Traveling with kids is not always easy. But in our experience, Bellingham is an incredibly easy and enjoyable place to visit with kids.
When it comes to things to do in Bellingham as a family, you’ll have your choice of playgrounds to visit - many that are immersed in views of the sound or beautiful nature. And you’ll find some other outdoor activities for kids in Bellingham like berry picking, hiking, and even swimming.
If the weather isn’t the best, you’ll also find a number of indoor family activities in Bellingham like the Whatcom Museum Family Interactive Gallery or the free Marine Life Center.
Driving and parking is easy and affordable in Bellingham. Its laid back culture lends to kid friendly restaurants and cafes. And you’ll probably meet a few fellow traveling families along the way!
Outdoor Activities in Bellingham with Playgrounds
Cornwall Park
Cornwall Park… is huge. It spans across 70 acres, has over 1.5 miles of trails, and 2 playgrounds to explore. In the summer, there’s also a splash park that’s open in the afternoons.
For the adults (or maybe kids, too!) you’ll find a basketball court, pickleball and tennis courts, and even a 9 hole disc golf course.
So pack up the swim suits, your discs, a lunch, and some hiking shoes because spending the day at Cornwall Park could be the perfect thing to do with the kids in Bellingham!
Distance from downtown Bellingham: 2 miles
Lake Padden
There is way more to do with kids at Lake Padden than just go to the playground. But there is a playground. And you’ll also find a stroller and bike friendly trail, water access, quieter more “naturey” trails, tennis and pickleball courts, and even a golf course. Yet another park where you could spend all day playing, picnicking, exploring, and relaxing!
Distance from downtown Bellingham: 4.5 miles
Hovander Homestead Park
About 20 minutes away from downtown Bellingham, Hovander Homestead Park is another all-day activity for kids in Bellingham. The playground is just a start. It’s a farm-themed playground and features a toddler area as well as a “big kids” area.
In addition to the playground, visitors can also check out the historic Hovander House, built in 1903. Also on the 350 acre property, you’ll find the historic barn, which was completed in 1911.
There’s also a trail that follows the river, picnic shelters, and farm animals in the summer months. Hovander Homestead Park sits adjacent to Tennant Lake Park, where bird watchers flock to (see what I did there?) due to its wetlands and fields that are perfect for migratory birds. There is a half mile connector trail for those wishing to visit both Hovander Homestead Park and Tennant Lake Park.
Distance from downtown Bellingham: 10 miles
Boulevard Park
Right along the water, Boulevard Park is a great destination in Bellingham for the whole family. It features a pirate themed playground for the kids. There is a rocky coast for exploring and rock skipping, and even a sandy area above the actual shoreline. So bring along the shovels and buckets and plan to stay a while!
If anyone gets antsy, it connects to an over-water boardwalk. For my six year old kiddo, this was a fun novelty to walk along. For a parent, it was a bit anxiety inducing with an ever-curious and risk-ignorant toddler.
For the parents, the playground sits next door to Woods Coffee to fulfill all of your caffeine needs. It also features plenty of benches for sunset watching, picnic tables, and restrooms.
We arrived not too long before sunset, and we were lucky to find a parking spot. But don’t let the deter you, it’s still worth the visit!
Distance from downtown Bellingham: 2.5 miles
Zuanich Point Park
Zuanich Point Park features a playground at the end of a small peninsula. Because of its “point” positioning, it offers spectacular views of the sound and surrounding harbors and marinas. It also provides plenty of open air that is perfect for kite flying.
When we visited, we not only enjoyed the playground, but also rock hopping and boat watching. There were a few families with picnic blankets spread out for the day. And at one point, there was even a sailing school out practicing, which was inspiring for my little one.
While you’re in the area, be sure to check out the (free) Marine Life Center.
Distance from downtown Bellingham: 1.5 miles
Waypoint park
If you’re looking for things to do in downtown Bellingham with kids, Waypoint Park features a playground with natural wood beams and a slide that follows the natural landscape of the park. On top of astroturf, that is! There’s also a rocky shoreline perfect for exploring. There were also a few people fishing and oyster catching along the shore when we visited.
It doesn’t have the most beautiful views, but its proximity to town and water makes it a desirable destination. Waypoint Park can be the perfect place to grab a coffee, walk to the park, and actually enjoy the taste of your coffee as the kiddos have a play.
Distance from downtown Bellingham: 0 miles
Whatcom Falls Park
Whatcom Falls Park may be one of the most well-known parks in Bellingham, WA. And just like Lake Padden and Cornwall Park, your family could spend all day exploring the park and still not see everything… especially at a kid’s pace!
Looking at its name, there is of course a waterfall. Which is easily accessible along a paved path and actually a pretty quick stop on your Whatcom Falls exploration day.
The 241 acre park features multiple playgrounds to check out as well as a basketball court, soccer fields, and tennis courts. Plus there are paved trails for bikes and strollers. So pack a lunch, the bikes, and some balls and spend the day playing hard.
Distance from downtown Bellingham: 2.7 miles
Maritime Heritage Park
Right downtown, Maritime Heritage Park is a hidden gem of a playground. It isn’t a large or diverse playground, but it does feature a huge slide that is worth the visit just to check it out.
Since it is downtown, it means you’ll also be able to stop at Camber Coffee on your way there. Arguably, Camber has the best coffee in Bellingham.
Maritime Heritage Park is also right near the Family Interactive Gallery at the Whatcom Museum. So if you need a bit of fresh air after playing hard at the gallery, you can head over to the slide.
Parking in downtown Bellingham is free until 11am. With kids, that’s half your day! But downtown is pretty dead until lunchtime. And when we were at the park, there were a few homeless (and harmless) people still waking up for the day.
Distance from downtown Bellingham: 0 miles
Maritime Heritage Park
Fairhaven Park
Fairhaven in itself is like a separate little downtown area. It’s known as the historic district of Bellingham.
In our case, we found the town to be pretty dead. The shops all closed early, and even though we were there during dinner hour, there were very few people walking around. To be honest, we didn’t really get the appeal. We did manage to grab some delicious vegan ice cream at Sirena Gelato, though.
That being said, the local playground at Fairhaven Park not only features slides and climbing, but you’ll also find a splash zone for those hot summer days. So be sure to pack a spare pair of clothes and a towel, and let the kids have some fun!
Distance from downtown Bellingham: 3.2 miles
Other Outdoor Things to Do in Bellingham for Kids
Berry Picking
What kid doesn’t love eating fresh berries straight from the bush? Okay, let’s be honest, what adult doesn’t, either? I know, I know. You’re supposed to be picking them to take home. But it’s kind of a rule of berry picking to sample along the way, isn’t it?
Starting mid-June with strawberries, followed by raspberries mid-July and blueberries early August, and rounding out the season with blackberries in mid-August, you’ll have no shortage of opportunities to pick your own berries in the summer months. And it can be the perfect thing to do in Bellingham with kids when you’re looking to be outside without a grand adventure.
A few tips from the pros… bring a container for taking your berries home in, or you may pay a little extra for one of their boxes. And many farms are cash only, so come prepared!
For more information about specific upick farms in the area, check out this article.
Sehome Hill Arboretum
For a more peaceful thing to do with kids in Bellingham, your family could check out Sehome Hill Arboretum. There are six miles of trails available. And any kiddos that love to climb will enjoy ascending the observation tower.
It’s an easy place to let the kids explore nature. Dig a bit in the dirt, imagine they’re in the jungle, find some fun rocks, wade in the streams, and just be kids.
Distance from downtown Bellingham: 2.5 miles
Hiking
I mean, you are in the Pacific Northwest. Hiking is kind of a given when it comes to things to do with kids in Bellingham.
We’ve already mentioned quite a few places with kid-friendly hikes and trails in the area, including Cornwall park, Lake Padden, Hovander Homestead Park, Whatcom Falls Park, and Sehome Hill Arboretum. Plus this article lists all of the trail options within the actual town of Bellingham.
Another local favorite is the 1.3 mile (one-way) trail to Teddy Bear Cove, where you can explore tidal pools, go rock hunting, and wade in the cool water. There’s also Northridge Park with a manageable kid-friendly distance of just 0.7 miles.
You may also want to check out Larrabee State Park with multiple trails and shorelines to explore. And finally, Stimpson Family Nature Preserve has two ponds and four miles of kid-friendly trails.
Whale watching
Whale watching is typically a full day event and may be a bit of a splurge on your visit. But with so many other free things to do in Bellingham with kids, like hiking and playground hopping, it could be worth it for a fun adventure.
In the waters surrounding Bellingham, you’ll have the opportunity to see not only whales like Orcas, Humpbacks, Minke, and Gray whales, but you may also spot seals, sea lions, dolphins, sea otters, and bald eagles.
Whale watching is best between May and October, but if you’re in Bellingham earlier in the season, Grey Whales are often present in March and April as well.
Bellingham Bells Baseball
For some laid back American fun, your family may want to check out a Bellingham Bells Baseball game. The season lasts from early June through mid August. I personally love small town baseball games with lawn seating. That way, the kids can run around and stop asking you for snacks and bathroom breaks because they’re bored… or is that just my family?
If you don’t like the idea of sitting on the ground, there are typical stadium seats available to purchase. No matter where you sit, kids under 3 are free. And Tuesday games offer discounted tickets, food, and alcohol.
Games take place at Joe Martin Field. You can find scheduling and ticket information here.
Distance from downtown Bellingham: 1.5 miles
Bellewood Farms Apple Orchard
Once berry picking season is over, apple picking season begins! And Bellewood Farms is the place to go near Bellingham for all of your autumn festivity needs.
In addition to upick apples, kids can also enjoy tractor rides and a corn maze. Adults can enjoy the farm store and distillery, where you can taste some house-made brandy, vodka, and gin. Later in the season, you and the family can pick out the perfect pumpkins for Jack-o-Lanterns.
Distance from downtown Bellingham: 8 miles
Go For a Swim
In the summer months if your family is wanting a swim, but not quite up for jumping in icy cold waters, Lake Samish has a small designated swimming area. You can also rent canoes, kayaks, rowboats, and pedal boats to enjoy the water from above the surface.
In the summer months, parking can become limited and you may struggle to find a spot if you don’t get there early!
Another option for swimming near Bellingham includes Lake Bloedel, at Bloedel Donovan Park. It also gets crowded in the summer months, but it does have lifeguards on duty in peak seasons in the afternoons. And it also has nonmotorized boats and standup paddle boards available to rent.
Distance from downtown Bellingham: 13 miles (Lake Samish) and 4 miles (Lake Bloedel)
Ice Cream
Another way to cool off in the summer months is to get some ice cream! We love Sirena Gelato, which has multiple dairy free options. As noted earlier, Fairhaven wasn’t our most favorite part of town to walk around. But you could also check out Fairhaven Park before or after your sugar fix.
Vegan Ice Cream at Sirena Gelato
Indoor Activities in Bellingham for Kids
Whatcom Museum Family Interactive Gallery
The Family Interactive Gallery at Whatcom Museum is the perfect thing to do with little kids in Bellingham. I’d say up until age 7. After that, kids may feel as though they are doing a “baby” activity. But for the little ones, there are areas set up for endless imaginative play.
Different sections include a pretend restaurant, a farm with a cow whose utters are actually “milkable”, a music section, plenty of giant building blocks, a light exploration area, and so much more. There is endless fun, and the only thing to stop the fun will probably be naptime!
Distance from downtown Bellingham: 0 miles
Mindport Exhibits
If you have kids older than 7, Mindport is a hands on museum for exploring exhibits that are more science based rather than imaginative play based (like at the Family Interactive Gallery). They’ll learn while they play, all about things like tornadoes, gravity, planets, lights and illusions, and sound waves.
Distance from downtown Bellingham: 0 miles
Spark Museum
If your kids ever wanted to learn about electricity, this is the perfect activity in Bellingham for your family! Learn about the history of electricity and experience it for yourselves with hands-on exhibits.
There are also historic artifacts and machines, as well as shows for learning even more about electricity. Adults and kids alike will walk away with way more knowledge than they even knew possible there was to learn about electricity. And Spark Museum makes it fun for all!
Distance from downtown Bellingham: 0 miles
Marine Life Center
Despite its small size, Marine Life Center is still worth the visit. Plus, it’s free! They do have a donation box, which is well worth contributing to because of their dedication to conservation and education.
The touch pool was closed when we were there, but it was still fun to see the octopus up close in its tank as he was being prepared for re-release into the ocean. There are also starfish, eels, clams, fish, and so much more. While you’re in the area, head on over to Zuanich Point Park to check out the playground and the views.
Distance from downtown Bellingham: 1 mile
Maritime Life Center
Pure Bliss Desserts
We love Pure Bliss Desserts because it not only has both espresso drinks and wine, but it also has so many desserts including vegan and gluten free pastries. So it really is the perfect thing to do in Bellingham for the whole family.
We arrived during happy hour, which included discounted cakes as well as drinks! We both agreed that it was the best carrot cake we had ever had… plus it was vegan and gluten free!
Distance from downtown Bellingham: 0 miles
The Infamous Vegan/Gluten-Free Carrot Cake at Pure Bliss Desserts
Playdate BLI
Playdate BLI is an indoor playground suitable for kids aged 1-12. It isn’t something super unique or special for Bellingham, but when the kids just need to get the wiggles out and outside is just not an option, it could be a fun thing to do in Bellingham with your kids.
Distance from downtown Bellingham: 3.5 miles
Trampoline Zone
Also not super unique to Bellingham, but sometimes there are those days when you just need to let the kids run, jump, and play. If you’re having one of those days, Trampoline Zone could be your solution. Plus they have a specific kid zone available if you’re nervous about little ones being trampled by overzealous teens!
There’s also Summit Adventure Park nearby that has trampolines plus inflated slides and a climbing wall available.
Distance from downtown Bellingham: 3.3 miles (Trampoline Zone) and 3.8 miles (Summit Adventure Park)
There are plenty of things to do in Bellingham with kids. Whether you’re looking for outdoor adventures or indoor refuges, your family won’t be bored! So what are you looking forward to doing the most? Did I miss any of your family’s favorite activities?
If you’re in the Seattle area and wondering what in the world to do with kids in West Seattle, check out this article.