My daughter and I took a quick trip to the Pacific Northwest over the weekend. She is graduating from high school in May, and we were checking out a college she is considering. While I’m not looking forward to her leaving for college, it was a great excuse for a mother-daughter trip. And Bellingham, Washington was a really nice place to visit. I have only been to this state a few times, and I have never been this far north. Bellingham is less than 30 miles from the Canadian border and about 65 miles from Vancouver, B.C.
Western Washington University (WWU) is located in Bellingham. It is a state school with a student population of about 15,000. The campus is adjacent to over 180 acres of forest and 6 trails. It overlooks Bellingham Bay and is located less than a mile from downtown Bellingham. I loved it. My daughter hasn’t made up her mind yet, but it’s made the short list.
We landed in Seattle, rented a car, and drove the 90 or so miles north to Bellingham. It was a lovely drive. We saw downtown Seattle, rural farmland, evergreen forests, and waterfalls right next to the highway. Given the traffic I am used to in California, the drive (once we got out of Seattle) was very relaxing. The traffic was light and the speed limit requires you to slow down a bit and enjoy the ride.
First Stop: Fairhaven
We reached Bellingham around noon. I had searched online for interesting things to do before we left, and knew there was a historical district called Fairhaven that would be fun to check out. We stopped there for some lunch and shopping. Fairhaven was originally a separate community from Bellingham and was founded in the 1880s. We wandered through some really cute shops and had a fantastic lunch at the local fish and chips shop. Fish options included traditional cod, Alaskan halibut, and local salmon. Condiments included malt vinegar, tartar sauce, and ketchup. I was happy to try it all. The halibut was my favorite, but it was all really good. We also found a great bookstore, Village Books, and spent quite a bit of time (and money) wandering through three floors of bookshelves and gift items.
Whatcom Falls Park
It was in the bookstore that we heard about our next stop. The friendly clerk asked us where we were visiting from and why we were in town. She recommended seeing Whatcom Falls Park. I twisted my ankle a few days prior to the trip and wasn’t up for a big hike, but this was easy to get to. Parking was free and the views were amazing. I loved the moss covered bridge that dates from the 1930s and was built by the WPA. If my ankle had been better, and if we hadn’t been up since 4 a.m., we would have loved to explore more of the trails. There is something very calming about moss covered trees and waterfalls.
By four in the afternoon, we were checked in to our hotel (TownePlace Suites) and taking naps. We had an early start the next morning and needed to get a little rest. We went out a little later to find some dinner (Mi Mexico in Bellingham…delicious) In the morning, our hotel served a complimentary breakfast (basic, but good) and we were headed to WWU for a long day of tours and information sessions.
Touring the WWU Campus
It rained most of the day. Not surprising considering where we were. I happen to enjoy rainy weather, so it wasn’t a big problem. The campus is beautiful. Everywhere you look, there are trees of one sort or another. It sits up on a hill, so the views are amazing. And WWU is also a sculpture garden. There are about 30 different pieces scattered throughout the campus. Many are interactive.
We went to the student fitness center (amazing climbing wall!), met our tour guide (Dario was awesome), attended a welcome session in the concert hall, went to a couple of class information sessions, and had lunch in the student cafeteria. We also toured a few of the dorms and stopped for hot cocoa at the on-campus Starbucks. The library was really cool. I’m a sucker for a good library. If I was going to be a college student again, this campus would definitely be up for consideration.
Another thing that really impressed me was the down-to-earth friendliness and everyone we met. Sure, it’s a campus tour and they’re trying to make a good impression. But everyone from the tour guide, to the professors, to the office staff were really inviting and friendly. WWU came across as a very open, inviting, and inclusive place.
Exploring Downtown
By the end of the afternoon, we were exhausted, but wanted to look around Bellingham a bit more. We headed downtown. It reminded me of the small town I grew up in, but on a slightly larger scale. Older brick buildings housed everything from restaurants, art stores and galleries to used bookstores (always a favorite), coffee shops, and clothing and gift shops. We found a very special place called Chocolate Necessities. We tried a cup of their drinking chocolate (very, very good) and a cup of their sipping chocolate (life-changingly amazing). Next door to the chocolate shop was a cute little bakery. Is this my kind of town or what! It’s called Pure Bliss Desserts (of course it is!) and it lived up to its name. We also saw some more sculptures. I love a place with great public art.
Our Last Night
Because we had to get up early to drive back to Seattle and catch our flight, we turned in early and ate take-out food from the hotel restaurant. They were actually really good burgers and potato wedges. And the price wasn’t terrible either. The hotel bed was very comfortable and the room was quiet.
We were up on time, had our complimentary breakfast, and were on the road by 8 am. It was a Sunday morning, and there was very little traffic. We made really good time and enjoyed the beautiful scenery heading south. In those 90 or so miles we experienced sun, rain, drizzle, mist, and fog. Apparently this is pretty typical for the Pacific Northwest.
We turned in our car (thanks Dollar Rental, you were great) and made it to our gate with plenty of time to spare. We flew on Alaska Airlines. They are one of the best in our area. I have never had a major problem with them. Every Alaska employee I have ever dealt with has been excellent at customer service. Both our flights were completely full. That’s the way it is these days. But the staff on board were wonderful.
Now we’re home and back to the regular schedule. But next week, we’re off on another adventure. This time we’ll be flying into Portland, Oregon and visiting a university in Salem. I’m pretty sure it’ll be a great photo-op and I’ll be sure to fill you in on it later.
Thanks for reading and please share. If you have a connection to Bellingham or WWU, share your experience in the comments below.
