Cohen Group NW: Living Like a Local

We love living in Bellingham & Whatcom County, and we know you will too! Here we’ve compiled the Cohen Group’s top recommendations for food, drinks, activities, and even events and hikes further out in the county. As always, we’re happy to answer any questions and give you recommendations for anything in particular you’re looking for. If you’re stopping in just for a day or a weekend, check out our top eateries for your visit!

See quick facts on Bellingham’s economy, politics, weather, and more. Be sure to read this article on why Bellingham is a great place to live!

2020 Tourism Guide

Click here to browse the beauty and culture of Bellingham and Whatcom County. Local recreation, communities, food and entertainment are all covered, along with stunning images of the place we get to call home.

Neighborhoods Where do you see yourself living? The City of Bellingham provides this detailed neighborhood map, and here you can click on each neighborhood to learn about its characteristics and see zoning, aerial photos, and walking & bike trails!  Check out this resource for info on income, occupations, age, median rent, and more. 

School Districts Check out the Bellingham Public School district website for information on elementary, middle, and high schools serving the area, as well as school attendance maps. Review Bellingham school rankings here and here, and private school rankings here. 

Winter school closures are announced on local radio station KGMI NewsTalk 790 and the district websites. Local Businesses There are so many great local businesses, both small and large, in this community. Over the quarantine season, Leo interviewed over 50 business owners in the Pivot series of the Building Bellingham Podcast - this is a great way to get to know some of the key players in our community!  

Eating Out One of the perks of this community is the assortment of unique, locally-owned restaurants, cafes, and diners. Gourmet breakfast at the Mount Bakery Cafe. Working on projects with a steaming latte at one of the many Woods Coffee branches. A fresh bagel and cream cheese from the Bagelry, or a jam-packed sandwich from Avenue Bread. Dinner overlooking the water and marina at Anthony’s Hearthfire & Grill. A cheap late-night burger and fries at Boomer’s Drive-In (or just one of their famous milkshakes!).

Have a Pint Bellingham is famous for its many breweries, pubs, and taphouses. We love Overflow Taps’ casual atmosphere, and the food trucks that collect around Kulshan Brewing’s James St. location. Boundary Bay is a longstanding icon in our community, and both Wander and Aslan Brewing Co. are favorites with our team. 

There are really too many great hot spots to feature, so we’ve mapped them out for you! Check out the CGNW Maps Bellingham project for all our favorite diners, outings, and parks (and so much more) in the area!

Arts, Music & Culture

Create your own artistic masterpiece step-by-step at Uptown Art Studio, or take in an improv night at the Upfront Theatre, or step into the 1920s-era Mount Baker Theatre for a big show. Bellingham also features local artists at the monthly downtown Art Walk. Summer is peak time for outdoor art events, with Downtown Sounds shutting down two streets with live music and a beer garden, and the movie showings at the Fairhaven Outdoor Cinema on the Village Green

Outdoor Adventures We’re an active community, and there are plenty of options for getting outside!  Find just the right upcoming 5ks, half marathons and marathons here and here. 

Try the long but easy 5.9-mile Interurban Trail that follows the route of an early 1900s train track, or take a short walk on one of the many stemming from Whatcom Falls Park. 

Up for a challenge? You’re not a Bellingham hiker until you’ve climbed the famous Oyster Dome. Just difficult enough to question your decision, yet easy enough that summer days are bustling with families making the climb, the 6.5-mile afternoon hike rewards your work with amazing views of Samish Bay and Lummi, Orcas, and Vancouver Islands. 

Check out this list to see the many other walking, running, and hiking options we have here in Bellingham and nearby. 

At the crack of dawn, bikers are out on the world-class trails of Galbraith Mountain, a privately-owned 3,000-acre recreation area with over 65 miles of singletrack. It’s also popular with walkers, hikers, and horseback riders.  Bellingham is also host to the Tour de Whatcom, the Bellingham Traverse - see here for all the info on these events, and also a list of other bike-friendly trails throughout Bellingham. 

Speaking of big events, don’t miss the Northwest’s annual festival in celebration of the outdoor sports in our community - the Ski to Sea. It’s a seven-leg relay race held on Memorial Day weekend, with thousands participating or spectating at the handoff locations and the finish line. The race begins with downhill and cross-country skiing on Mt. Baker and ends with kayaks landing at Marine Park in Fairhaven. 

Events Around the County Whatcom County has much to offer Bellingham residents, and much of it is accessible in under a half hour drive!  Some community favorites are the Northwest Washington Fair, the Deming Log Show, the Lynden Lighted Christmas Parade, and the fall festivals at Bellewood Acres and Stoney Ridge Farms. 

Dog-Friendly Options Our team loves our furbabies, and Bellingham not only has dog parks, but also dog-friendly restaurants and breweries! In the summer, Boundary Bay’s outdoor beer garden (“Bellingham’s Backyard”) is open to dogs. Our agents love the Lake Padden dog park, and there’s also a nearby trail which allows for dog off-leash hiking. 

Check out other dog-friendly spots in our Cohen Group NW map!

What’s Going On?

School closures? Smoke on the horizon? Car accident or unusual police activity? Catch local police scanner updates, community topics, and more in Facebook groups like Whatcom Breaking News, Whatcom Scanner Report, and Whatcom Incidents & News. 

Goods & Services

Bellingham has plenty of grocery stores, from big names like Costco and Trader Joe’s to local groceries at the Farmers Market and Community Food Co-op.

You’ll need to know where the Post Office is, and get your car and address updated with the DOL. We've got those key places and several more mapped here!