It's nice to walk on the boardwalk and later stop at the Boulevard Park for kids to have some fun,…read morewhile enjoying the bay breeze and some sunshine. Boardwalk and park area is very clean, with public restrooms available nearby.

We love this gorgeous, well maintained park! The pirate play area is really cute and has some…read moreunique features like a treasure tumble (you roll it to see shells) and a "plank" you can walk/jump on. Past the park and onto the boardwalk- there is plenty of unique wildlife to see- herons, seagulls, and star fish! The beach is rocky but easy to navigate and a great place to throw or collect rocks. This is truly a great walk for playing with toddlers, having a picnic or enjoying a walk.

Discovery pass needed. Easy trek down to the beach. There's public restroom and water available…read morenear the beach entrance. We tried crabbing here twice. Definitely bring a spare lure; our first attempt, we had to cut the line as it got snagged on some rocks. Saw a lot of people on the beach, enjoying a picnic or even kayaking out to crab boxes in the evening. Beautiful park overall. Make sure you're sure-footed if you're going to climb the rocks.

The Chuckanut drive is highly recommended to anyone looking for exceptional views of the bay.read more

I was on a solo trip to Bellingham and picked a hotel closer to the water so I could walk. I am not…read morefamiliar with this city but it has quickly become one of my favorites - the bay is beautiful! The downtown area is gorgeous and vibrant. I love it. I took the walk here and it was vacant which was so gorgeous. The seagulls and the pier, and it was so dang clean! Like my goodness. Took my shoes off and waded in the water for a bit. The landscaping is really something else. Take in that salty bay air and dip your feet in the water!

Waypoint Park has been on my Yelp bookmarks and it kindbof slipped my mind on paying attention…read morewhether it was on my list as it is a vast one. But Waypoint Park was not far from a brewery that we went to and we wanted to go take a walk afterwards. Of course the main calling card here is The Acid Ball, an old piece of equipment from a lumber mill which I believed was used to relieve pressure for wood chips during processing... but don't hold me to that. Anyway I remember where the ball used to be and saw that it was relocated to this park which isn't all that far from where it was. I saw pictures and apparently at night reflective lights shine upon it giving it all kinds of lighted looks and effects but it's still quite impressive during the day too. There were other highlights here too as the park is directed towards a waterway and towards the west you can see Lummi Island and the water. A very pleasant park to go to and it was very peaceful during the time we spent here though I'm not sure if it's like that all the time as it's by apartments (or perhaps condominiums) but it certainly was a fun stop!

If you want a taste of the Pacific Northwest, hike along the Hertz Trail along Lake Whatcom. It's…read morean easy trail to hike with little paths to the water where people swim on a hot summer day. The water is refreshing and perfect for fishing, boating and swimming. When we arrived, the parking lot was full, but we easily parked along the road. There's an outhouse in the parking lot.

Looking for a challenging hike or lakeside 6 mile stroll? This trail head can give you both. The…read moresteep vertical up the chanterelle trail goes up to the ridge. We took the lake side trail right along the lake that is level and gravel so nice even on a rainy day like ours. It's just over 6 miles out and back but you could turn around any time. It worth the drive from Bellingham to walk the quiet section of the lake. Great views and a few water falls when there is water flow.

Being a few weeks removed from my day here helps me appreciate this lil' park for what it is. You…read moresee, I did not have the most five-star experience here, but that's unique to my visit. I'll spare the details as they're not relevant to the park, but it involved my very active dog and a very expensive camera lens. So what can I say about Obstruction Pass that is relevant? Well, it's a tiny little park. But almost everyone I spoke to about my time on Orcas said they actually like it more than its big neighbor Moran, to the north. Situated on the southern tip of the eastern point of Orcas Island, it only occupies 80 acres. But among that 80 acres is a bit of precious beachfront; some of the only public beach space on the island of private developments and no trespassing signs. These are San Juan island beaches, so you'll find millions of rounded pebbles, not sand, lest you imagine frolicking barefoot down the beach. To reach the beach, you have to hike. There's a shorter trail than sort of hugs the seashore, and a longer one that goes over land and abuts private property. I took the wooded longer one to the north on the way in, then the beach-hugger on the way out. It's a short hike, not too strenuous, but it's certainly not ADA approved and it will take you a little time to reach the waters. The park features the trail, beach, a small campground, and restrooms. You access the beach down a couple of staircases, and the thick woods above provide lots of shade. I was here in the dead of winter, but even then I shared the beach with a very loud family, and a couple of other parties. Dogs must be leashed at all times. Be careful on those rocks. If you're, say, carrying a full camera and tripod rig and slip, you'll bounce all the way down the rocks into the water. Probably. And then, after your dog damaged your lens before, and you ended up falling into the water, you'll just pack up and get back to your car and call it a day.

Situated at one tip of Orcas Island, Obstruction Pass State Park is home to campers and…read moreshort-duration hikers. This is a great (less than) a mile hike to the beach and back with a pretty PNW view. Its not as big and majestic as Moren State Park, but its a great feeler for Orcas Island, and because of the size, you will notice more people around, when there are people around. We did this as a group of 6, quick in and out on our first day here. We saw a boat parked out on the water and a little house situated by the water. We didn't see many hikers here when we went on a late Saturday afternoon, but we saw a number of campers. *Porta potty's were available

I have been eyeing San Juan Cruises for at least two years and this year my oldest son wanted to…read morecelebrate his birthday exploring by boat. Booking our adventure was extremely easy via the San Juan Cruises website. I greatly appreciate how detailed the reservation information was, and most importantly how courteous the entire team was throughout our time aboard. The team went into great detail about our journey, history on each island we passed, and insights on the protected wildlife we could possibly encounter during our voyage. The vessel was extremely accommodating for all of us on board, ample seating, viewing opportunities, and two restrooms. The team makes an excellent warm lunch was provided; while snacks and beverages were available throughout the entire duration of the voyage (grab a cup of coffee Blue Herron coffee beans based out of Bow, WA makes a great cup!) We managed to encounter eagles, seals, walruses, dolphins, a gray whale, and two different orca pods. Each sighting was absolutely breathtaking and majestic! I could not ever imagine going to a theme park to view these magnificent animals. The voyage takes between 5-6 hours plan, you'll be surprised at how quickly that time goes by. Helpful tip for parents bringing children feel free to pack coloring books, board games, binoculars, and snacks for your littles the San Juan Cruise team welcomes it for the little voyagers. My parents have already had planned to book an excursion during their visit next month, and I highly recommend for anyone who lives in or visiting the area to do so as well!

My boyfriend and I booked the afternoon whale watching cruise at San Juan Cruises not knowing what…read moreto expect and it ended up being the highlight of the weekend. The crew was very friendly and I loved that it was guided by the Captain and Naturalist onboard. I learned a lot about islands in the Salish Sea and we saw several species of animals. There are several great viewing spots on the boat and it's easy to see from inside if it gets too windy. I learned so much about the Biggs orcas, sea lions, and harbor seals. It's not promised, but we saw two different groups of the orcas right at the beginning of the trip and surprisingly at the end in Bellingham bay. It was so nice to learn about them and get an up close view (within safe distance). They served a lunch onboard which was included in the cost, however we packed our own. They also have beverages and snacks for sale throughout the ride. I didn't bring binoculars on board, but I did see people with them. My iPhone was enough to get close up videos and pictures of the animals! I would definitely recommend this to family and friends!

Nice lake. Kids play area, seasonal boating via launch and rentals, and deceivingly large lake…read more Initial view near the office appears the lake is in front of you when in fact behind the office is twice as much lake area. Fishing from the shore is doable but a small water craft is advisable for best access to larger fish at deeper depth.

In May 2021 we were staying nearby and decided to follow the road to Silver Lake! WOW! Kudos to…read moreWhatcom County for providing this beautiful park! We observed people fishing from boats and from the dock. There were friendly geese. I wore out the battery in my camera taking pictures of the scenery and the flowers. Starting on Memorial day rowboats, kayaks, and paddleboats will be available for rental. Nice!

Visiting my in-laws after a memorial service for my best friend in Seattle, hiking here was such a…read moregift. My brother-in-law parked in the small lot and did the longest loop. It's 4.4 miles and goes by a beautiful lake, tons of green trees, and places to sit. You just can't beat the deep green in Washington State.

No dogs allowed which is a bummer as most other parks allow, if only on leash…read more For sure there is some logic behind the decision. Hope it's not the same one that CA State Parks uses on a beach where dogs are not allowed as they can disrupt the sensitive habitat of birds but at the same time allows vehicles on the beach...