Fairhaven District

Bellingham, WA 2011

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Bellingham, located about an 1-1/2 – 2 hours north of Seattle, is a nice getaway within 4 hours reach…whether it be a day trip or making a weekend of it, a nice time can be had here.  This trip consisted of a girls weekend.  The itinerary included:

  • Milagro Mexican Grill
  • Shopping in Fairhaven – fave stops included Artwood, A lot of Flowers, Gallery West, Three French Hens, 12th Street Shoes, and others…
  • Olive Oil and Vinegar Tasting at Drizzle
  • Wine tasting at Purple Smile  http://www.purplesmilewines.com/  A must stop!
  • Hotel Bellwether   http://www.hotelbellwether.com/
  • Hearthfire Grill…not the greatest experience as our server (in the bar) was horrible, food could have been better
  • Starbucks
  • Bistro on Magnolia Street  – really good!  http://www.bistromagnolia.com/

Wine tasting at Purple Smile was most fun.  It’s a great stop on a Saturday afternoon, whether it is to have a day out with friends or meet some new ones…whether it be a person or wine.   You can pay/taste by the glass, a taste of 7 different featured wines or a separate tasting of 3 specialty wines.  A great selection can be found here… Washington wines and other.  I really liked the cement style high tables and other touches that made the shop inviting.  Wick was a great host.  On this day, I had a glass of O.S. Rose, a dry rose that aimed to please.

Hotel Bellwether was a nice place to stay.  Near a nice spa, dining, and right on the water.   Note:  they only have two rooms available with multiple beds, so not so convenient if there is a group event.

Bistro on Magnolia Street has a bistro vibe…is that possible?  Entertainment on Sunday mornings for brunch.  Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily, and brunch on the weekends.  Scrambles are served with hashbrown casserole and bread farm toast.  A variety of options abound:  Smoked Salmon Hash, Magnolia BLT, Biscuits & Gravy, Blue Scramble, Frites, Cobb Salad, Green Bowl, Mac & Cheese, Pulled Pork Sandwich, Calamari Sandwich, Flat Iron Steak Frites, North African Vegetable Stew, and more.  The entrees at dinner are served with a seasonal vegetable and garlic mashers.  Prices range from $4 – 32, with brunch options under $13.  Improvement needed:  speed in the kitchen and the ability to split up checks for a larger group.  Hey…looks like they have happy hour too!

See my May 2010 Post for a more info.

Bellingham, WA

/ dkaltenb / Leave a comment

View from Anthony's Bellingham

I hesitate on writing about this day trip as it was Memorial Day and many of the stores and restaurants were closed.  But seeing that it was the day after the Fairhaven Festival  http://fairhaven.com/  and is also the finish line for the famous Ski to Sea race  http://www.skitosea.com/, I thought it appropriate to give it a mention.  In fact, there was still “great race yesterday!” comments on the streets. 

Bellingham, WA can be found approximately 90 miles north of Seattle and 52 miles south of Vancouver, BC.  It undoubtably has one of the most diverse populations in the Northwest.  With a history of being a blue-collar town, it is also known as a great outdoor recreation spot with many runners, cyclists, and those who enjoy the active lifestyle.  The Western Washington University students make up another segment of the population here.  WWU is known for its excellence in education and has been rated as one of the best regional public universities.  Bellingham has also been rated as one of the best places to retire, particularly known for their highly rated health care services and hospital.  Bellingham boasts 24 distinct neighborhoods.   http://www.bellingham.org/; http://www.bellingham.net/ 

Lunch was had at Colophone Cafe as time was mainly spent in the Fairhaven neighborhood.  This eatery seems to bring in those looking for a soup (rotating monthly menu), salad, or sandwich…and a country cafe atmosphere.  I am not giving it a recommendation but can’t say that it is a total miss either.  My husband had the chicken pot pie and I chose a garden salad with blue cheese dressing (too runny) and cup of Corn Verde Chowder (too much corn and not enough oomph!), and side cheese tray (pass on this if you prefer specialty cheeses).  http://www.colophoncafe.com/  

Bellingham offers beautiful views of Bellingham Bay.  There is the Port of Bellingham and Cruise Terminal, the summer presents outdoor concerts and movies and a farmers market; and the area has various art and history recommendations…maybe a trip to the Whatcom Museum of History & Art, the Railway Museum or American Museum of Radio and Electricity – now that should give you a jolt!.  A variety of day trips abound – whale watching, fishing, Mt Baker Ski Area http://www.mtbaker.us/, Birch Bay, Chuckanut Drive http://chuckanutdrive.com/, British Columbia- Canada, the San Juan Islands, Semiahmoo Resort, and Skagit Valley Casino Resort.