I periodically pay our water bill in person at City Hall. The staff is always efficient and very…read morefriendly.

Absolutely go here to get your vehicle registered vs. the other registration place. No lines for…read morethe most part, the people are friendly, knowledgeable, and efficient, and supposedly it is slightly cheaper here. Plus easier parking! Just keep in mind that you need to bring cash or check, not even debit, to avoid an additional fee.

I spent years living and working in Bellingham, Washington, and despite all the praise the city…read morereceives, I am leaving with one overwhelming feeling: relief. I arrived expecting the welcoming, community oriented city that people constantly talk about. Instead, I found a place that often felt closed off, performative, and surprisingly difficult to connect with. As someone whose job required me to spend years interacting with thousands of local residents, schools, parents, businesses, community organizations, and young adults throughout Whatcom County, I had a front-row seat to the culture. The longer I stayed, the more disappointed I became. Bellingham has built an identity around being inclusive, progressive, and compassionate. Those words are repeated constantly. Unfortunately, I found that many people were far more interested in being perceived that way than actually living those values. There was often a noticeable gap between what people said and how they treated others who were outside their social circles or who held different views. One of the most frustrating aspects of living here was how difficult it was to build genuine relationships. People were usually polite enough on the surface, but many interactions felt transactional or guarded. Established social groups seemed uninterested in welcoming newcomers, and years of living in the community often felt no different than the day I arrived. For a city that talks endlessly about community, I found remarkably little of it. The culture also felt deeply judgmental. There was a strong sense that certain opinions, lifestyles, careers, and backgrounds were considered acceptable while others were quietly looked down upon. The judgment was rarely direct. Instead, it came through passive aggression, social exclusion, and subtle condescension. Disagreement was often treated as a moral failing rather than a normal part of living in a diverse society. What made this especially disappointing was the contrast between the people and the place itself. The scenery is incredible. The mountains are breathtaking. The waterfront is beautiful. The trails, forests, and islands are some of the best I have ever experienced. Nearly every visitor who came to see us understood immediately why people fall in love with the area. The problem was that the beauty of the landscape could only compensate so much for the culture surrounding it. Bellingham often struck me as a city completely convinced of its own virtue. Criticism was not welcomed. Self-reflection seemed rare. Many residents appeared convinced they lived in a uniquely enlightened community while displaying the same flaws found everywhere else. The difference was that those flaws were frequently hidden behind carefully crafted appearances. After years of investing my time in the community, volunteering at local events, working with schools, participating in public activities, and trying to build meaningful connections, my lasting impression is not one of warmth or belonging. It is a feeling that Bellingham cares far more about maintaining its reputation than examining whether that reputation is deserved. As my family prepares to leave, I find myself surprisingly emotional. Not because I am sad to be leaving the city itself, but because I wanted so badly to love it. The Pacific Northwest landscape delivered everything I hoped for. The community did not. I will miss the mountains. I will miss the water. I will miss the forests. I will miss the sunsets over the bay. What I will not miss is the culture that turned one of the most beautiful places in America into one of the easiest places I have ever left behind.

Here we are, at the 1,000th review…read more What better way to ring it in is to review my hometown, Bellingham, Washington, where I was born, raised, and spent a majority of my life? It's known as the "City of Subdued Enthusiasm," but my enthusiasm can't be subdued. It's really the perfect location -- 45 miles south of Vancouver, B.C. and 90 miles north of Seattle ... not to small, not too big. I grew up overlooking Bellingham Bay, and seeing it up close and personal at Boulevard Park. It's a great mix of people. About 20 of the 80k in the town come from Western Washington University. That means a big chunk of the town is gone in the summer, when the rain disappears and it's 70 degrees and sunny for about 90 days. The Fairhaven District -- although not as hippy as it once was -- is still a great area, with famed Village Books that intermingles with the Colophon Cafe (and their great sandwiches and soups). It's also got amazing parks and trails for walking and biking. Even in the dead of winter, the mild high thirties make almost any day great for a walk. So, if you're thinking of moving to Bellingham, I highly recommend it. I love going back and can't wait to move back (someday, hopefully soon)! Still, after all these years, it's a great place!

I love coming up to Blaine for all the fun events they put on and host…read more The staff/volunteers are always super nice, and knowledgeable. Christmas time - photos with the grinch, tree lighting event July 4th - parade, festival & car show And so many more family friendly events all year round

You couldn't ask for a better service the men and women of the United States Coast Guard go out in…read moreall of the elements to make sure we make it home at night to be with our families. Over the last 50 years my dad and myself always knew that help was just a radio call away in the folks to put on the Boating classes for the Coast Guard auxiliary what a great group of people know before you go folks they can only Keep Us Alive if you know what the rules are

Got that ballot all filled out but don't have any stamps? Waited until the morning of election day…read moreand want your vote counted before the national results are posted? No worries 'cuz you're in luck: there are several drop boxes located around Whatcom County, including this very handy drive-up spot near the main courthouse downtown. The easiest way to access the drop box is via the well-marked entrance off of Grand Street between Central and Flora. Look for the handy sidewalk signage marking the entrance, ease your car into line with other voters, and sidle on up to the weathered blue drop box to insert your ballot through the handy slot. You don't even have to get out of your car! And after doing your civic duty, simply make a quick turn to the exit on Flora Street. Pro tip: feeling like a little liquid courage before or after voting? Artifacts Wine Bar and the Grand Avenue Ale House are located within half a block of the drop box. There's a great taco truck nearby, too!

Although the location for this Ballot Drop-Off Box is not intuitively located, the signage is very…read moregood. Located in the Whatcom County South Parking Lot (behind 306 Flora Street, the Ballot Drop-Off Box is a convenient way to drop off your ballot. Although the Ballot Drop-Off Box is a little hard to find the first time it is centrally located and does not require voters to pay for parking. On election day the County Auditors Office provides workers onsite to keep the traffic moving.

For the ladies that act as docents for the Pickett house, this is truly a labor of love. Their…read moreexcitement about the house and it's history are contagious. When you visit, donate well, as the house needs a lot of care. Many of the repairs are done by the ladies themselves.

In my travels through Whatcom county, I decided to stop here since I needed fuel. I quickly found…read moreout as well that sadly Nooksack no longer has a post office :( So, to mark that I had been in the town, I took my pic in front of the city hall. The town is very well kept though, as well as the City Hall itself. There is a little park in the middle of town that is cute and it reminds me a bit of Orting. Anyway, Nooksack is just a hop skip and a jump to the Canadian border so it's nice to see such a well kept town to welcome all of our neighbors to the north.

I like the general feel of Lynden. I stopped here on my trek to visit every city in Washington…read morestate. I liked seeing the windmills and the Dutch influence the town seemed to take on in certain places. The Dutch immigration to the town in the early 1900's still has a pretty big influence on the architecture within the town and cultural festivals. The town itself reminds me of a smaller version of Holland, Michigan mainly due to the ethnic influence. Lynden is about 5 miles from the Canadian border as well, which makes crossing over into Langley, BC a breeze.