Bright and Beautiful in Bellingham

November is the rainiest month in the Great Northwest, so we have to look at the forecast when planning our local travels. One good day is all it takes and so it was, that earlier this month, we headed north to Bellingham for a few days.

Our travel day would be rainy, but we were promised clear skies and sunshine the next day in Bellingham, where we stayed at our favorite place across from our favorite bookstore.

There was a very mellow sunset through the clouds that night over Bellingham Bay.

The Northern Lights were in the forecast, so I kept a watch from our room. Bellingham is the northernmost town with more than 50,000 residents in the contiguous 48 states; so I knew if it cleared up enough, they’d be visible. But it was getting late and we weren’t willing to venture out to escape the city lights. Even so, I knew the pale greens and purples in the sky were the aurora borealis.

The next morning, we took the boardwalk along Bellingham Bay to Boulevard Park under the promise of blue skies.

Squared for #NovemberShadows

Our destination was Woods Coffee, our favorite.

Later, we took the backroads north to the little town of Lynden, the northernmost town in the contiguous U.S., with more than 10,000 residents. Looming above the farmland were the best views of Mt. Baker, bright and beautiful,

and of the North Cascades on the Canadian side.

After lunch and shopping in town, we took a hike in a wooded city park,

before returning to Fairhaven for the night.

Rain returned for the drive home the next day, but we didn’t care. We’d had a wonderful few days away and an entire day of sunshine!

Sharing with Sunday Stills, All things bright and beautiful and #November Shadows.

~ Susanne

34 Comments on “Bright and Beautiful in Bellingham

  1. Stunning, bright views all around, Susanne! I’ve got to visit Bellingham! The snowy mountains looked amazing! Glad you had a sunny day and saw a peek of the aurora.

  2. Thanks for the tour of Bellingham. It looks like a beautiful place! 😍 Love the seated statue of Mark Twain, especially. 😎

  3. Lovely Susanne. It’s interesting how Fairhaven appears to have changed little since I lived in Bellingham, but that walkway is new and wonderful. I would have loved to it to be around back than, but Georgia Pacific was still active at the head of the bay and the railway dominated the coastline.

    • Thanks, Graham. It’s true, Fairhaven has changed little and is so charming to visit. And the Boulevard Park Boardwalk is a wonderful enhancement to the city and waterfront!

  4. How wonderful to be able to find coastal walks, mountain scenery and a tranquil forest all on the same short break, and with the bonus of blue skies too!

    • We didn’t talk to anyone about it, but I understand Canadian tourism is down, and the businesses are feeling it there. Canadians used to come down to shop, since it’s only 30 minutes from the border. Border crossings have slowed significantly. Sad.

    • Thanks, Pete. I went to school in Bellingham, and the town remains one of my favorites. There’s a British connection to the name. According to wikipedia, “the name of Bellingham is derived from the bay on which the city is situated. George Vancouver, who visited the area in June 1792, named the bay for Sir William Bellingham, the controller of the storekeeper’s account of the Royal Navy”

    • I love Fairhaven, too! I went to school in Bellingham and fell in love with the town and surrounds. We also visited Vancouver back in those days. I need another visit to Canada!

  5. Pingback: The Sun is almost setting on Squares – The life of B

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