Things to do in Lynden, Washington

Sipping my Woods Coffee on the way to Bellewood Acres and planning dinner in historic Fairhaven after a bike ride down the tulip-lined Main Street. This was my morning in Lynden, Washington, which is just 1 hour from Downtown Vancouver and 30 minutes from the border in White Rock. I stopped in for a visit last fall and discovered that although I was so close to home, I felt far, far away in a small town with generations of family farms, down-home cooking and craft beer, and it was simply lovely.

Learn its History

Learn about the area’s rich agricultural history at the Lynden Pioneer Museum. See how the pioneers lived in a replica town, browse displays, learn about local families, and if you’re a fan of classic motorcycles, cars, and horse-drawn carriages you’ll want to see their collection downstairs.

Photo by Laura Yee-Lim for Miss604

Shop for Gifts

The Bellewood Acres Apple Farm gift shop is one impressive retail destination! Shop for everything from kitchen wares, pies and preserves, to seasonal decorations, books, glasses, flowers, and of course local produce.

Another place to shop would by Lynden’s Front Street – voted the best Main Street in America a few years ago! Pop into Village Books & Paper Dreams in the Waples Building for anything books, paper, journal, and more including great gift ideas.

Photo by Laura Yee-Lim for Miss604

Appreciate the Arts

The Jansen Arts Centre is the cultural centre of Lynden. Through its Front Street doors you’ll find a cafe, grand piano (where you can catch someone playing it beautifully, often) and an artsy gift shop. There are galleries, meeting spaces, and exhibits upstairs and downstairs you can watch artisans at work making jewelry, painting, or try your hand at a pottery class. There are also yoga and dance studios, recording studios, and performance spaces. It has it all! Pop by to browse the art, book a class, or catch a show.

Check out the Lynden community event calendar here »

Craft Beer

Craft beer, wine, cider, and charity! Overflow Taps is the little craft beer joint with BIG heart. $0.25 of every pint goes to Charity Water. Meet some friends, play some board games, enjoy the skateboard-themed decor and merch, and order in some take-out.

Stay a While

Lynden officially welcomed its first boutique hotel, when the 35-room Inn at Lynden opened its doors to travelers in the century-old Waples Mercantile Building at the corner of 5th and Front streets in the historic downtown district. It’s one of only a handful of hotels in Washington State on the National Registry of Historic Places. Right downstairs you have a bakery cafe, craft beer taphouse (Overflow Taps), and they have bikes for guests to use to get around town.

Explore by Sea

Whale watch with San Juan Cruises out of the Alaska Ferry Building in Bellingham, just a quick drive away within Whatcom County. Park for the day and hop on a narrated tour that will sail through the San Juan Islands, spot wildlife, supply lunch, and a walk around on San Juan Island via Friday Harbour. They offer a variety of themed cruises, full or half day, with craft beer, wine, picnics or full dinners.

Want more info about Lynden? Follow Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Related: Make Soap in Bellingham, Kayak Bellingham Bay, Hike Mt Baker/Snoqualmie National Forest, Heritage Flight Museum, SPARK Museum of Electrical Invention, a Fairhaven Photowalk.