Bellingham is the largest city in Whatcom County. Bellingham is also the 12th largest community in Washington and is considered a coastal, nautical city because of its history and location on the Bay on the west coast. This city is right off the I-5, only 90 miles north of Seattle, 21 miles south of the Canadian border and Mount Baker is just to the east on the 542, there is so much of the Pacific Northwest to explore in Bellingham! The city is named after the Bellingham Bay which was named in 1792 after Sir William Bellingham. The city, named Whatcom at the time, grew in 1858 during the Fraser Canyon Gold Rush. Bellingham was officially incorporated on November 4, 1903.
This gorgeous coastal town is home to Western Washington University, Whatcom Community College and several great schools for your growing family. Whatcom Community College was established in 1967 and is on 72 acres of land on the north side of Bellingham. Western Washington University has been a continuously growing school since the institution opened on September 6, 1899. Originally, State Normal School in just one building with 36 rooms in 1899, to Western Washington College of Education in 137, the university now now has seven colleges with over 140 majors! With Woodring College of Education in Western Washington University, Bellingham School District and surrounding districts are continuously learning, growing and educating on how to best serve our children in schools.
The Downtown Bellingham area is perfect for enjoying a walk, dining or shopping. Downtown Bellingham offers you so many exciting choices of entertainment, such as: museums, views, restaurants, shops and events! Downtown Bellingham has many events throughout the year, including: Art walks, Farmer’s Markets, parades, Sky to Sea and many others! There are also several brewery’s in Bellingham, as well as delicious local restaurants, unique shops and of course coffee! There are several unique museums in Downtown Bellingham, such as: Mindport which is a hands-on museum to investigate sculptures and science, the Spark Museum which displays inventions and innovations that changed the course of human history and Bellingham Railway Museum.
The Downtown Bellingham area has something to offer families of all ages. Bellingham is a diverse city when it comes to age. The city is not only a college town, but also one of the top retirement communities in the U.S. The Downtown area has a mixture of everyone to enjoy! Breweries such as Boundary Bay Brewery & Bistro, Chuckanut Brewery, Kulshan Brewery and the new Aslan Brewing Company and Wander Brewing are all just minutes away! Dance clubs, bars and nightlife for the college and young adult crowd. Kid-friendly restaurants and places like Mallard Ice Cream and the Family Interactive Gallery in the Whatcom Museum for families with young children. Restaurants such as Temple Bar, Hearth Fire, Lighthouse Bar and Grill and Cliff House for a romantic night out with your loved one at any age.
For a dining or shopping experience outside of the Downtown Bellingham area, there is the Historic Fairhaven District. Take a break from the college town environment, with a small-town feeling. There are several unique, local restaurants in the area including the Abby Garden Tea Room for High Tea or a delicious scone. Above the Abby Garden Tea Room is Creativitea, which is a fired-art studio, where you can paint a variety or ceramic pieces or own fused glass creation. Some of the other many unique restaurants include: the Black Cat, Archer Ale House, Dirty Dan Harris Steakhouse, Mambo Italiano, Harris Ave. Cafe and the Colophon Cafe. There are also many shops in the Historic Fairhaven District, including: Fairhaven Runners & Walkers, Serendipity, Village Books, Fairhaven Rug Gallery and many more! There are many local artists and unique features to the shops in the Fairhaven neighborhood.
Surrounding the downtown area are so many places to enjoy gorgeous views of Bellingham Bay, the San Juan Islands or Mt. Baker. Get out of the city life, with just walking, biking or driving minutes away! Whether you are driving down Chuckanut Drive, walking or biking on a trail or through downtown, Fairhaven or surrounding parks there is always somewhere to explore and enjoy in Bellingham. Chuckanut Drive, or Route 11, is a favorite of all, even if it is just for a drive. Chuckanut Drive is 21.28 miles of gorgeous relaxing views of the Bellingham, Chuckanut and Samish Bays and beautiful, green wooded areas. Many locals also enjoy hiking and biking trails into the wooded areas and parks or down to the coast. The San Juan Islands are visible from many places in town, and there are ferries nearby to take you to more lovely Pacific Northwest adventures. Mt. Baker is up the 542 Mt. Baker Highway and is a gorgeous drive up to wonderful adventures year round: skiing, snowboarding, sledding, hiking or even ice climbing! When you live in Bellingham Washington, there is always a Pacific Northwest adventure just around the corner!
There are some great local ways to enjoy the great outdoors, in one of Bellingham’s many parks! There are several parks in the city that have features for the whole family! With parks like Whatcom Falls Park, Cornwall Park, Boulevard Park, Squalicum Creek Park, Zuanich Park, Lake Padden Park, Arroyo Park, Sehome Hill Arboretum and countless others, there is something for everyone to enjoy! Whatcom Falls park is a very popular park that has a history of over a century! The park has over 241 acres of land and includes several features for the whole family, including: the Derby Pond for children 14 and under seasonal fishing, BBQ Grills, play areas, fish hatchery, multipurpose fields, basketball court, picnic areas, tennis courts, several trails and of course beautiful waterfalls! Boulevard Park is another local favorite, featuring: Boulevard Park was established in 1980 is on the north side of Fairhaven and is popular year round! There are features for the whole family, including: access and views of Bellingham Bay, boardwalk, playground, coffee shop, green space, fishing dock, BBQ grills, beach, picnic tables, parking and the South Bay Trail. The South Bay Trail is 2.3 miles on a gentle grade, gravel trail and connects Downtown Bellingham to the Fairhaven Green through the beautiful Boulevard Park on the coast of Bellingham Bay. The other parks have features such as: biking trails, playgrounds, beach access, an observation tower, and much more!
Real estate in the City of Bellingham varies with several different neighborhoods to choose from! Several of the small communities surrounding the downtown area, such as the Columbia, Lettered Streets or York District have homes dating back to the early 1900s. Many of the homes for sale in this suburban neighborhood range from small (studio to 2 bedroom) to medium (3 or 4 bedroom) family homes. These neighborhoods are in the perfect location to the downtown area, schools for children of all ages and parks! There are also many neighborhoods with a mixture of newer homes and older homes in the Fairhaven area and north side of Bellingham. With some of the neighborhoods having gorgeous water views, the homes can be more expensive than the rest of the city. Then there are the new communities such as Barkley Village! There are homes for sale for any size family in any stage of life in Bellingham!
One of the great things in Bellingham real estate is the amount of unique neighborhoods and homes, with all sizes, styles and colors. There is a home for every family, no matter your taste or budget. Since homes for sale in Bellingham vary in size, location, history and price, the features also vary. Some of the homes for sale have new or updated features that give the house a modern feel, while others have maintained and restored some of the amazing older homes, to keep the classic feeling. There are homes walking distance to the downtown area, schools, coffee shop or parks. There are homes for sale with great backyards with a lovely deck or porch for entertaining or spending quality time. Some of the homes for sale are awaiting your personal touches and upgrades, while some homes are move in ready!
Condos for sale in Bellingham also vary in price, size and location. Ranging from single to multiple bedroom complexes, the choices are within your hands. As condos continue to be built at a rapid rate, there is usually guaranteed to be a condo available that captures your interest and is within your price range. Bellingham condos can be found all throughout the city and country areas, and have convenient access to all sorts of attractions and amenities. Whether you are looking for a condo that is close to Boulevard Park, near Western Washington University or maybe even something that's close to Bellis Fair Mall, Bellingham has it all. Some of the condos for sale are located in Downtown Bellingham, Historic Fairhaven District and along Bellingham Bay with gorgeous water views. These condos for sale tend to be more expensive because of location or views, but they have the amenities to match! Many of these condos for sale have secure, covered parking, new or updated features, lobby entrance and spacious floor plans. Some of the updated or new features include: flooring, stainless steel appliances, granite counter-tops or a jetted tub!
Sunnyland warmly welcomes you to this historical craftsman on a bright corner lot in the neighborhood you know and love! The preservation of its timeless charm alongside ...
Listing courtesy of Windermere Real Estate Whatcom.
Don’t miss an opportunity to secure this rare buildable Geneva lot, with breathtaking, unobstructed views of Lake Whatcom, easy cycling access to Bellingham’s renowned Ga...
Listing courtesy of Redfin.
This home, the Beech plan, is a 1556 SF, 3BR, 2.25BA, 2-car garage home w a spacious great room, open kitchen w eating bar, quartz countertops, two-tone cabinet package w...
Listing courtesy of Keller Williams Western Realty.
Wanting some space while being in the heart of the city? The newest home in the King Mountain Community is located on a corner lot with a HUGE back/side-yard and is only ...
Listing courtesy of Alliance Properties 2000 LLC.
Cherished historical Sears Craftsman home overlooking Bellingham Bay, San Juans Islands & Olympic mountains on large .42-acre lot. Primary BR boasts a wood FP, walk-in cl...
Listing courtesy of Windermere Real Estate Whatcom.