus from Minneapolis! Bellingham's proximity to Canada makes it easy to travel to Vancouver, BC via bus or train on the Amtrak Cascades. Several airlines fly into Bellingham International Airport, but Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is only about 2 hours away if you need to catch a flight to farther destinations.