bellingham, wa
An engaging city by the water and the wood. This place has a lot to offer families who like outdoor adventures in a unique setting.
playgrounds
Fairhaven Park
Located in the historic Fairhaven area, this playground is a great place to spend an afternoon. It has large fields, covered areas, a great playground and splashpark. It is also connected to the main shopping area of Fairhaven which has many great restaurants, coffeehouses, shops including a toy shop and ice cream parlor.
Boulevard Park
This park is amazing and has something for everyone! The playground is a fun pirate ship with an ocean view. It's also located right next to a Woods Coffee shop and a great paved trail along the ocean for you to walk, run, or bike your way to the Fairhaven district. The oceanfront path leads you to the a pier where you can watch locals jumping off into the ocean year round.
Squalicum Creek Park
Looking for a unique playground to inspire your little one's imagination? Look no further. This playground has a great climber which looks like a tree, a merry-go-round and a zipline.
Broadway Park
Tucked away in a quiet neighborhood is this charming park. It is well maintained, clean and has a great climber. Its the perfect place to get away from the crowds and spend some quality time with your kids.
Cornwall Park
Looking for a playground with some variety? Cornwall park is located within a large green space with paved bike trails, a decent playground and a splashpark.
Bloedel Donovan Park
Located on Lake Whatcom this playground has great play equipment, a swimming beach and boat rentals. We rented a paddleboat to get out on the water and swam right off the boat.
Lake Padden Park
You could easily spend an entire day at Lake Padden Park. On a sunny day it's a great place to go swimming or paddleboarding. There is a small playground, a dog park, a golf course and a bike trail around the lake.
Star Park
Star playground is located 15 minutes north of Bellingham in Ferndale. It's worth the drive as the playground is huge and full of fun equipment. It is also accessible for wheelchairs.
Lake Samish Park
Pack for the day and go early to get a spot. Lake Sammish Park is a great place to spend the morning or day playing in the sun. The park has a small lakeside playground, sandy swimming beach, boat rental, bathrooms and changing rooms.
family adventures
Hiking
There are so many great family friendly places to hike in the area. Here are a few of our favorites:
Community Boating Center
Want to get out on the ocean? The Community Boating Center has you covered! Sailboats, motorboats, rowboats, or kayaks are available for you to rent and enjoy Bellingham Bay.
Hovander Homestead
Located 15 minutes north of Bellingham in Ferndale, Hovander Homestead is a charming place to spend the afternoon. Kids will love visiting the chickens, ducks and rabbits that live on the farm, as well as playing on the large playground. Our favorite part was the Story Garden, a delightful vegetable garden showcasing several children's books on healthy food and a scavenger hunt.
Rainy Day activities
Bellis Fair Mall
Felling a little couped up by some rain? Sawyer loved riding these mall motorcycles. The perfect activity for kids who need to get out of the house on a rainy day.
Summit Adventure Park
Fun for the whole family, this trampoline park has trampolines, ball pits, and climbing walls.
Don't miss...
Fairhaven
The Portal
The Portal
This historic area of town has charming brick buildings, quirky restaurants, local artisan shops and fun events.
The Portal
The Portal
The Portal
This container village is located next to a pumptrack. Ice cream, coffee, a brewery and more await you in this unique space.
Downtown
The Portal
Downtown
Great restaurants, breweries, shops, a thriving farmer's market and more await you in downtown Bellingham.