Views across the bay? Check! Playground? Check!…read morePlenty of parking? Check! Big, grassy area to play in? Check! If you're looking for a quintessential Bellingham park experience, look no farther than this lovely waterfront gem conveniently located just a few minutes from downtown Bham. When I lived there, it was one of my favorite places to go on a sunny day, just to take in the sights and breathe some fresh sea air. Recently, we gathered here for a Mother's Day picnic, where we spread our blankets on the ground underneath the trees, flew kites, and enjoyed some major people watching on a perfect, sunny day. From our vantage point we could also see boats out on the bay - it was magical! I wouldn't complain too loudly if they added a few more picnic tables to this park. But other than that, it's pretty fun to visit. Bonus for the clean public restrooms (located in the boathouse building)!

A lovely park and playground in a beautiful setting on the waterfront. Buildings at the point are…read moreavailable for rental. Picnic tables, benches, little shade, a bicycle path and plenty of wind blowing at and around you as you enjoy the expansive boat and water views.

I've crossed the bridge over the Nooksack River by car and have contemplated stopping to check it…read moreout for years. This weekend, I finally did. If you are headed east on Mt. Baker Highway, turn right just before you reach the roundabout. This single lane road will lead you past the WHS Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, and then the road will turn rough with gravel. Keep going about 50 more yards, and on your left, you will find about 5 parking spots in front of a grassy field. Follow the trail sign and tree-lined path to the water where you will have spectacular views of snow-capped Mt. Baker. The Nooksack river will be flowing pretty fast all year long, but is more calm along the shoreline where you might consider dipping your toes during the summer. The cold river water will feel good on a hot day. Unfortunately, the beach is rocky, so bring some sturdy water shoes for navigating the plethora of pebbles and boulders. Leashed dogs are allowed here too, but I saw plenty running free on both sides of the shore. One dog kept charging and barking at me despite his owner's best efforts to recall and control him by voice. According to one park sign, you can fish here. I'm not sure if there are designated points. I didn't see any bathroom or picnic table facilities, so "go" before you arrive and bring your own blankets, towels and chairs if you plan on hanging out. The park is open from sunrise to sunset which is great for those wanting to photograph the natural beauty of this place.

I like this hidden little park. There are about 5 parking spots available to use but the location…read moreis hidden from the street so there are seldom anyone here during the weekdays. One thing that I like a lot about this park is the open field adjacent to the river. I have flown my drone around to get footage of the river and mountains and the views are amazing! Plenty of rocky shoreline to relax by the water as well.

Very beautiful views, calm spot when no one is around. Can get crowded during nicer times of the…read moreyear. No bathroom almost pooped myself but overall a lovely experience.

The perfect spot for beautiful views of the bay and relaxation. The trail to/from the water is…read morenarrow and steep at times. There are some steps along the path, which makes the hike a little bit easier. This is an ideal spot to lay under the stars and snuggle up with someone. There's some light pollution from the city, but it doesn't take much from the starry night experience. This is rumored to be a nude beach area. I believe that it may have been at some point, but isn't considered to be one now. There are two beach areas. No bathrooms. As usual, parking at the trailhead is a risk. You may return to your car to find a shattered window. Don't leave anything visible.

Whatcom County parks are great to explore anytime of year. Silver Lake Park is no exception. The…read morepros: -Rustic cabins with killer views of pristine Silver Lake -Quiet, secluded and clean -Roomy camp sites with clear signage to direct you around the park Cons: -Rustic cabins. The cabins are old and only the Baker has a shower and toilet. Bring your own bedding, towels and kitchen supplies. The cabins are truly bare bones. -Lockboxes for cabin keys. Make sure you have the numeric code before you leave home because you'll need it to open up your cabin. No internet signal up here. You'll need to drive down to Maple Falls for internet access.

Fun place to hang out and launch a small motorized water craft, canoe, kayak or paddle board…read more Fishing is good in the morning and later in the afternoon--if you can handle the mosquitoes.

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.

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.

When I think of a "stairway to heaven", this is probably something that comes to mind…read more We parked at Little Squalicum Park and walked down a short path to get here (there's a little steep section). Originally, we saw that there was a pier and thought to try crabbing here. I don't think this is a pier for fishing nor crabbing. The water depth is only a few feet even at the end - it's quite shallow, not deep enough for crabs or any serious fishing. We tried a few casts anyway and didn't come up with anything, unfortunately. But, it's an awesome long pier walk that really gets you some scenic views at the end of the surrounding areas. Great nature view. You really take the full force of the sun out there, so wear some sunscreen.

I was not expecting to be as impressed as I was by this brand new pier at Little Squalicum Beach…read more For decades, I've visited this rustic little beach park with family or friends, always gazing out at the long-dilapidated former shipping pier. Fast forward to just a few weeks ago, and they've transformed this creosote-scented landmark into a place of beauty. We were lucky to be there on a warm, sunny day. We walked out to the end and took it all in. From views of Lummi and Orcas Islands to the west, Mt. Baker to the east, and even some humongous-looking crabs wandering the shallow depths beneath the bridge, it was a delightful (and free!) way to spend some time in nature.

Charming and easy trail, lined with wild blackberry thickets And clean bathrooms! We only went…read morepart way, because we ran out of time

I was visiting friends and we stopped here for a walk on the boardwalk and visit to a small rock…read morebeach. Nice, dusty, trail lined with blackberry bushes and the occasional sweet pea vine. A few hundred feet from where we started there is a tee where you can continue on the sidewalk or head down to the boardwalk that is about 35' over the water. The boardwalk is nice and wide with a couple of points along the way to stop and drink in the view. The day of this visit was super warm, ~90 degrees, and it was a nice treat to walk down to the beach once the boardwalk hit earth again. There were shells and rocks to pick through, and overall the beach wasn't busy at all. When I say beach I mean like 40ft X 20ft of sand and rocks before the water. There is neat rock foundation that the ocean carved into that could be cool bouldering if there were more surface area available. The address says Bellingham, but there is this place called Fairhaven that existed 200 years ago but was enveloped into Bellingham over time. So, if you're asking for direction in the new Bellingham area mention Fairhaven to reduce confusion.

Cute little park we found! The entrance is a little down the road from where my Apple Maps told me…read more We did the path to the right and there was an open field for my pup to play fetch at. Some benches the other way as well!

We love to visit this off the beaten path unique park. Great place to view bald eagles from the…read morepark and a scenic trail in the park. We love to pick up fried chicken from Nugent's Corner Market and head to this interesting park for a picnic. It is very clean and well maintained with wooden picnic tables placed in interesting spots. Also has restroom facility and a large play area for sports and other activities. We also love the scenic drive to this area!