Bellingham

The historic Fairhaven District (http://www.fairhaven.com) at the south end of the city is probably the most tourist-oriented area, with a number of nice shops and restaurants. Many of the buildings in Fairhaven date back to the late 19th and early 20th century. Beautiful historic homes overlook the bay from the South Hill neighborhood, just north of Fairhaven.

Western Washington University, (http://www.wwu.edu/) on the flank of Sehome Hill boasts an outdoor sculpture garden and adjoins the Sehome Hill Arboretum, with a number of trails and a lookout tower at the top.

Downtown (http://www.downtownbellin...) to the north of the University. Although less touristy than Fairhaven, it is still vibrant during regular business hours, and caters to college revellers at night.

Whatcom Museum of History and Art

The Whatcom Museum of History and Art, 121 Prospect Street, +1-360 676-6981, (http://www.whatcommuseum.org/). open Tue.-Sun. 10AM-5PM. Admission Free. Housed in the 1892 Old City Hall Building, a major red-brick presence in downtown, this museum has fixed collections of artwork and local history artifacts, plus some visiting exhibitions. The museum is also in three other buildings, which are also on Prospect Street between Central Avenue and Champion Street. The other buildings are: Syre Education Center, 201 Prospect Street, Photo archive open Wed.-Fri. 1PM-4:45PM, other parts open by appointment, admission free; ARCO Exhibits Building, 206 Prospect Street, Tue.-Sun. 12PM-5PM, admission free. Building Tradition: Contemporary Northwest Art from Tacoma Art Museum, an exhibition of contemporary art from Northwest artists, collected by the Tacoma Art Museum in the last 70 years . From Nov 19 2006 – April 29 2007, in the ARCO Exhibits Gallery.

Building Tradition: Contemporary Northwest Art from Tacoma Art Museum, an exhibition of contemporary art from Northwest artists, collected by the Tacoma Art Museum in the last 70 years (http://www.whatcommuseum....). From Nov 19 2006 – April 29 2007, in the ARCO Exhibits Gallery.

Whatcom Children's Museum

227 prospect street, tue., wed., and sun. 12pm-5pm, thur.-sat. 10am-5pm, admission $3.50/person.by the bay: working on the waterfront allows children to discover what it’s like to work on the waterfront in a hands-on exhibit that encourages exploration and discovery.

By the Bay: Working on the Waterfront Allows children to discover what it’s like to work on the waterfront in a hands-on exhibit that encourages exploration and discovery.

Lake Whatcom lies to the East of the City, a 9.2-mile long lake that also serves as a drinking water reservoir for about 88,000 local residents. Bloedel-Donovan park offers a swimming area, and the North Lake Whatcom trail offers a good view of the less-developed half of the lake.

Whatcom Falls Park is a beautiful park at the center of the city with a depression-era sandstone bridge overlooking Whatcom Falls, a cascade of water that drops 20 feet directly towards the city, down to Whatcom Creek. Numerous paths connect to the city's system of bicycle and pedestrian trails. Part of this park was the site of a massive pipeline explosion in 1999. 1401 Electric Ave. Open daily from dawn to dusk.

Lake Padden, 4882 Samish Way A couple miles southeast of town, 676-6985. 6AM-10PM daily. Motor boats are banned on this smaller lake, so it is ideal for relaxed kayaking, rowing, or swimming. The lake can be circled on shady paths in an hour or so of easy walking. Lake Padden also offers the best off leash dog park in the county with two acres of completely fenced area for dogs to run and socialize.

Eldridge Ave Historical District (http://www.cob.org/pcd/cd...)

Hannigan Speedway (http://www.hanneganspeedw...)

Lairmont Manor (http://www.lairmontmanor.com/), 405 Fieldstone Road, a 1913 mansion built by Charles Xavier Larabee, a founder of Fairhaven

Maritime Heritage Center, 2014 C St, +1-360 676-6806

Roeder Home (http://www.co.whatcom.wa....), 2600 Sunset Dr, Bellingham, +1-360 733-6897