New to Bellingham?

If you are new to our area, welcome! You have probably done your research and know all the great things about the area. It was probably all in the brochure you received. But I just want to tell you about a few things that I love about the area, besides the natural beauty and the wonderful people that make-up this community.

1. The food: Every area can boast about their food, but this area really has a lot of special foods and restaurants to offer. Our fresh salmon is amazing! When we say "fresh," we mean FRESH out of the Pacific. It can be found in markets, can be purchased directly from the fishermen who catch it and is served in many local restaurants. Other foods we can brag about are the chocolates, our beer, wine and of course, the coffee.

2. The community: And by community, I don't just mean the area that we live in, though that it is also amazing and noteworthy. By "community" I mean the people who live and work here. We really do care about each other. When one member of the community is in need, people here rally together to see that he feels loved and receives the help he needs. You'll find many generous people who give of their time, money and talent to care for others.

3. The weather: I know, I know... It rains here, but did you know that there are areas in Texas that receive more rain fall than we do every year? We just get ours in little sprinkles throughout the year, while they get heavy downpours less frequently. The sun WILL shine tomorrow and probably the next day too. But if you want snow, Mt. Baker is just a glance or a short drive away.

4. The music: No matter what style of music you're into, you're likely to find others who have the same taste. There are many opportunities for all flavors of music. The area is full of great concert venues including the world famous Mt. Baker Theater and Western Washington University.

5. The festivals: The people in this area know how to party all year round. There are festivals that happen year around that celebrate everything from the agriculture to the multi-culture.

If you need more reasons to love this area, just look outside. The reasons are all around us in the beautiful, lush forests, clear lakes and snow capped mountains.