Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
network of hiking and mountain-biking trails. Chuckanut Drive is particularly
popular at sunset, and there are several good restaurants at the southern end of
the drive (see “Where to Dine,” below).
At the northern end of the drive, be sure to stop in at the
Chuckanut Bay
Gallery and Garden Shop,
700 Chuckanut Dr. (
&
360/734-4885
), which is
full of interesting artworks by Northwest artists and craftspeople. Continuing
south, watch for the
North Chuckanut Mountain Trail Head,
which provides
access to
Teddy Bear Cove
, where you'll find a pair of tiny beaches sepa-
rated by a small, rocky promontory. It's about a 2-mile round-trip hike to the
cove. Although part of the trail is quite steep, part of the route follows the
Interurban Trail
, a 6-mile-long hiking and mountain-biking trail that fol-
lows the route of an old trolley line and extends from Fairhaven Parkway and
20th Street in Fairhaven to
Larrabee State Park
(
&
360/676-2093
or
360/902-8844). This latter park is the most popular stop along Chuckanut
Drive and can be quite crowded in summer. The pretty little beach and access
to miles of hiking trails make this a required stop along the scenic drive. Admis-
sion is $5.
To explore Chuckanut Bay from a sea kayak, contact
Moondance Sea Kayak
Adventures
(
&
360/738-7664;
www.moondancekayak.com), which offers
half-day ($40 per person) and full-day ($70 per person) excursions that start at
Larrabee State Park.
HISTORIC EXCURSION TRAIN
If you're a fan of riding the rails, check the schedule of the
Lake Whatcom Rail-
way
(
&
360/595-2218;
www.lakewhatcomrailway.com), which operates a his-
toric excursion train from the town of Wickersham southeast of Bellingham.
There are Saturday and Tuesday trips from early July to early September, as well
as runs in October and December. Along the route, you'll get occasional
glimpses of Mount Baker. The trips last 1
1
⁄
2
hours and the fare is $10 for adults
and $5 for children under age 18.
WHERE TO STAY
The Chrysalis Inn & Spa at the Pier
The Chrysalis is the most
luxurious hotel in Bellingham, and, with its contemporary lodge styling, per-
fectly captures the essence of the Northwest today. In the lobby, big walls of glass
focus the attention on the waters of Bellingham Bay, but the slate floors, bur-
nished wood beams, and fireplace all give the views some stiff competition.
Guest rooms all have water views and are designed both for romantic getaways
and for business travel. Double tubs, gas fireplaces, and window seats (complete
with pillow and comforter) make these rooms the ideal place to hide away on a
rainy Northwest weekend. To make a getaway even better, there is a full-service
spa and a boldly styled wine bar serving good Mediterranean meals. About the
only drawback to this inn is the presence of a railroad track between the inn and
the water. However, excellent insulation keeps the train noises to a minimum
and earplugs are provided free of charge.
804 10th St., Bellingham, WA 98225.
&
888/808-0005
or 360/756-1005. www.thechrysalisinn.com. 43 units.
Mid-May to Sept $179-$189 double, $245-$265 suite; Oct to mid-May $155-$169 double, $199-$239 suite.
Rates include full breakfast. AE, DISC, MC, V.
Amenities:
Restaurant (Mediterranean); lounge; full-service spa;
concierge; limited room service; massage; laundry service; dry cleaning. In room:A/C, TV/VCR, dataport, fridge,
coffeemaker, hair dryer, iron.
Fairhaven Village Inn
Although this hotel in the heart of Fairhaven was
only recently constructed, it was designed to resemble an old hotel and blends
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