There is a little hipster hotspot at the very tip of Washington State called Bellingham. The mini city in the woods is populated by college folks and budding families and is also the site of the annual Bellingham Bay Marathon. The big day is coming up on September 30th, 2018. Enthusiasts are trickling in from across the state, across the country, and even across the ocean, wondering where to eat and what to do to get the most out of their Bellingham weekend.

What to do in Bellingham Over The Weekend

Places to Stretch Your Legs

For hikers looking for a view worth sweating for, Cleator Road offers access to many great options. One of our favorites is the forest path that runs through Larrabee State Park along Fragrance Lake and Lost Lake. The path is 6 miles total, making for a challenging hike with a remarkable view.

For marathon participants looking for a pre-race shakeout, a trip up and down Cleator Road or along Whatcom Falls offers both the elevation practice and the scenery. For a custom-length workout, there is a level, yet scenic, path around Whatcom Community College. One loop around campus is about one mile, making it easy to track your progress with or without a fitness watch.

Must-Eats of Bellingham

It doesn’t get more Bellingham than a cold brew at an outdoor pub, and that is just what Schweinhaus Biergarten provides. It’s also a good spot for a cheap bite.

Fans of ornate foods from around the world will love Punjabi Junction, a little spot on The Guide Meridian which also happens to be on the Viking Foods delivery service.

For visitors getting ready for the marathon, carb-loading the night before provides much-needed energy. D’anna’s Café provides an amazing bite of pasta, and On Rice is the place to go for carb-heavy Thai food. Or join us for our one-of-a-kind pre-race dinner cruise: a sunset cruise and lasagna dinner aboard the Chinook.

Visitors looking for a healthy meal will not be disappointed by the Leaf and Ladle with its fresh salads and sandwiches. For vegan fare, check out the new downtown restaurant, Wild Oats.

Hipster Shopping Central

Where do the hipsters of Bellingham go to buy their goods? It may come as a surprise that downtown features two thriving record stores: Everyday Music and Avalon Records. A quick trip down Railroad Avenue will lead to a walk down memory lane, featuring out-of-print music including rare finds from forgotten times. They sell DVDs, too.

Downtown Bellingham is also home to more than a few boutiques offering a unique Pacific Northwest style. Novato boasts prints, t-shirts and other gifts from local artists – many of which highlight Bellingham. For gifts and souvenirs in an outdoorsy theme, it doesn’t get more perfect than Bay to Baker Trading Company. The little Fairhaven shop is loaded with goodies wall to wall.

Places to Be

If you have some time to kill in Bellingham, these are the top spots to check out. First and foremost at the Spark Museum, a place to examine and even play with electrical technology from the past 100 years. The crown jewel of the Spark Museum is the genuine Tesla coil that comes to life at the 2:30 show every Saturday and Sunday. In the meantime, you and the little ones can use the lab to run electrical experiments on your own time.

To catch a movie that isn’t showing in your local regal, check out Pickford Film Center. Walking into the vintage building is like stepping through a time machine into a mysterious place that only puts on independent films. It will be an experience to hold onto.

Every Saturday until winter, the Bellingham Depot Market Square comes to life with local goods. It’s the perfect place to fill up on cheese and honey while looking over a variety of handmade goods from all over Whatcom County.

The marathon is coming up on September 30th, which means it’s time to block off your weekend calendar before it fills up. There is a whole city to explore in just one weekend, so it doesn’t hurt to pick a couple places to check out ahead of time. Enjoy!