Most British Columbians know Bellingham as a pit stop on the way to Seattle or Portland, a place to refuel after a long border wait, do a quick grocery shop at Trader Joes and then zip south on the I-5.

But spend some time exploring this charming university town and youll find it a place of stunning natural beauty, with a fraction of the crowds that can make B.C.s natural hotspots feel congested.

Bellingham offers tonnes of space to stretch out on a quiet lakeside or ocean beach, spectacular hiking trails on soft forest floors and invigorating bike rides on a network of trails that criss-cross the city and make it easy and fun to get around on two wheels.

Here are five reasons to cross the border and spend a summer weekend in Bellingham.

You wont see it from the I-5 but Lake Whatcom, a massive body of pristine lake water that stretches 22 kilometres, is a fabulous place to cool off in summer.

Bloedel Donovan park, located just a few minutes drive from downtown Bellingham on Electric Avenue, is the easiest place to access the lake, with a sandy beach, a swimming area separated from boat traffic, an expanse of soft grass shaded by trees, as well as restrooms and a boat launch.

Grab a picnic lunch from Da Vincis Market and a selection of the citys most famous donuts from Feleens both stores are a couple minutes drive from the lake on Electric Avenue and plan to spend a decadent day in the sun and water.

From its city centre to its neighbourhoods, forests and beaches, Bellingham is a city of passionate bikers who choose two wheels above four any day the rain holds off.

Start your bike ride downtown and take the off-road biking trail to Fairhaven to reach the Interurban Trail. A rails-to-trails route, this six-mile trail takes bikers and pedestrians on a magical, mostly flat path towards Larrabee State Park.

The forested trail is upliftingly beautiful and leads bikers above the picturesque Chuckanut Drive, promising stunning vistas of the San Juan Islands, towering evergreens and secluded beaches like Teddybear Cove.

Pick up a map at Fairhaven Bicycles before you go.

Most Pacific Northwest booklovers have heard of Powells Books, the legendary independent bookstore in Portland. Village Books in Fairhaven is Bellinghams version of Powells, a store with a smaller footprint but no less of a tantalizing selection of books, food and gifts all housed under one historic roof. It shares its three floors with two restaurants: Evolve Chocolate & Caf upstairs and the Colophon Caf downstairs, both of them much-loved local eateries.

On its main floor it shares space with Paper Dreams, a store filled with fun knickknacks for the home and tons of exquisite paper in the form of giftwrap, notebooks, calendars, gift cards and beautifully decorated writing paper.

In the bookstore a selection of new and gently used books are neatly organized by genre and staff write personal book reviews to recommend their favourite reads.

If youve been dreaming of a long walk on a beach where youre more likely to hear the wind in your ears than the sound of other people, youll want to drive to Birch Bay.

Visiting this small beachside community feels like stepping back into the 1970s, as little has changed here over the years.

The stretch of beach remains the principal attraction, and in summer the tide goes out so far you can walk out for miles on the sand, watching gulls and eagles wheeling above.

Head to the C Shop for pizza and ice cream after your windswept walk. This longtime family-run establishment is a favourite hang-out for locals and visitors, and its sweet caramel treats are legendary.

With hundreds of vendors selling colourful, fresh produce, handmade soaps, ready-to-go food, proteins and pottery, the Bellingham Farmers Market, held on Saturdays, is a cacophony of fabulous sounds, sights and aromas.

This is an inspiring place to plan your weeks meals, experience the distinct, friendly vibe of the city and explore the talented work of its many artists, cheesemakers, crafters, chocolatiers and more. Street musicians provide the music, farmers hawk produce fresh from the fields and the sizzle of ready-to-go food promises an irresistible lunch.

Travel Writers Tales is an independent travel article syndicate. For more information, go online to travelwriterstales.com.

View post:

Travel: Five reasons to visit Bellingham, Washington - Kamloops This Week