Summer is fully here in Whatcom County, and the window for making the most of it is shorter than it ever feels. From the ferry crossing to Lummi Island to paddling out of the Community Boating Center, the next few weeks offer some of the finest experiences the Pacific Northwest has to offer, most of them within an easy drive or bike ride of downtown Bellingham. Here is a guide to what is worth doing right now.
The Island Getaway: Lummi Island
Lummi Island is the kind of place that reminds you why you live here. Accessible by a short ferry ride from Gooseberry Point in Ferndale, the island sits in Hale Passage with views across to the San Juan Islands and the Gulf Islands of British Columbia. The crossing takes about five minutes on the Whatcom County-operated Lummi Island Ferry, and the island on the other side feels genuinely removed from the pace of the mainland.
Lummi Island is home to a small year-round community, a handful of farms and orchards, and some of the most dramatic hiking in the county at Lummi Island Heritage Trust properties including Lummi Peak. The island road is quiet enough to bicycle comfortably, and the views from the western ridge looking out over the water on a clear July day are difficult to match anywhere in Whatcom County. If you go, check the ferry schedule before you leave, as service runs on a fixed timetable and waits can stretch on busy summer weekends.
The Fair Grounds and the Bay
The Northwest Washington Fair and Event Center in Lynden is gearing up for its annual fair in August, but the grounds and surrounding agricultural area are worth a visit throughout the summer. Lynden itself is one of the most pleasant small towns in the county, with a well-preserved Dutch heritage downtown along Front Street, the Lynden Pioneer Museum, and easy access to the farmland of the Nooksack Valley.
Birch Bay offers a different kind of summer day entirely. The shallow, warm water of Birch Bay is among the most swimmable in Whatcom County, and the beach along Birch Bay Drive draws families all summer long. Birch Bay State Park has camping, kayak launch points, and reliable crabbing off the dock during summer low tides. The bay sits about 20 miles north of Bellingham on Interstate 5 and is an easy afternoon destination.
Paddling and the Water
The Community Boating Center on Squalicum Harbor rents kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and other human-powered watercraft, making Bellingham Bay accessible to anyone regardless of whether they own gear. Paddling out from Squalicum on a calm summer morning, with the North Cascades rising behind the city and the San Juan Islands faint on the western horizon, is one of the essential Bellingham experiences.
For those who want a longer water outing, Sucia Island State Park in the San Juan Islands is accessible by kayak for experienced paddlers or by private motorboat and floatplane. The island has no car ferry service, which keeps it wild and relatively uncrowded. Its sandstone formations, protected coves, and old-growth forest make it one of the most celebrated destinations in the entire Salish Sea. Day trips are possible for experienced open-water kayakers, but overnight camping on the island rewards the extra effort.
Mini Golf, Views, and the Mountain
Portal Putt, the mini golf attraction at the Portal Way area near Ferndale, has become a family-friendly summer fixture in Whatcom County. It offers a low-key way to spend an afternoon with kids without driving far, and the surrounding area along Portal Way has several other family dining and recreation options nearby.
For one of the most dramatic views in the region, the drive up toward Mount Baker on Highway 542 from Bellingham delivers stunning mountain scenery without requiring any hiking at all. On a clear summer day, the views from Artist Point at the end of the highway are extraordinary, and the Heather Meadows area just below offers short accessible walks through alpine terrain. The drive from Bellingham takes about an hour each way. San Juan Cruises, which operates seasonal whale-watching and sightseeing trips from Bellingham, offers another way to take in the mountain from the water, with Mount Baker visible from the ship on clear days as the vessel crosses into the Salish Sea.
Staying Informed This Summer
Summer in Whatcom County comes with practical considerations worth keeping in mind. The county is currently under a Stage 2 burn ban in unincorporated areas due to dry conditions, so campfires at non-designated sites are off the table. Road activity is elevated across the county this summer, with chip seal work, event-related closures, and construction projects affecting multiple corridors. Checking road conditions before longer trips is a good idea throughout July and August.
For more on what is happening around Bellingham and the county this season, the full calendar of events, festivals, and outdoor activities is updated regularly at bellingham.org. Whether you have lived here your whole life or arrived last spring, the next few weeks are a genuinely good time to get outside and explore what makes Whatcom County worth calling home. More details on local parks and outdoor destinations are available in this guide to Hovander Homestead Park in Ferndale, one of the county's most underrated outdoor spaces.
