Bellingham's commercial landscape has been quietly reshaping itself this summer, with a new craft spirits tasting room, a one-of-a-kind floating sauna experience on Bellingham Bay, and a rebranded kayak tour company all open for business. Whether you are a longtime local or visiting the city for the first time, these additions offer fresh reasons to explore what downtown and the waterfront have to offer.
Chuckanut Bay Distillery Opens Bayside Location Downtown
Chuckanut Bay Distillery, the Whatcom County craft spirits producer known for its award-winning lineup of vodkas, gins, and whiskies, has opened a new bayside tasting room as part of the Portal Container Village in downtown Bellingham. The Portal Container Village, which repurposes shipping containers as retail and hospitality spaces near the waterfront, has become one of the more creative commercial clusters in the city.
The new Chuckanut Bay location serves classic cocktails made with the distillery's own spirits. In a nod to the space's playful identity, guests can order any drink as a "disco" version, complete with edible glitter and a rubber duck accessory. A large reflective sculpture nicknamed "Doris" sits nearby and has quickly become one of the more photographed spots in the area.
Chuckanut Bay Distillery launched in Whatcom County several years ago and has built a following for its small-batch production methods. The new downtown footprint expands the brand's visibility beyond its production facility and gives visitors a central location to sample its portfolio without making the trip out to the original site.
Floating Sauna Now Open Outside Hotel Bellwether
For those looking for something more unconventional, Coho Saunas has launched a floating sauna experience moored just outside Hotel Bellwether on Bellingham Bay. The concept combines the restorative heat of a traditional sauna session with panoramic views of the bay, the marina, and the San Juan Islands on clear days.
Floating saunas have grown in popularity across Scandinavia and the Pacific Northwest in recent years, offering a blend of wellness, outdoor recreation, and waterfront access that fits naturally into Bellingham's identity as an active outdoor city. Coho Saunas describes the experience as a way to reset and decompress while staying connected to the natural environment just outside the sauna's windows.
The location near Hotel Bellwether puts the sauna within walking distance of the Bellingham waterfront trail, the Bellingham Cruise Terminal, and the central business district. It also sits adjacent to some of the best views Bellingham Bay has to offer, particularly during summer evenings when the light on the water is at its most striking.
Dragonfly Outfitters Relaunches With New Name and Retail Shop
One of Bellingham's longest-running kayaking companies has rebranded and expanded its operation. The company, previously operating under a different name, is now Dragonfly Outfitters and Kayak Tours, with a new retail location at 704 Coho Way on the waterfront.
The new shop expands well beyond guided paddling tours. Customers can now browse and purchase new and used kayaking gear, rent equipment, and sign up for the guided tours the company has offered for years. The Coho Way address puts the shop directly on the waterfront, convenient for those heading out on the water or returning from a paddle on Bellingham Bay.
Guided kayak tours in Bellingham typically range from introductory bay paddles to half-day and full-day trips exploring the islands and coastline accessible from the city. Whatcom County's combination of protected bays, island shoreline, and relatively calm water makes it one of the better kayaking destinations in the Pacific Northwest, and companies like Dragonfly have been part of introducing visitors and locals to that experience for many years.
A City That Keeps Adding to Its Waterfront
Taken together, these three additions reflect a broader trend of activity along and near Bellingham's waterfront and downtown core. The Portal Container Village has attracted an eclectic mix of vendors and experiences since its opening. Hotel Bellwether and its immediate surroundings have long served as one of the city's premier visitor destinations, and the addition of a floating sauna adds another draw for both guests and locals. The Coho Way corridor, which runs along the working waterfront south of downtown, has gradually developed into a hub for outdoor recreation businesses.
Bellingham's downtown and waterfront businesses benefit from the city's appeal as a summer destination for visitors from the Seattle metro area, Vancouver, British Columbia, and beyond. Tourism and local recreation spending tend to peak between July and September, making summer the most visible season for new businesses to establish themselves.
For visitors planning a trip, all three of these new offerings are accessible from the downtown core within a short walk or drive. The Chuckanut Bay Distillery tasting room and Dragonfly Outfitters retail shop are particularly suited for visitors combining a waterfront outing with some shopping and a cocktail. For details on what else is happening around Bellingham this summer, the weekly markets and public events around the city are worth checking in on as well.
