This small city, located on Bellingham Bay, has the impressive Mount Baker as its backdrop and is the last major city before the Washington coastline meets the Canadian border. The broad curve of the bay was charted in 1792 by Captain George Vancouver, who named it in honor of Sir William Bellingham. When the first settlers arrived here, forests stretched to the edge of the high bluffs along the shoreline. Timber and coal played major roles in the town's early economy.

Today, Bellingham has an active waterfront port, which supports fishing, cold storage, boat building, shipping, paper processing, and marina operations. Squalicum Harbor's commercial and pleasure boat marina accommodates more than 1,800 vessels, making it the second largest marina on Puget Sound. The marina is a pleasant area to dine, picnic, and watch the fishermen at work. Fairhaven, the downtown area, contains a mix of restaurants, art galleries, and specialty shops. Bellingham is also home to Western Washington University, located on Sehome Hill, which affords a scenic view of the city and bay.