My hometown of Bellingham, Wash. was recently voted one of the 50 best travel destinations in the world. (But please don’t come here). We’ve made some best-of lists before. (But never like this). Travel Lemming called Bellingham “a quirky and youthful city,” and was “enchanted by the breadth of outdoor activities nearby.” (But it rains a lot). I kid of course, but like this Toyota, we have a serious identity crisis. If I Subaru Share the Love, will visitors want to move here? If I’m Built Ford Tough, will they finally go home? Here’s a little car trip around Bellingham to help you decide.
Sunrise at Squalicum Harbor, home to many beautiful boats and a surprising number of classic daily drivers. Lucky boaters can tie off near the Bellwether Hotel or other nearby restaurants. Scenic walking trails snake around the waterfront and harbor.
Whenever we’re walking our dog Freddie there, I’m on the lookout for rigs like the Nissan pictured above. This neat little D21 showed no rust, and also a great ’90s paint scheme.
This boat dock is a favorite resting spot for blue herons. Another dock nearby hosted a very vocal sea lion for a few weeks during the holidays.
At the store on the way home from the harbor, I saw this tough looking Camaro. Lugging an 8-pack of Grapefruit LaCroix, I snapped this shot before the owner could come out and beat me up.
Sunset over our neighbor’s Toyota SR-5, just another day in paradise.
Finally, back at the harbor, my wife got this beautiful heron with her new phone. (But the reception here is really bad).
Actually it’s great. (Please visit soon).
Nice finds, my several times per day truck route takes me past a similar Camaro in orange it hasnt moved since I started this job, a 60 El Camino in brush paint orange is a daily drive, same street,
That model Nissan Navara/Terrano just keep going if they dont rust beyond WOF standard, but in that condition quite rare, most have big mud rubber and a coating of various kinds of dirt over a matt paint job, the 2.7 diesels are indestructible, they put them in London taxis, gutless? sure, but that rattle gets the sun up each day. Toyota utes and their offshoots are everywhere still
Thanks Bryce!
Funny you should reference the old Toyota utes. We just saw this little guy at the harbor this very morning.
“I saw this tough looking Camaro lugging an 8-pack of Grapefruit LaCroix” so a bit like a sheep in wolves clothing😀. While I have not been to Bellingham I am very fond of Washington State as a whole. All the diverse geological scenery has something for everyone to enjoy along with the Ocean, the Puget Sound and Salish Sea. Typing this as envious Midwesterner who’s car right now more closely resembles a salt lick for animals then a mode of transportation.
Great pics by the way and we would all enjoy seeing more of them from your neck of the woods if possible.
The grocery store where I saw the Camaro is pretty amazing for spotting CCs. In the parking lot I’ve seen everything from an MG BGT to an Aston Martin DB4. I can’t imagine who in the store could have a car like that: it’s mostly old geezers like me.
Congrats, on living in an idyllic region. It is wonderful for the soul.
Three iconic badges. Took me a long time, to warm up to Toyota’s corporate logo. I found it highly generic, when introduced. But the product is so strong, it lifted this brand design.
Yeah, I think I need to take a trip up to Bellingham ASAP. It’s only an hour and a half away for me, and I have a couple of friends who live there. Just a beautiful place.
If it’s in good weather, make sure to visit the Trackside down at the waterfront near Old Town. Great beer, food, and people-watching, especially all the kids doing bike tricks on the “pump track.”
Yeah, I love that part of town. Another favorite is the Spark Museum. I can’t get enough of that place.
It’s been some years since I’ve been in your corner of the country, and I even have friends out there who keep urging me to visit. Well, they’re south of you, and I think I’d prefer Bellingham. If nothing else, it’s closer to Canada. That’s always a good thing.
So maybe I’ll come visit. I’ll be quiet about it and try not to bother anyone.
Your reaction to the Camaro is mine exactly. It looks very much like something that someone in high school would have been driving…while they weren’t plotting to beat me up.
Hey Jeff,
Since you mentioned Canada, I just wanted to say that we love our neighbors to the north, no matter what the people in power are saying. In fact we’re listening to CBC Radio right now, and there are Canadians driving right past our house on the way to Trader Joe’s.
I love the CBC.
So as long as the Canadians haven’t bought up all of those tasty pretzel nuggets filled with peanut butter, I’ll be there 🙂
(They don’t have Swapper Jacks in Canada??!! Well, I’ll have to rethink that plan…)
Thanks for the tour – I’ve never been to your part of the country, and you make a compelling case to visit (and to leave eventually).
This past year I saw a Nissan truck similar to the one you photographed at a car show, and it made me realize how much I like those trucks. It’s awfully rare to see one in this kind of condition, and this one’s a double-bonus being ’90s green with a swooshy tape stripe.
I’ve been to Bellingham. It used to have the oldest Ford dealership in the country (Diehl) but that changed hands from the family several years ago.
I know Bellingham for Canadians driving down from Vancouver to get cheap flights out of the airport there (code BLI) – maybe to Honolulu or California.
Bellingham had very convenient hotels right off the I-5. I’d stay there when I had one day jobs in Vancouver. Drive the rental car into Canada, do work, get out. Border at Blaine was open late and there was a second, often quick, crossing to the southeast of Vancouver but a straight shot south down to the area of the hotels.
There must have been a university there; it looked like it the few times I went to the downtown area. I think the last year I was there was 2000 or 2002.
You’re right, and it’s Western Washington University that sits atop Sehome Hill in Bellingham. I went there in the early ’80s and my wife worked there for 15 years ending in about 2016.
A lot has changed since 2002, but it’s still a great town. The Ford dealership is still going strong, even after the Diehl family sold out.
Hate to disappoint you, but I’m actually thinking about moving back to Bellingham when I retire in a year or two (in the Seattle area now). I too went to Western Washington University.
I’ll meet you for a beer down at The Kulshan, or a burger at Greene’s Corner…