Blaine and Bellingham: Salish Sea Favourites:

Two perfect boating communities in the heart of the U.S. Pacific Northwest.

by

Words by Becky Mandelbaum

If you’re planning a cruising trip south along the U.S. Coast, Blaine and Bellingham, WA, are two trip-worthy stops to add to your float plan. 

Of the two boating-friendly communities, Blaine is the closest to the U.S./Canada border with two full-service marinas including the Semiahmoo Marina and Blaine Harbor. Both provide a good break from the water whether you’re navigating south to a destination or home from one. They are also easily accessible via Semiahmoo Bay and offer excellent docking facilities and amenities. 

Semiahmoo Marina, situated on Semiahmoo Spit at the south entrance to Drayton Harbor, offers 300 slips with transient moorage, secured grounds, and marine diesel/90 octane fuel. Just across from the marina is the Semiahmoo Resort, Golf, and Spa where all the members of your crew can enjoy relaxing massages and excellent seaside dining or relax comfortably in the rooms with ocean views.

Blaine Harbor, at the north entrance to Drayton Harbor, is one of the larger marinas in the region with 600-plus slips and 244 m (800 ft) of transient moorage. The boat launch is popular with recreational crabbers and those with a boat in tow aiming to fish and cruise the local area.

Restrooms, showers, and laundry facilities are available at the Blaine Harbor Boating Center. There are also convenient waterfront trails that lead into downtown Blaine.

Explore Blaine’s Charming Downtown 

Downtown Blaine has everything you want at a boating destination including trendy coffee shops, a sports bar, fine dining, a grocery store, and a post office. For fresh seafood, you’ll want to visit Drayton Harbor Oyster Co., which is operated by a father-son duo with backgrounds in fisheries biology. The restaurant is only a short walk from the Blaine Harbor Boating Center and has an outdoor patio overlooking the harbour where the oysters are harvested.

Wine enthusiasts will want to visit The Vault Wine Bar & Bistro. Choose from more than 200 vintages and ask about Pacific Northwest food pairings to enhance your experience.

A Birder’s Paradise

The North Cascades Audubon Society recognizes Drayton Harbor and the Semiahmoo Spit as the most “northerly Important Bird Areas of Washington State.”

Two prime bird-watching spots include Marine Park, which is a short walk from the Blaine Harbor Boating Center, and Semiahmoo Park, located near Semiahmoo Marina. Both are also great destinations for serene lunches outdoors, peaceful walks, or family-friendly outings with children. A nautical-themed playground, free Wi-Fi, and a picnic area with grills are other highlights.  

If you’re a serious birder, visit Blaine in March for the Wings Over Water Northwest Birding Festival, which celebrates the migratory birds that flock to the area each spring. Fall is also a great time to visit the popular Blaine Oyster Fest held annually in October. 

Discover Bellingham 

Further to the south, Bellingham is a vibrant college town located between Seattle, WA, and Vancouver, BC, and is the only region in the Pacific Northwest where the Cascade Mountains meet the Salish Sea. It’s the perfect place to enjoy a few nights of casual dining, live entertainment, and unbeatable outdoor recreation. 

Squalicum Harbor is hard to miss as it’s a 1,400-slip marina on the northern edge of Bellingham Bay. There is plenty to do right in the immediate area as Downtown Bellingham is within walking/biking distance. 

Eat, Drink, and Enjoy Entertainment

When it comes to dining near Squalicum Harbor, there’s a great selection of restaurants. Sample Italian food at Lombardi’s, have a steak at Anthony’s Hearthfire Grill, or dive into the seafood at the Lighthouse Bar and Grill in the Hotel Bellwether. 

Kids will love the Marine Life Center, which features local marine life and an interactive touch pool. Also nearby is Zuanich Point Park, the perfect area for picnics and kite-flying on summer days. 

Come September, later in the season, Squalicum Harbor is home to Bellingham SeaFeast, a popular festival celebrating the area’s maritime culture and heritage with games, music, and, of course, local fresh seafood.

Downtown Bellingham, too, offers seafood restaurants like Rock & Rye Oyster House, award-winning breweries like Boundary Bay, and entertainment venues like the historic Mount Baker Theatre and the Pickford Film Center. 

The waterfront is another exciting district to explore. Container village houses a variety of local businesses including Kulshan Brewery, Our Kitchen Bakery and Coffee Shop, as well as an ice cream parlour, a bike shop and hard-to-resist comfort food at the series of food trucks. In July, the area hosts the NW Tune-Up Festival, a three-day event celebrating all things bikes, beer, and music.

Adventure Like a Local 

Need to stretch your sea legs? In and around Bellingham are numerous parks and green spaces, including forested walking trails at Whatcom Falls Park, world-class biking at Galbraith Mountain, and hiking choices that crisscross the Chuckanut Mountains. 

The Mount Baker Scenic Highway awaits photo-worthy Mount Baker, a glacier-covered volcano that offers an extensive list of stunning alpine hikes. Another option is Larrabee State Park with camping, walking trails, and classic Pacific Northwest views of the Salish Sea.

Eliminate Travel Research with a Mobile Quest Pass

Looking for something to do without spending hours online? Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism has curated a collection of free mobile Quest Passes to help you find trip-worthy destinations, historical markers, restaurants, and more. 

The 49th Parallel Ports Pass is designed specifically for recreational boaters visiting Blaine and the remote exclave of Point Roberts. Check-in and/or visit enough locations and you can enter to win a special promotion and prize.

Both of these Washington State communities are worthwhile areas to rest, relax and reorganize in a slip. Most importantly, they serve as ideal weekend or multi-day destinations off their shores and within their vibrant communities. For more information about marinas and outdoor recreation visit www.bellingham.org or www.whatcomcounty.us.