Table of Contents
2: Point Whitehorn
4: Pizza places
6: Day trips
10: Vintage Farming Days
12: Tour de Whatcom
14: Whatcom’s waterfalls
16: Woodstock Farm
WHATCOM — People have become familiar with the main park-like access to Point Whitehorn Marine Reserve: a three-quarter-mile walk through coastal forest to blu stairway down to the rocky beach below. e views and saltwater air never fail to refresh the spirit.
In addition to the natural treasure of the immediate environment, the day hiker can
view the shipping pier of the BP Re nery at Cherry Point and also out to the San Juans Islands in the Georgia Strait and beyond.
e vehicular way in, from Interstate 5, is Grandview Road all the way west to its turn onto Koehn Road and then another left turn into marked parking lot. You are on Point Whitehorn.
But there is another public-access route to blu views and the beach. It is granted courtesy of property owner BP Re nery for biker and walker day use only — no motorized vehicles allowed in.
e start is at a signed gate, a three-way stop, where Holeman joins Grandview, a half mile short of the Koehn Road turn. Parking is limited;
please do not block either the gate or the intersection.
Ahead of you, southward, lies a gentle rise of road. Striking out, enjoy the owered elds around you and views eastward toward Mount Baker. Topping a gentle crest, you can see your water destination ahead. e whole distance is about a mile.
On a weekend at least, you will likely encounter other walkers and bikers and their dogs on the same pastoral quest.
Where roadway reaches blu and turns into Aldergrove, on a rise of trail you have your safe but rewarding view seaward. e nearest smaller islands are the triplets Patos, Sucia and Matia while beyond is larger Orcas.
A sign warns that the cli s beyond this point may
be unstable and should not be attempted unless you accept the risk involved. To read the particulars of liability, check out state law RCW 4.24.210. Size up your capabilities.
But the steep trail down is de nitely doable. When footing gets to where you should use all fours, in fact a rope is secured trailside for controling your descent. Beware of rope burn, and also steer clear of the crowding brambles. In no time at all, you’re at thenal 17-step crude stairway to beach.
Right here is not technically the 54-acre Point Whitehorn Marine Reserve, but the stretches of beach all join up, making this Washington
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Trails description of the setting still apropos:
“Blu areas and the coastal forests above provide excellent habitat for bald eagle and Cooper’s, sharp-shinned and red-tailed hawks. Native mammals are also regularly spotted there.
“ e more than two miles of rocky beach are a great place to see tidepools and small marine life. You might see harlequin duck, bu ehead, snow goose and brant near and along the extensive shoreline.
“Just o shore you’ll likely see a range of birds exploring the kelp forests alongside harbor porpoises and harbor seals. From fall through spring you could see redthroated, common and Paci c loons, Brandt’s, pelagic and double-breasted cormorants, Bonaparte’s, California and glaucous-winged gulls, and western, red-necked and horned grebes.
“Because the area is a sanctuary for seals, birds and other creatures, please give
wildlife a wide berth.”
With a binoculars you may be able to determine the name or origin of a ship unloading oil at the BP pier.
With the luck of a low tide, nd extra interesting intertidal life between the rocks,
or under them.
If you’ve packed a snack, this is the time to nd a comfortable spot amongst the driftwood and recall why you live in an area of the world where this delight is just an easy hour’s jaunt from home.
“We do allow people in the county to use it,” said BP’s Pamela Brady of the privately owned property. It was acquired some years ago to protect against any development, and the elds are leased for farm hay to be made there.
I practically lived on pizza during my college years at Western Washington University. It was easy, fast and affordable for the poor collegiate running between classes. But you don’t have to be a student to savor various pizza, and the whole business has gone more upscale. Bellingham is home to the Wood Stone Corporation, producer of special wood- red pizza ovens used by the likes of elite Canlis Restaurant of Seattle among 18,000 oven installations worldwide.
It’s hard to narrow down Whatcom County’s options to a mere few. Contributors to this listing said picking a favorite pizza establishment should be broken down by crust type, use of certain ovens and any association with a brewery or delivery option. Anyway, here we go with who made the cut, in alphabetical order:
Cascade Pizza, 2431 Meridian St., Bellingham: Since 1978, this place has been special with fresh tomatoes, Panstyle pizza, East Coast-style grinders and savory baked Italian pasta dishes. It has been a consistent family choice.
Coconut Kenny’s has six locations in a local chain including Bellingham, Lynden and Ferndale. Former Bellingham re captain Ken Krumdiak came home on holiday with an idea for a restaurant. He left those laughing in the dust when the concept caught on and grew. “All their pizzas are amazing, so I don’t have favorite. I love the Hawaiian-themed variety. ey have amazing
crust and their cheese bread is delicious and unique as well,” said Amy Malone. “It’s the only place you can eat Mac and Cheese on a pizza with drizzled BBQ sauce and bacon bits, if I may add,” said Cecily Welch.
Fat Pie Pizza, 1015 Harris St., Bellingham: It opened in Fairhaven in 2014 with one
very simple goal — to bring the unique pizza styles of Chicago, Detroit and Brooklyn home to Bellingham. Je Slotemaker said, “ e pizza is top-notch. Much is locally sourced. e views from the rooftop dining are world-class.”
LaFiamma Wood Fire Pizza, 200 E. Chestnut St., Bellingham: is is a kid-friendly
pizzeria with heated deck and sprawling dining room adjacent to the Saturday Farmers Market. Its “to go” window is named Pye Hole, good for a huge slice of pizza for $5, and open late. One complimented it as “best for a thin crust.” Drew Daly said, “Wow! As a
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New York transplant, pizza is close to my heart. LaFiamma measures up, for sure. It’s a different style, but the real deal.”
MOD Pizza, Barkley Village, Bellingham: Walk through an assembly line and point at what you want at this chain location. Brady Gustafson said, “Convenient and tasty and affordable.” Jasmine Nichole Villa added, “Best gluten-free option and you can create your own pizza with as many amazing toppings. It tastes fantastic. Being GF I won’t go anywhere else.”
North Fork Brewery, 6186 Mt. Baker Highway, Deming: is requires a drive into the countryside along Mt. Baker Highway to a casual setting to enjoy a pint and pizza, often in the company of friends coming or going from skiing or hiking. Leslie Carson said, “Best sausage and pepperoni pizza New York style.”
OVN Wood Fired Pizza, 1148 10th St., Bellingham: Expect Neapolitan-inspired pizza at 800 degrees. “Located in
Fairhaven with amazing crust and unique toppings,” said Dempsie Morrison.
e Rustic Fork, 442 Peace Portal Dr., Blaine: It opened during COVID with water views toward Canada, a heated patio, rustic décor. Pasta is made from scratch; also Italian-inspired appetizers and desserts go with live music. Wednesdays are Screaming Pizza nights.
Storia Cucina, 109 Grand Ave. #102, Bellingham: San Francisco restauranteur Jonathan Cicotti brings classic Italian food and drinks. is is near the courthouse and museum and across from Henderson’s Books. “ e service is amazing, food is so good and drinks are ipping yum,” said Autumn Mattson.
Syros Greek & Italian Restaurant, 311 Front St., Lynden: is family-run restaurant is time-tested for more than 24 years in downtown Lynden. Lisa Oostema said, “ e cheese! I’ve never had such an amazing cheese piz-
za!” Lynden’s Craig Engels seconded her choice for the Greek special.
Tino’s Pizza & Pasta Co., Valley Village Shopping Mall, Sudden Valley: Marie Matteson of Sudden Valley said, “Local is a relative term. Tino’s in Sudden Valley is an excellent place. ey o er pizza, pasta, sandwiches, soups and have gluten-free crust options. Local beer and wine. It’s family owned.”
Westside Pizza with sites
in Bellingham, Lynden, Everson and Ferndale: e chain operates by “Eat it. Love it. We guarantee it.” Fresh ingredients are prepared daily. “Best for a thicker crust and delivery” was one comment.
Zeeks Pizza, 2416 Meridian St., Bellingham: Dotti Johnson Goldsmith said, “I like Zeeks Pizza. Great options. It just opened in the old Fountain Drug building. My daughter rented an apartment above the Zeeks on Queen Anne when she went to Seattle Paci c University. I’m happy we have one here now.” “Go eat at Zeeks Pizza Bellingham and you will know the answer to your quest,” said Cathy ompson. Also mentioned by folks in our social-media survey were Chair 9, Cicchittis, Elizabeth Station, Fairhaven Pizza, Green’s, Mambo Italiano, Papa Murphy’s, Pizza-zza, Roundtable Pizza, and Whole Foods. Many locals miss Goat Mountain, Shakey’s Pizza, Stanello’s and Godfathers.
can get gluten-free at MOD Pizza in Barkley.
WHATCOM — With Bellingham as point zero, these are some day trips that a new arrival to the area is eager to check out or has had recommended to him:
In a tiny park on a blu on Whidbey Island, Ebey’s Landing is essentially at the gateway of Puget Sound.
ere’s plenty of things
to do for everyone, from the history bu to the trail runner, such as observing working farms or strolling through the seaport town of Coupeville for a scoop of ice cream at Kapaws Iskreme on Front Street where the portions are generous.
Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve preserves the historical, agricultural and cultural traditions of both Native and European American, and o ers recreational opportunities for the like-minded.
Consistent with CDC recommendations, anyone not fully vaccinated must continue to wear a mask indoors and in crowded outdoor spaces.
More help: https://www. nps.gov/ebla/planyourvisit/ index.htm.
Everett AquaSox
If you’re a fan of Major League Baseball, you’ll love minor league baseball. It’s the perfect opportunity to see young professional ballplayers as they prepare to make the show.
Just an hour from Lynden, the Everett AquaSox are a minor league baseball team in the High-A West League. Everett rst elded a team in 1984 as an a liate of the San Francisco Giants. Eleven years later, the Mariners began their a liation with Everett and renamed the team the AquaSox.
In 2010, Everett won its rst Northwest League championship as the AquaSox. In 2021, the AquaSox were advanced to be the Mariners’ High-A A liate instead of the
Short-Season Single-A A liate, marking their rst year as a full-season club.
e AquaSox play home games at Funko Field at Everett Memorial Stadium; opened 34 years ago in 1984, it has a seating capacity of 3,682. League games are from early May through the third week of September. Home games are played at Funk Field, 3900 Broadway St., Everett.
More help: email info@ aquasox.com or call 425258-3673. To buy tickets, visit www.milb.com/everett.
Farmers Markets
ere are enough farmers markets in Whatcom County that visiting just one may not do justice. Why not make day
See Day Trips on page 8
Continued from page 6 trips out of visiting several? For some, there’s no better way to spend a day than supporting the area’s local growers. With the COVID-19 pandemic hopefully ending, Whatcom County boasts several farmers markets for folks to buy the freshest of locally grown and locally sourced produce, as well as a myriad of other treats both edible and otherwise.
e Bellingham Farmers Market is open Wednesdays (4-7 p.m. June through August) and Saturdays (10 a.m. until 2 p.m. through December) at e Depot, 1100 Railroad Ave. More help: www.bellinghamfarmers.org.
e Blaine Farmers Market is open 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturdays through October at the G Street Plaza downtown. Visit facebook.com/blainemarket for more information.
In the Grocery Outlet parking lot Fridays now through early October is the Ferndale Farmers Market, a place for local vendors and farmers to celebrate good, hard, honest work. More help: www.ferndalepublicmarket. org.
June through September, the Lynden Farmers Market is open Saturdays 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Centennial Park, corner of Fourth and Grover streets.
For folks still not comfort-
able mingling in public, online shopping is available from the Lynden market to allow customers to place a single order for products from multiple vendors. Visit https://lyndenfm.eatfromfarms.com.
In Maple Falls, the Twin Sisters Market has two locations, both open Saturdays through October. Hours at the Nugent’s Corner roundabout (Hwy. 542) are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., while at North Fork Library (7506 Kendall Road) it’s 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Visit www.twinsistersmarket.com
for more information.
Nobody said that a day trip had to be two hours from home. Whatcom Falls Park is a 241-acre park pretty much in the middle of Bellingham. e park has four sets of waterfalls and more than three miles of walking trails. Whatcom Falls Park also has a shing pond for children age 14 and younger, two tennis courts, athletic elds, and picnic tables and shelters that can be rented from the parks department of-
ce.
Whirlpool Falls is located along the Whirlpool Loop Trail and is a very popular swimming hole within the park. e falls themselves are only about 10 feet high, but the cli s adjacent to the falls are about 30 feet high.
Visit https://www.wta. org/go-hiking/hikes/whatcom-falls-park.
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tion Pass Bridge and Canoe Pass Bridge are two separate bridges. But collectively to most people, they’re known as Deception Pass. No matter, what you call it — or them — sits about 18 stories above the water, depending on the tide, in the tight gap of surging sea between Whidbey Island and Fidalgo Island.
At 4,134 acres, Deception Pass State Park has about 15 miles of saltwater shoreline, as well as three lakes and 35 miles of trails.
Even though Deception Pass is arguably the state’s most popular park, there are more than a fair share of isolated spots there to explore.
e state park’s hiking trails range from easy to challenging. Campsites o er ocean, mountain, forest or lake views. With salt and freshwater shing, kayaking, swimming, picnicking and camping, there’s something for everyone.
More help: https://whidbeycamanoislands.com/deception-pass-state-park/.
LYNDEN — e Puget Sound Antique Tractor and Machinery Association’s annual Vintage Farming Days show returns in August after missing 2020 due to COVID-19, and it brings with it some new features for visitors to enjoy.
For the rst time since the show began about 50 years ago, Rumely Oil Pull tractors
will be the featured machines, running on a unique system that hearkens back to the early 20th century.
“ ey burned kerosene, but they put a lightweight motor oil in the radiator because kerosene’s not very ammable,” tractor club member Larry McPhail said. “If you put oil in the radiator, you can run the tractor a lot hotter and you don’t have to have antifreeze in the wintertime. If you have the motor hotter, then the kerosene burns better and more economical.”
ere will likely be more than 20 of these 7-ton machines at the tractor show, set to take place Aug. 4-7 on the club’s grounds at Berthusen Park.
Each year, the show features a straw pile with prizes
or candy for kids to nd. is year, an anonymous donor has donated $1,000 worth of coins to be placed in the hay.
For the rst time ever, the club plans to run two miniature trains for kids to ride instead of just one, and these train rides are free of charge.
McPhail said visitors to Berthusen Park can see the black walnut tree that was relocated from the Lynden Chamber of Commerce growing on the grounds now. Also, the club has relocated a building from Northwood Road to be used as a church.
“Originally it maybe came from the fairgrounds,” McPhail said. “We’re not really sure of the history of it. It’s gonna look pretty new by the time we get some paint on it.”
McPhail said the church
will be located on a concrete foundation between the bookstore and the log cabin on the show grounds.
In addition to these new features, the tractor show brings back mainstays such as grain threshing, steam and gas sawmill demonstrations, gas engines, tractor pulls, antique trucks, tractors and machinery, antique car clubs, a blacksmith, the bookstore, a daily parade, special theme displays and vintage farm toys.
Entry for adults is $10 and kids ages 8 to 12 are $3. Children 7 and under are free, and seniors ages 65 and older get in for $7. Veterans with proper ID enter for free on ursday, Aug. 5.
Visit www.vintagefarmingdays.net for more information.
WHATCOM — Cyclists from Whatcom County and beyond can welcome back the Tour de Whatcom bike ride this summer, scheduled for Saturday, July 17.
Tour de Whatcom did not happen last year due to COVID.
e event, put on by Whatcom Events, will look a little di erent than in other
years to allow for social distancing and other safety precautions. But even though scaled back, coordinator Anna Rankin said, there’s still plenty to be excited about.
“We are doing a subdued version of it,” Rankin said. “We’re not going to be having the big after-party and mass start we’ve normally had. We’re going to do staggered starts, but we’re still going to provide road service and road markings and rest stops along the way.”
Even before it was announced that the state would be reopening in full by July 1, the Tour de Whatcom sta was planning to hold the race this summer.
e race will go without any big gatherings after the
nish line this year. Other than that and some other small changes, Rankin said most of it will look and feel the same.
“Boundary Bay is still going to open for riders to gather and talk to one another in the beer garden and get drinks,” she said. “It’s just that we’re not going to be there doing ra es and the things we normally do. We’re essentially giving people maps, routes, support and water along the way.”
With one-third of the riders coming from Canada typically, Rankin said the overall number of Tour de Whatcom participants is expected to be down a bit this year — since the border remains closed to non-essential travel.
Participants can choose among the distance options of 22, 44, 62 and 100 miles.
Rankin said the 100-mile ride in particular is what they hear the most positive feedback on, time after time.
“We live in such a beautiful place and for the most part these roads all have really good shoulders and scenery and that’s something you don’t nd in every town,” she said. “We get so many people that come from Seattle and B.C. and so many other places because you can’t really get that in those areas.”
Registration for the race is now open at ccnbikes. com/#!/events/tour-de-whatcom-2021. Walk-up registration the day of the race will be limited.
“ ere is a waterfall in every dream. Cool and crystal clear, it falls gently on the sleeper, cleansing the mind and soothing the soul.” — Virginia Alison
WHATCOM — e Northwest fourth corner can inspire anyone to grab hiking boots, water bottles and head out the door. And in search of what this time? How about local waterfalls!
“Freeway Falls,” Lake Samish area near Interstate 5 northbound milepost 245
ere is space to stop to look more closely, but maybe just slow down and look out the window. Across the freeway along North Lake Samish Drive between the freeway on and o ramps and the north end of the lake are a series of small waterfalls that can be viewed more easily with pull-out parking. ere is no signage.
Lake Whatcom Park – Hertz Trail, at the end of North Shore Drive outside of Bellingham
To reach the trailhead, watch for signs on the last portion of road. is 6.2-mile (round-trip) trail is fairly at and a favorite of families with children and pets, following former Bellingham Bay & Eastern Railway right-of-way between mountain and Lake Whatcom. e trail is named for former Bellingham Mayor Ken Hertz. Water views of Sudden Valley, Camp Firwood (and its island, three-acre Reveille Island) are punctuated with the sounds of motor boats.
e main waterfall is adja-
cent to the rst bridge and requires a little hiking for closer views.
Lookout Mountain Waterfall Trail, near Sudden Valley’s Gate 9 along Lake Louise Road
According to Alltrails.com, the Lookout Mountain Forest Preserve is a 4.6-mile heavily tra cked trail with a waterfall. While I have not gone to the top lookout, the waterfall is substantial. ere is a good parking lot with new ush restrooms. No parking pass is required. e waterfall loop is only 1.1 mile round-trip with a 200-foot elevation gain.
Nooksack Falls, 7.4 miles east of Glacier, almost to milepost 41
Leave the Mt. Baker Highway onto unpaved Wells Creek Road. e steep woodland creates abundant falls and rapids on the North Fork of the Nooksack River. is one is just a short walk from parking. e banks above the falls have sandy “beaches.” Additional fencing has been added in recent years to keep visitors from trying to get too close to the top of the 88-foot falls. More than 100 years ago, the site was used for hydropower for the mining industry. No parking pass required.
Marine Heritage Park, 500 W. Holly St. in Old Town Bellingham
A hidden Whatcom Creek waterfall is under the Dupont Street bridge. A short trail follows the creek upstream, attracting both homeless residents and local workers. In the area is the Whatcom County Courthouse.
Racehorse Falls, access o the Mosquito Lake and then North Fork roads
Finding Racehorse Falls requires a map and careful driving on forest road. From Mount Baker Highway, turn onto Mos-
quito Lake Road and go over the Nooksack River, turn left/ north onto the rst road, North Fork. It is initially paved, but continues to unpaved. One parking lot before a small rustic bridge doesn’t require any parking passes (the other small parking strip further up the hillside does require a permit).
e upper trail is easy for all ages, although be careful near a cli edge that some try to rappel down. Another trail, partially destroyed in a landslide, takes visitors through woods and creek and requires more skill, climbing over fallen logs and fording the creek.
Whatcom Falls Park, 1401 Electric Ave., Bellingham Access is easy o Lakeway Drive 1.5 miles from the free-
way, between historic Bayview Cemetery and Lake Whatcom. Many visitors even come on their lunch hours. Several miles of trails take visitors from the largest falls by the WPA-built stone bridge (repurposed from a building) to a series of other waterfalls along Whatcom Creek.
e beauty has been deadly at times, as both children and adults cool o in hot weather or plain get too close to the mossy edges. e park has signage warning that no life guards are on duty.
Notes: As on any hike, bring good shoes for traction, and enough water, and inform others of your plans. Some areas in Whatcom County’s foothills have poor cell phone service.
