Bellingham: The Epicenter of Action North of Seattle & South of Vancouver

The next time you feel the urge to get out of the house and beyond the big city, how about a nearby change of scenery? Visit us in Bellingham, equidistant between Seattle, WA and Vancouver, BC. Bellingham is renowned for its bountiful blend of unique urban and natural delights, deservedly drawing visitors from around the world. 

Discover Downtown Bellingham

One of the main draws to Bellingham is the obvious labor of love and ingenuity locals put into their endeavors. The results of business owners’ efforts show in offerings ranging from carefully curated clothing at shops like Sojourn and Fringe; unique gift and houseware options from Ideal and Greenhouse; and food, drink, and entertainment galore. So much more to discover downtown! Park your car and let your feet lead the way to explore everything on foot. 

Explore Unique Museums

Spark Museum of Electrical Invention. Watch Nikola Tesla’s most spectacular creation shoot lightning through the air during the SPARK Museum’s weekend MegaZapper Electrical Shows. For a small fee, you can stand beneath the lightning tower inside a Faraday cage. Before or after the show, explore the history of electricity and how it formed radio, morse code, electronic lights, and modern sound technology. 

Whatcom Museum. The Whatcom Museum has two locations, each showcasing different art. The Lightcatcher Museum houses contemporary works in a modern facility, featuring a unique curved wall, 37 feet high and 180 feet long, that captures sunlight, a welcome resource in the rainy northwest. A rotating schedule of excellent exhibits are featured year-round, the Family Interactive Gallery offers educational fun for children, and the museum store carefully curates its tasteful gifts. While the Lightcatcher building houses contemporary fine art, Old City Hall is loaded with compelling historic and natural history exhibits and northwest artifacts, in addition to some modern works. The first site in Washington State to be listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, this city landmark has been home to the Whatcom Museum since 1941. As with the Lightcatcher, there tends to be something for the whole family, and both sites offer hour-long docent tours, free with paid admission. Check the website for current exhibits and docent tour times. 

Read our sister hotel’s Family Guide to Bellingham blog post to learn more about the Railway Museum, Mindport, and other all-ages ideas.

Vibrant Nightlife Right Outside Your Door

Downtown Bellingham has something for everyone’s nightlife preferences. World class shows appear on stage at the Mt. Baker Theater, while the homegrown Sylvia Center for the Arts serves up remarkable theatrical productions. Breweries and bars each have their own personalities, whether you’re looking for the candle-lit intimacy of The Temple Bar, themes like tiki at Redrum or Irish at Uisce or delicious food served alongside drinks at places like Black Sheep and Boy Howdy. Check out more of our favorite downtown Bellingham bars. as well as the Bellingham brewery Tap Trail. Many clubs offer opportunities to listen to your favorite band, or dance the night away, including The Shakedown and The Wild Buffalo. There’s no need to depend on Seattle or Vancouver for a vibrant city scene. A room at the Hotel Leo or our sister property The Heliotrope Hotel offers an ideal base camp for all your downtown explorations. . Ask about our hotel’s exchange rate discount.

Enjoy uniquely Bellingham restaurants

Nestled between the Salish Sea and the Cascade Mountains, Bellingham’s affinity for aligning with nature shines through in its cooking. From Brandywine Kitchen to The Bellingham Cider Company, Aslan and Saltine, Bellingham restaurants serve fresh, locally sourced foods with delicious and nourishing options for everyone. With hundreds of restaurants to choose from your whole group discover plenty of dishes to fall in love with.

To browse Bellingham highlights on the go, download our Bellingham Concierge App for the iPhone or Android - it’s like having a lifelong local along to guide you to the Best of Bellingham!

When looking for a destination north of Seattle and south of Vancouver, consider Bellingham, with its bountiful options for entertainment, exploration, and eats. . Park your car, skip the Uber and stay with us at the Hotel Leo in the heart of downtown, and don’t forget to ask about our exchange rate discount.