As we continue to maneuver through this global pandemic, the health and safety of our residents and visitors are our highest priorities in Bellingham and Whatcom County. Our businesses are doing their part to follow safety guidelines and are asking visitors to do your part to help make our tourism industry restart successful and your visit safe and fun.
Planning, education and communication are essential to accomplish this. Below is a handy and downloadable guide to packing and planning for your trip. You may also want to view our Travel Advisory, which is updated daily.
Washington State Governor Inslee has mandated that all individuals wear a face covering in public spaces, including stores, offices and restaurants. There are exemptions, including people with certain disabilities or health conditions, people who are deaf or hard of hearing, and children under the age of 5 (though it's encouraged to have children ages 3-5 wear a covering if possible). There are also situations when you can remove your face covering, such as when seated at a restaurant or when recreating alone.
Per Washington State’s Healthy Washington Plan that went into effect on Jan 11, 2021, Bellingham and Whatcom County is currently designated as the NORTH region.
Check our Travel Advisory Page for current travel restrictions in Bellingham and Whatcom County including COVID-19 related guidelines and current restaurant restrictions.
For a full list of restaurants in Bellingham and Whatcom County with maps, locations and contact info see our restaurants page.
Where can I stay in Bellingham and Whatcom County?
With the highest regard for health, Whatcom County's local hotels, places to eat and attractions have been working to maintain high cleaning standards, while sanitizing their properties daily and hourly to protect guests and employees.
To learn what our local Hotels are doing, check out our insider blog "High Cleaning Standards at Bellingham and Whatcom County Hotels and Businesses."
For a full list of Bellingham and Whatcom County hotels and contact info click here. Be sure to call in advance for reservations.
Bellingham is home to 3,400 acres of parklands and 80 miles of trails, which can lead to a lot of questions like: which parks and trails are open? When is the best time to go for a hike? And what's nearby?
A great resource for discovering local parks is the Whatcom Park Finder. This tool searches over 180 parks throughout Whatcom County. Just put in your address and search radius, and Park Finder will show nearby parks in your neighborhood.
Be sure to Recreate Responsibly, as outlined on our Hiking, Biking and Water Adventures pages.
Learn the ins and outs of Bellingham and Whatcom County with our Bellingham Activity book! Booklet should be printed with "print on both sides" and "flip on short edge" settings on.
