Really lovely area to explore the rocky coast of Washington. Free entry, free parking, plenty of…read moreplaces to explore, hike, enjoy a picnic, play on playgrounds, you name it. A bit secluded which just adds to its allure in my book. Love the coupling of large trees and rock beach right next to each other, such a unique thing to experience.

Birch Bay is probably in the Top 3 of my favorite state parks. It's in an idyllic, bayside setting,…read morewith a huge campground and lots to do in the area. I spent many a summer weekend tent camping there with my kids, and recently returned to camp again for the long weekend over July 4th. As any local will tell you, the Birch Bay area is THE place to be to celebrate and over-the-top Independence Day. Since my tent camping with kids days I've upgraded to a small teardrop travel trailer. Luckily, the majority of sites at the BBSP campground accommodate smaller travel trailers. They even have water/electric hookup sites but these are almost impossible to procure. Still, it was fun to boondock for four nights at one of their many double/group sites - which we shared with some friends. I was thankful for having a trailer, because it rained HARD for two of the days we were there and everything was soaked. Our group site (107/108) was also located near a bog so it got especially muddy. Still, we didn't let it ruin the fun - but it was a good reminder that it's never a bad idea to bring extra awnings and canopies on these PNW camping trips. The park itself is well-managed, with rangers regularly circulating and a camp host on duty most of the day. The bathrooms are clean and serviced regularly, and there are coin-op showers to keep you clean. The beach is a short walk from the campground, and an amazing place to watch sunsets. We also rode bikes into the village - it's perfectly level and there's a bike lane most of the way. We ended up at the local brewery, which was right across from the beach and a great place to listen to some live music and enjoy the weekend. Birch Bay State Park will always be on my radar for great, not-too-far-away, family-friendly camping spots. Reserve early for best selection!

We love this gorgeous, well maintained park! The pirate play area is really cute and has some…read moreunique features like a treasure tumble (you roll it to see shells) and a "plank" you can walk/jump on. Past the park and onto the boardwalk- there is plenty of unique wildlife to see- herons, seagulls, and star fish! The beach is rocky but easy to navigate and a great place to throw or collect rocks. This is truly a great walk for playing with toddlers, having a picnic or enjoying a walk.

Very beautiful view and a cool little playground for my daughter and a LOT of little stones to be…read morethrown.

Great place for the boaters fees reasonable cheaper then Seattle. We fly in from Billings Mt the…read moresecurity here is top notch they check on your boat. I got a message boat had minor damage from storm my cover is now somewhere in Canada. If your looking for friendly staff and great neighbors come check them out

Oh my goodness, I feel in love with Washington... again…read more.. We had a couple of hours to chill before boarding our flight and found this park!, Visited with a local and his dog for 20 min. while our kids ran on the grass & played on the playground. Beautiful path overlooking the docks and the bay!

An absolute favorite for good ole woods on the lake camping! Campgrounds have so much variety in…read moreshade, waterfront options, RV hookups, walk-in, and group sites. Their bathrooms and showers are well maintained, and the public use areas are always kept up as well. They staff a little snack shack where you can find limited swim gear and accessories, plus impressive snacks, coffee, ice cream, candy, etc. The lake is a non-motorized boat lake, but they rent out water toys or bring your own float islands and paddleboards. Mt. Constitution is also found within the park and is a must visit! Views into Canada and over the WA coast are to die for on a clear day. Whether you're visiting just for the day or longer, Moran State Park is an oasis worth experiencing!

This is probably the biggest highlight on Orcas Island if you're outdoorsy!…read more Lakes, scenic views, trails a plenty even leading to an ice cream finish, water activities, and on and on and on. I had only wished we had one more day. My group did the Cascade Lake Loop, Cascade Fall's, plus give or take hopping on to another trail to widen the "loop." Day passes are $10 bucks and go off an honor system with completing a short form with vehicle and govt issue ID details and dropping them into a collection box. Plenty of places to park near multiple different trail entrances. The trails are well maintained & the trees are massive. Sugar shack offered up some delicious ice cream during our widening of said loop. There were clean bathrooms and a large playground located near this pit stop. Plenty of entrances/parking to different trailheads can be found along the outskirts. Definitely recommend for anyone taking a vacation on Orcas Island. And as always practice leave no trace!

A great location and nicely arranged grassy patch in the courtyard outside Village Books/Colophon…read moreCafe and neighboring eateries. The path circumambulating the small field is lovely and offers benches and shade from the direct sunlight. This is the spot of Outdoor Movies in the summertime, which are projected onto the building which houses Jalapenos Restaurant. It's a nice spot to rest after a walk, enjoy a conversation with friends, and share a meal outside.

Seating all around a grassy lawn invites a weary soul to stop, relax and enjoy the vibes. A great…read moreway to spend an hour or an afternoon. Kids can play on the grass and tired shoppers can rest on the benches before hitting the streets filled with good food and inviting boutiques.

Love this park, especially for an evening stroll or picnic!…read more This unique family park is located next to Sunnyland Elementary School and is the second oldest park in Bellingham, with a rich history and named to honor the fallen heroes of Whatcom County. Beautiful trees (30 to be exact) from Sugar Maple to Orchard Apple line the exterior and provide lots of shade. There are stone memorials dedicated to local fallen soldiers and each tree is dedicated as well. On Veteran's Day people leave flags and flowers. The back of the park leads to hiking trails, street parking is plentiful and we don't usually have trouble finding a spot. This is a beautiful, relaxing park but only way it falls short is they need more than one picnic table, so brings chairs or a blanket.

I'm a fan of this simple neighborhood park…read more Memorial Park offers a very large grassy area which is perfect for physical activity or lounging. Access to the Railroad trail can be found here. Street parking does not seem to be a problem. I wasn't at all concerned for the safety of my vehicle. The park is equipped with only one picnic table, offers several benches, but no cooking grills. I-5 traffic can be rather loud and irritating when trying to carry on a conversation.

Bellingham has so many great parks right inside the city, and Maritime Heritage is one of them. It…read morehas paved trails throughout the park, picnic tables, a creek running through it, and a fish hatchery. The fish hatchery is accessible and a nice place to watch the salmon. The park also allows fishing. We happened to visit during salmon run season. It was awesome to see so many salmon and also a little bit gross lol. However I highly recommend visiting this beautiful park anytime. Its a nice place to get away and enjoy nature without getting too far away.

There's good news and bad news in Maritime Heritage Park. The bad news is the park has seen some…read morerecent tough times. It has become a magnet for the homelessness and rampant drug use that - like other cities - has come to plague our town. The good news is the fine citizens of Bellingham have recognized the need for this park to return to being a safe, fun public space. So several local groups have started organizing events here designed to put the FUN back into the park. I see good things ahead for MHP. Meanwhile, it's still a place best avoided after dark. :(

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.