The city of Bellingham is located in Whatcom County in northern Washington. Bellingham is a beautiful area that attracts visitors who love the mild climate and gorgeous landscape. Many who come to the area visit the many parks located throughout Whatcom County.

The parks offer a wide range of activities that everyone in the family will enjoy. Those who come to Whatcom County will find many parks from which they can choose. Some of the most popular are Silver Lake and Hovander. Each of the parks is special and has unique sights that visitors can enjoy.

Silver Lake Park is located a mere forty minutes from the town of Bellingham. It is a great place to go no matter the time of year; it is just as beautiful in the summer as it is in the winter.

The park lies in a mountain valley and contains the 180-acre Silver Lake. Those who come to visit will find a number of water activities to enjoy, such as fishing, canoeing, and swimming. You can also find some great camping and picnic areas in the park as well. You can also find some great places to hike and just relax.

If you like the idea of staying on the lake, but don’t want to spend time in a tent, you can rent one of the cabins that overlook the lake.

Hovander Homestead Park is only eight miles away from Bellingham and offers a very different experience that Silver Lake does. The homestead was once a family farm, and today people can come and tour the farmhouse and barn. Kids will love wandering around the farmyard, where they can see a variety of farm animals, including cows, chickens, pigs, goats, and horses to name but a few.

The park also has huge fields that are perfect for picnicking and relaxing. Guests to the park, which is located very close to the Lake Tennant area, will be able to find great places to go hiking, fishing, canoeing and more. Everyone who comes to Hovander will find something to love.

The above are just a tiny sampling of all of the wonderful parks in Whatcom County. You will find many more places to love.

Washington is a beautiful state and all of the parks in Whatcom County reflect this, which is why they are so popular with natives and visitors from around the country. If you love the outdoors, and you are in the north of Washington, you should do yourself a favor and visit some of the county parks.
 

Parks of Whatcom County – Bellingham, Washington is a post from: Washington Tourism

The gallery prides itself on having a collection that is so broad in scope. When you visit the gallery, you will be able to see art prints, as well as maps and surveys.

Upon entering the gallery, guests will see a wide array of antique prints that cover a wide variety of subjects. You will see prints of famous people, Western and Native American art, animals, maritime history, Japanese, architecture, and a whole lot more.

Darvill has a huge collection of old maps, charts and surveys that date all the way back to the 17th century. Their antique maps and other items those from include countries from around the world, including Asia, Europe, and the United States. You will even be able to see antique battle maps and scenes from the Crimean War and the Franco-Prussian War.

Darvill adds new items to their collection of maps on an almost daily basis. They are in the process of adding another thousand antique maps. You will always find rare new maps and charts when you visit the gallery.

Another part of their massive collection includes limited edition serigraphs and prints by the most famous and beloved artist in Alaska, Rie Munoz. You will be able to find some of her most popular works here, including Starr Hill, Waiting for the Ashes to Cool, King Crab, and Jigging for Herring.

When visiting Eastsound, make sure you stop by Darvill’s Rare Prints gallery to see all of the wonderful items they have. You might even want to pick up a print to take home with you – they have something to suit just about every artistic taste out there, and they are all reasonably priced.

If you want to find out more information about Darvill’s Rare Prints, you can visit their website at darvillsrareprints.com to see what new items are coming to the gallery. You can visit often because it seems that there are always plenty of new things to see.

If you’re visiting Eastsound, you can visit HotelsCombined.com to find excellent hotel accommodations in the area.

296 Main Street
Eastsound, WA 98245
360-376-2351
 

Darvill Gallery – Eastsound, Washington is a post from: Washington Tourism

Brandy’s Troll Haven is a place that you can get in touch with the desire to be surrounded by trolls, elves, witches and wizards, giants and dwarves all dwell in the magical world created by Garrett Bandy.  It is private property but he graciously lets you wander around the premises to allow your imagination come to life.  Just remember that it is a home and please respect it as such, think how you would feel if people were wandering though your land and leaving litter…please be mindful of his generosity.

Brady’s Troll Haven is a castle that is available for rent for a weekend.  There are etched glass dragons and other mystical spirits waiting to welcome you.  As you are transported back in time you will enter the world of Victorian and then into Medieval. 

There is a huge crystal and gold chandelier that hangs above the rotunda which hosts a circular staircase showcasing the 7 intricate stained glass windows.  The 5 carved Gothic chairs are covered in red velvet and sit in front of a long breakfast bar dividing the kitchen from the living area.  You can take the stairway off the living room to the dungeon below where there are bedrooms available.  Walk out onto the large balconies on the upper levels and see the beauty surrounding the estate.

The dungeon is truly a step into the medieval times with its stone walls with alcoves set into the walls to house the crossed swords, glass etchings of mystical origins and an array of other things waiting for you to explore.  Inside the dungeon area there are torture devices along with stone gargoyles which adorn the walls and the truly impressive English oak doors mounted on their big black iron hinges.  You will dodge stalagmites which hang from the hallway ceilings as you go from one room to the next.  Now don’t be frightened, although it is a dungeon, it isn’t dank and dark, it is well lit and has modern heating and plumbing so you don’t have to worry about going to an outhouse!  Rent for the castle is not cheap, but how many times in your life will you be able to actually stay in a castle with all the stories you can take back home with you to tell your friends?

When you are outside you will be among the beautiful gardens and orchards where there are also buffalo for you to see.

Address:941 Gardiner Beach Road, Sequim, WA

Directions:  From Seattle: Take the Kingston ferry. From Kingston follow signs for Sequim (over Hood Canal Bridge on 101 W). Gardiner is about 12 miles before Sequim. Continue past Discovery Bay Store and Discovery Bay Restaurant. Look for mile marker 277 on the left side of the road. Once you pass mile marker 277, you will see a sign ‘Entering Gardiner’. Turn right on Gardiner Beach Road. Proceed down the hill. Stay on Gardiner Beach Rd, it makes a dogleg at the first stop sign (left at the stop sign and then an immediate right, continuing downhill all the way to the water). Follow Gardiner Beach Road (it bends left at the water) past the boat launch and up the hill. Pass the orchards with the carved fence posts until you see the castle at the stop sign. Parking lot next to barn.

Hours: Private Property! No Trespassing. (Call to verify)

Phone: 360-797-7168

GPS: N 48° 03.455 W 122° 55.407
     10U E 505703 N 5322703

Brandy’s Troll Haven – Sequim, Washington is a post from: Washington Tourism

Maybe it’s the mystique of the islands themselves.  They are thought to have been formed from an ancient mountain range that was plunged under water at some point in history.  Parts of the mountains have since risen again to be above water.  It is these parts that we see as islands.

Perhaps the whale watching lures sailors in from all over.  The area is well-known for its outstanding whale watching opportunities, and there’s no better place to watch these magnificent animals from than on the water.

Or maybe it’s the sheer beauty of the San Juan Islands.  The stunning landscapes of the islands and the diversity of the wildlife – both in the water and on the land – make this area the perfect place to go when you want to get away from everyday life and see something truly different.

The tourism trade around the San Juan Islands is booming today like never before.  San Juan sailing trips are especially popular.  If you are an experienced sailor, you can take your own boat and enjoy the diversity and natural beauty of the area.  

If you aren’t a sailor yourself but would still love to experience the San Juan Islands, there are several options open to you.  You can charter a boat with a crew.  This is a great option if you want to observe and learn more about sailing but you aren’t yet comfortable with actually taking the wheel yourself.  Many companies who offer chartered boats will also offer sailing classes if you would like to learn to sail.

You may also take a hands-off cruise around the San Juan Islands.  This option is wonderful if you would just like to get out and experience the water and the sailing without worrying about learning how to operate the boat.  Eco-tours are also available in the San Juan Islands.  They are often offered as a cruise package.

Sailing in the San Juan Islands can be the experience of a lifetime.  Novices and experienced sailors alike will love the area and remember the serene beauty forever.

You can complete your trip to the San Juan Islands by staying on one of the islands itself.  You can find great rates at HotelsCombined.com.

Sailing Paradise – San Juan Islands, Washington is a post from: Washington Tourism

People who come to the islands with the intent of canoeing and kayaking will be thrilled at all of the different opportunities they have. You can take short tours that last anywhere from 2 – 5 hours, or you can camp among the islands for several days. No matter what kind of canoe trip you take, you are sure to have a great time.

Canoeing on the sea offers you the ability to get up close to some incredible creatures: killer whales. This rare opportunity to see these amazing creatures in the wild is one of the most popular activities around the islands. Pods of more than fifty of these animals make the islands their home range, and you will have a very good chance of seeing them while on your trip.

You will also be able to see other animals during your trip as well. Eagles make their nests around the island, and the playful harbor seals. By keeping an eye on the water, you might spot the countless salmon that swim just below the surface.

Many birds make the area their home as well, and bird watchers will have a good time trying to spot the different species.

You can hire one of the many expert guides and tour companies that are in the area, or you may choose to explore the waters around the islands on your own. Using a guide is recommended for those who don’t have experience canoeing. Many tour companies also offer camping trips, where you spend the day paddling through the water from island to island before settling down for the night. These trips can last up to a week and more.

Before heading out into the water, make sure your lifejacket is secure and that you have all the experience necessary to handle canoeing on the sea, which can be far different than paddling down a slow moving river. Make sure to bring a camera as well, because the sights you will see are rare and should be captured. Most of all though, have fun and cherish your time on the ocean.

San Juan Islands – Washington is a post from: Washington Tourism

• Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium: Enjoyable facilities feature a zoo housing 792 animals and aquarium exhibits displaying species native to the Pacific Northwest.
• Fort Niquily A detailed reconstruction of an early 19^th century Hudson’s Bay fur trading and farming post.
• The Pagoda: The Pagoda is the focal point of a tranquilly beautiful Japanese garden, and a popular rental for weddings and parties.
• The Point Defiance Gardens: Extensive and exquisite gardens of a wide variety of flowering plants, shrubs and trees, creating a spirit lifting environment ideal for picture taking.
• Old Growth Forest Area: A five mile scenic drive through the Old Growth Forest Area takes one past exhilarating views of Puget Sound, the Cascade and Olympic mountain ranges, the Tacoma Narrows and the Narrows bridges, Vashon Island and Gig Harbor. Picnic along the way and take pictures if you wish.
• The more then ten miles of picturesque forested trails that meander through the park are ideal for hiking or jogging.
• Never Never Land opened in 1964 as a family picnic area and playground, and has been, and continues to be, a favorite outdoor relaxation destination for the city’s residents.
• Go Kart and Batting Cage areas: The active youngsters in your family will certainly appreciate this section of the park.
• Camping and Logging Museum: Replica of a turn of the century logging camp. This exhibit offers a glimpse into the logging heritage of the Pacific Northwest. The Museum is maintained by the Western Forest Industries Museum.
• Anthony’s Restaurant: This octagonal shaped eatery is the place for top quality seafood, enhanced by outstanding views of Puget Sound and the mountains.
• Like fishing? Then the Park’s Boathouse Marina is the ideal spot at the park. Located on the Point Defiance Park Waterfront.

Point Defiance Park is a post from: Washington Tourism