Fairhaven: A Must See!

Located near the Bellingham Bay on the south side of Bellingham is the particularly inviting, quaint, historic Fairhaven, Washington. Fairhaven was founded in the late 1880s by a man named Daniel J. Harris. Harris named this area Fair Haven from the native “see-see-lich-em”, meaning “safe port” or “quiet place”. In 1903 Fairhaven officially became part of the city of Bellingham, Washington. Bellingham has a population of near 82,700 people and is located approximately 100 miles north of Seattle and about 50 miles from Vancouver, Canada. Bellingham is popular for being environmentally friendly, its gorgeous views of the bay, its local foods, its beautiful hiking trails, and the fact that it’s home to Mount Baker. Fairhaven is also a popular attraction of Bellingham.

Fairhaven offers a variety of sights to see, stores to visit, restaurants to eat at, and activities to join in. Stores such as Fairhaven Bicycle, Village Books, Paper Dreams, Eclipse Bookstore, and A Lot of Flowers offer an array of unique items of interest to anyone. One of my favorite shops in Fairhaven is Village Books. This 3 story book store is packed full of books and unique trinkets, and I’ve spent hours roaming the store admiring all of its contents. When walking down the streets of Fairhaven, you will be bombarded with a variety of delicious smells coming from the restaurants. Tasty eateries including Fat Pie, Mambo Italiano Café, Tony’s Coffee House, and Jalapenos Mexican Grill will leave you wanting seconds. I am a student at Western Washington University, and whenever my family comes into town to visit for the weekend, we always end up making our way down to Fairhaven either for dinner or to wander through the stores. Recently when my family came to Bellingham to visit, we decided to go to Mambo Italiano Café for dinner and it was absolutely delicious. Italian food is by far my favorite, and I’ve never had raviolis as good as the ones they serve there.

There is always a wide range of events taking place in Fairhaven including film showings, outdoor activities, performing arts events and more. You can find a list and description of all the current events at Fairhaven.com. These activities are a great way to get involved in the community and meet new people. Anyone and everyone is encouraged to attend these events.

Some of the first things that caught my attention were the historic buildings and how the stores are not all chain companies. This is something that makes Fairhaven stand out from other areas. Many other cities and towns have a modern look and are full of corporate stores. Fairhaven has a sense of uniqueness that makes it stand out, and a welcoming aura that draws you in. When I asked my brother what his favorite thing about Fairhaven was, he said, “My favorite thing is that most stores are dog friendly.” Some of the shops allow dogs to come into the store with you while you look around. This is another thing that makes Fairhaven unique. Because Fairhaven is such a popular place, it can be a little hard to find a place to park sometimes. However after the struggle of finding a parking spot, you will immediately forget about it and be captivated by all that Fairhaven has to offer.

An additional highlight of Fairhaven includes a walk along a boardwalk, Taylor Dock, which reaches from Fairhaven Village Green to Boulevard Park. Taylor Dock provides an incredible view of the ocean and mountains, and is the perfect place for an afternoon walk, giving you a little taste of the beauty of the Bellingham area. A blogger talking about Taylor Dock stated, “It’s no secret that Taylor Dock, just outside of Fairhaven Historic District in Bellingham is one of the most popular trails in Whatcom County.”

Fairhaven is a wonderful, fun area for people of all ages to enjoy. Whether you’re a Bellingham local or someone just here to visit, Downtown Fairhaven is definitely somewhere you should check out. After your first visit to this charming little town, you will already be planning your next visit back! You’re sure to love it!

Sources

“Fairhaven History.” Fairhaven History. Web. 09 Feb. 2016.

“Fairhaven Real Estate & Homes for Sale in Fairhaven Bellingham WA.” Briorealty.com. Web. 09 Feb. 2016.

“Alan Majchrowicz Photography.” Alan Majchrowicz Photography. Web. 09 Feb. 2016.

“Historic Fairhaven District | Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism.” Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism. Web. 09 Feb. 2016.

“Chapter 4: METROPOLIS IN BELLINGHAM.” Its Always Rainy in Bellingham. 2012. Web. 09 Feb. 2016.

“Sitting on the Dock on the Bay- Taylor Dock and Boulevard Park in Bellingham | Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism.” Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism. Web. 9 Feb. 2016.