Bellingham, Washington, provides a range of nature-based activities for travelers of all ages. Situated between the pristine waters of the Salish Sea and the snow-capped peak of Mount Baker, the destination is part of Whatcom County, which stretches north to the Canadian Border and east into North Cascades National Park.
Annette Bagley, director of marketing for Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism, says her area in the far northwestern corner of the state includes plenty of places where student groups can blend learning and fun.
“Visiting student groups find a wealth of discoveries and outdoor learning opportunities in nature’s classroom here, as they observe lightning, pick an apple off the tree, haul a 12-story sail, connect with millennial landscapes or just have old-fashioned fun,” she says.
Two attractions in Bellingham, Schooner Zodiac Sailing Adventure and the Spark Museum of Electrical Invention, provide unique takes on learning. On board the circa 1924 Schooner Zodiac, students learn what goes into keeping the ship moving along.
True to its name, the Spark Museum chronicles significant discoveries in electricity from 1600 to the 1930s. A number of tours and workshops have been created specifically for school groups, including the popular Megazapper Electrical Show that features one of the largest Tesla coil “lightning machines” in the U.S.
North of the city near Rockport, the North Cascades Environmental Learning Center is a hub of discovery. Students get hands-on education through nature-based adventures, ranger-led activities, guided hikes and paddles, and a variety of summer camps that cover different areas of the national park.
Bagley said additional options in Whatcom County include BelleWood Acres Farm in Lynden and three attractions in Birch Bay: Miniature World, Birch Bay Waterslides and The C Shop.
To learn more, email Bagley or go to bellingham.org.
Top photo: North Cascades Environmental Learning Center
Photo by ncascades.org
