WECU® has a strong commitment to the needs of our community. We strive to support education, health and community concerns.
Requests for monetary donations must be made through an application process. The next deadline is August 7, 2014. Applications and further information about the Social Responsibility Committee is available here, or by contacting Maya Hartford by email at maya.hartford@wecu.com.
With more than 72,700 members, WECU® is Whatcom County’s largest member-focused, nonprofit financial cooperative, serving all residents of Whatcom County.
Mother Nature has provided our area with knockout water views. Naturally, many of our restaurants have capitalized on that beauty by adding decks and outdoor seating so we can enjoy soaking up all that Vitamin D while we dine.
Drop in on any of these local eateries while the rainy season is but a distant memory – for the wet stuff will return soon enough.
Pierside Kitchen & Packers Oyster Bar at Semiahmoo Resort
If you’ve not yet been up north to the updated Semiahmoo Resort and its two eateries the new Pierside Kitchen and updated Packer’s Oyster Bar, don’t waste another second – it’s well worth the 25-minute drive north.
Packers Oyster Bar offers a more casual breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner option to Pierside Kitchen, its sister restaurant at Semiahmoo, but both bring sophistication and approachability – as well as extensive water views of Drayton Harbor and, in the distance, White Rock, British Columbia.
The food? Imagine the freshest local oysters and other seafood delights, from Penn Cove mussels and Dungeness crab to jumbo prawns and Alaskan snow crab claws. Salads, pastas, pizzettas and much more round out the Pierside Kitchen menu, while Packers offers small and large plates with a bit of something for everyone.
Pierside Kitchen & Packers Oyster Bar at Semiahmoo Resort
Served nightly from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., the dinner menu at Lighthouse Bar & Grill doesn’t disappoint. Locally sourced Northwest cuisine? They’ve got it. Seafood? Options galore. Steak? Choose from beef bourguignon, filet mignon, or prime rib. Chicken, pasta – what about vegetarian? There are delectable options for those, as well.
Glass panes surround the waterside dining at Lighthouse Bar & Grill to keep the winds at bay. Photo credit: Amy Parsons
You can start your day with breakfast out-of-doors, or end it with happy hour, daily, from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. to close, plus all day Sunday. And any off-the-water winds are kept at bay by generous glass panels that surround the space.
Lighthouse Bar & Grill also regularly offers live music on its patio – with Jazz on the Bay and Blues, Brews, & BBQs – adding ambiance to this already astounding waterside venue.
How many of us watched in anticipation as Fat Pie Pizza teased us with its rollout earlier this year? The sign went up well before the doors officially flung open for business, promising a new pizza option to frequenters of charming, historic Fairhaven.
Serving up both deep-dish Chicago- and Detroit-style pies (be still, my Midwestern-born heart), Fat Pie Pizza brings something distinctive from Bellingham’s usually thin-crust pizzas – which, admittedly, are done extremely well at several of our other favorite ‘za spots around town. Love pan pizza? Just check out the menu: Fat Pie is clearly the place for you.
Another thing Fat Pie Pizza brings to the pizza game is a spectacular rooftop deck with amazing views of Bellingham Bay – gorgeous at lunch, dinner, or sunset and complete with heaters for those chilly spring, fall (and, let’s be honest, many summer) nights.
Anthony’s at Squalicum Harbor (as well as its nearby sister restaurant, Anthony’s Hearth Fire) offers the quintessential Bellingham bayside dining experience, with the boats on Squalicum Harbor floating just feet away, amid a backdrop of expansive views of Bellingham Bay and the San Juan Islands.
Anthony’s dinner menu is, naturally, heavy on the scrumptious seafood options, with several steaks that will make you salivate, as well. They also serve Sunday brunch and lunch from Monday to Saturday.
The view from Anthony’s makes every meal more enjoyable.
Arriving by boat rather than car? Guest moorage is available for Anthony’s patrons through the Port of Bellingham.
Who here hasn’t had (and adored) the Cliff House’s whiskey crab soup? My first apartment was a stone’s throw from the Cliff House, so many a special occasion was spent on its deck – and always kicked off by that tantalizing soup. Bonus? It feels as though you can nearly reach out and touch Bellingham Bay from the Cliff House, topped off with astounding sunset vistas.
The Cliff House menu encompasses Pacific Northwest cuisine, from is Samish Bay Sampler, which includes Pacific oysters, locally smoked salmon, and fresh Dungeness crab, to scallops, lobster, and other fresh fish specials. You can also choose from several cuts of steak, mushroom linguine, chicken Dungeness, and much more. The Cliff House works closely with many local suppliers to use only the freshest ingredients in its dishes.
There’s a reason the Cliff House has been serving delicious dinners to its loyal patrons for over 40 years. Sure, the stunning sunsets are a big part of the atmosphere, but the food remains a big draw.
Breakfast, lunch, happy hour, or dinner – any meal can be enjoyed on the deck at Keenan’s on the Pier, complete with iconic views over Taylor Dock of Bellingham Bay, Lummi Island, and the San Juan Islands beyond.
Keenan’s happy hour is a local favorite.
Breakfast staples, lunch fair light or robust, and dinner are all served with special attention given to locally sourced ingredients. The menu changes often with the seasons and the guiding inspiration of executive chef Rob Holmes.
My personal favorite moments at Keenan’s have been happy hours on the deck – offered daily from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. – the sun kept slightly at bay by a large umbrella and our large table lined with a crowd of friends and littered with half-drunk glasses of cocktails and wine, with offerings of truffle fries, pulled pork sliders, and blackened fish tacos. I promise, full meals at Keenan’s at the Pier are just as satisfying and inspired.
Lucky for us, Whatcom County is rife with lovely waterside spots. Choose any of these restaurants for a meal – or happy hour – enjoyed near the water’s edge.
The Port of Bellingham recently offered a tour of what remains of the former Georgia-Pacific paper mill to a handful of area photographers. Here are some of the shots our WhatcomTalk photographer captured of and around this historic site.
Hey, have you heard? The Bellingham Bells are having a pretty magical season: a 14-game winning streak, an impressive win/loss ratio, and record crowds at Joe Martin Field.
Kelly, Todd, Ben and Avery Fisher pose with Bellingham Bells pitcher Nate Cole in 2013, at the end of the baseball season. Photo courtesy of Kelly Fisher.
One thing many fans don’t know is that local families volunteer spare rooms in their homes for the team’s college-age baseball players — welcoming these young men into their families while the players work hard to bring exciting West Coast League baseball to Whatcom County crowds.
Heidi and Joe Carpenter are currently hosting their first Bells player – catcher Eric Webber – after watching neighbors Kelly and Todd Fisher do so last year.
They knew it had been a positive experience for their friends – and that the team didn’t have enough families for all of this year’s players.
“We have the space in our basement, so it just made sense to open our home,” says Heidi Carpenter.
“It’s fun to get to know the players and go to a lot of baseball games,” Carpenter continues. “The hard part is the player’s schedule; they’re gone a lot, or sleeping late, so we don’t get a ton of quality time with him. On the flip side, we can go about our routine pretty normally.”
Carpenter says it feels good to open their home to a Bells player and they plan to do it again.
For baseball fans Kelly and Todd Fisher, it just made sense to become a Bells host family last year – they’ve opened their home to people through their church for many years. Todd learned about the need while talking to Bellingham Bells owner Eddie Poplawski at a game a couple years ago.
Last year, the Fishers hosted Bells pitcher Nate Cole, a native of Plano, Texas; this year they’re hosting Gabe Cramer, a pitcher from Santa Rosa, California.
Bellingham Bells owner Eddie Poplawski speaks to the crowd at Joe Martin Field during the 2013 season as the organization recognizes its host families, lined up on the field with their players. Photo by Stacee Sledge.
“It is kind of weird,” Kelly Fisher admits, with a laugh. “But for these guys, it’s even weirder, because they’ve never been to Bellingham. You pick them up off the bus and then take them to your house and you’re like, ‘Welcome home!’”
“Staying with a family that I’d never met was weird to think about before I arrived in Bellingham,” says Nate Cole. “But after arriving at the Fishers’ house, I immediately felt at home.”
Cole, the third of four kids, says he liked playing the role of big brother to Avery and Ben, the Fishers’ children.
“I miss having Nerf gun wars and wrestling matches in the basement,” he says, laughing.
For Gabe Cramer, the same bond quickly began to form as soon as he stepped into the Fishers’ home.
“When I arrived at the house, the kids immediately bombarded me with questions, tasks, and an extended period of show and tell,” he says. “There was no time for any awkwardness – nor really any reason for it.”
Cramer says that because Ben and Avery were so comfortable around him from the get-go, he instantly felt like a welcome addition to the house.
Bellingham Bells catcher Eric Webber is from Stockton, California, attending Georgetown University. He’s living with the Carpenter family this summer.
“Kelly and Todd have been extraordinarily generous and make living with them a breeze,” he says.
The players stay busy with practices and games, as well as building friendships with new teammates, so host families don’t always see a lot of them during their summer stay.
“They’re here for about two months, and they’re really only home about 50 percent of that time,” says Fisher.
A typical day during a homestand finds players sleeping in late, grabbing lunch and hanging out a bit before hitting Joe Martin Field at 3:00 p.m. for pre-game practice, and then taking the field to play at 7:00 p.m.
“By the time they get done with the game and go eat somewhere it’s at least 10:30 or 11:00 p.m.,” Fisher says. “And they’re 19! So they often go out with their friends and don’t get home until much later than that.”
The Fishers’ grocery bill doesn’t necessarily take the huge hit one might expect, what with all the sleeping in well past breakfast and being fed before each game by the Bells organization.
“Honestly, you feed them lunch – which they pull together – and a lot of snacks,” Fisher says, laughing.
Bellingham Bells pitcher Gabe Cramer is a right-handed pitcher from Santa Rosa, California, studying at Stanford University. He’s living with the Fisher family this summer. Photo by David Willoughby at www.caughtonfilm.com.
Having said that, it’s not unheard of for Fisher to come home and find four players eating lunch around her kitchen table.
“It’s not a huge food commitment – unless you find four of them eating at your house at once; then your fridge gets cleared pretty quick,” she says, laughing again.
The Fisher family has kept in touch with Nate Cole and expects to do the same with Cramer.
“We still text Nate,” Fisher says, “and the kids still email him and his girlfriend. We all check in with him. It just extends your family a little bit.”
Cole clearly feels the same. “I’d love to visit the Fishers sometime in the future,” he says. “They’re a truly special family who made me feel right at home during my stay in Bellingham. It’s a summer I’ll never forget.”
Cramer already knows he’ll stay in touch. “I will most definitely remain in contact with them once the summer has ended,” Cramer says. “This just feels like one of those special relationships that you hold onto for a long time.”
Bellingham Bells host families receive free season tickets, as well as a discount on all Bells merchandise. This year they’ve also been treated to a night at the Upfront, Ryan Stiles’ improv theatre.
Interested in hosting a Bellingham Bells player next year? Contact Bells general manager Nick Caples for more information.
Filed under the category of ‘no risk, no reward,’ founder Kendall Dodd unveiled The Hive, a new maker space project, with the launch of a Kickstarter funding campaign on in late June. Maker spaces come in many different shapes and sizes but the one thing they all have in common is right there in the name – they are places that enable making by bringing together people, tools and projects. Maker spaces are gaining in popularity throughout the country, and are even the subject of a new White House initiative to spur innovation and domestic manufacturing at the grassroots level.
The Hive will be a place where members can come to use tools, space and equipment to work on projects, learn and share skills. Starting with woodworking tools, sewing machines, sinks and large worktables, it will grow and adapt over time based on the needs and interests of the membership. “Bellingham needs a place like The Hive. This is a creative and self-reliant community that already has so many great resources for makers, tinkerers and artists of all kinds,” Dodd said, “but unless you are lucky enough to have both room to work at home (or in a studio) and money for tools and equipment of your own, there aren’t any other options for you.”
The funds raised through Kickstarter will be used to establish a physical space for The Hive as well as to attract further investment. Not only does a platform like Kickstarter offer a way for project creators to raise money, it also galvanizes support for new ideas by allowing backers to participate in the creative process, which dovetails perfectly with the community-building mission of The Hive.
According to their website, “Kickstarter.com is a new way to fund creative ideas and ambitious endeavors… [and] is powered by a unique all-or-nothing funding method where a project must be fully-funded or no money changes hands.” Taking this mantra to heart, Dodd compiled an ambitious campaign to raise all of the seed capital for The Hive in just four weeks.
“In Bellingham, people often find themselves inventing the job they would be best at, and for me, this is it.” Dodd said. “I am a maker at heart and I want to create a place where people can do projects, tinker, make art, repair things, practice and build their skills.”
Three days into the campaign, The Hive had already raised 25% of its goal from a small handful of generous backers. While many Kickstarter metrics point to statistics like these as indicators of likely success, the project still needs to gather support from a broad base of local backers in order to meet its goal.
The Kickstarter campaign for The Hive runs through July 19 at 11:59pm PDT. If the goal is not met by this deadline, no backers will be charged and the project will receive no funding. Those interested in supporting the project should visit www.makedolearn.org to learn more.
A team from WECU participates in the Farmer's Day parade.
A team from WECU participates in the Farmer’s Day parade.
Nearly a quarter of all Whatcom County households choose Whatcom Educational Credit Union for their financial needs – from checking and savings accounts to mobile banking, safe deposit boxes and loans of all kinds.
But many members of this trusted nonprofit cooperative don’t realize just how deep WECU’s roots go into our community – its years of fiscal support given to education, health and community concerns – and the depth of giving, in volunteer hours, that comes from its employees.
Known today as WECU, the organization was founded as Bellingham Teachers’ Credit Union in 1936, a cooperative just for educators.
With a name change in the mid-1970s and expansion in 2002 that opened membership to those outside education, WECU has grown and evolved along with its Whatcom County communities.
One thing that hasn’t changed is a requirement of just $5 to open a savings account.
“We are open to anybody who lives, works, worships, or goes to school in Washington State, but we primarily target in Whatcom County,” says WECU marketing manager Kessa Volland, “and most often simply based on word of mouth – you do right by someone and they’re going to tell their neighbors and friends; that’s how you maintain a good business structure.”
WECU employees are often found throughout the community, giving back through volunteer projects like this trail clearing event on Gailbraith Mountain.
Membership has more than doubled since 2002.
WECU’s employees are also dedicated community members, each with a strong desire to give back to this fantastic place we all call home.
From putting together teams for the annual Jingle Bell Run and several other charity events to trail maintenance on Galbraith Mountain, work parties for the Salvation Army, Whatcom Humane Society, and more – WECU’s employees band together to do an enormous amount of good in our area.
WECU has even formed a Sweat Equity Team for WECU employees looking for fun, rewarding, and interesting volunteer opportunities.
“Our staff members have always supported different organizations on their own time,” says Volland, “and we wanted to give them the forum through which to do that, as well as recognize their contributions.”
WECU raffles off goodies throughout the year to employees who have volunteered their time, and recognizes those who help the most.
Putting together these regular volunteer events as a team has inadvertently turned into a great welcome wagon.
WECU believes that volunteering together is a great way for branch employees to interact with people they may not usually see.
“When I greet our new employees I tell them this is an excellent opportunity to get out and do something you’re proud of, get some visibility in the community, and also to interact with people from other departments or branches that you might not normally get to see,” says Volland. “And you’re doing something together that you can feel really good about at the end of the day.”
The list of organizations that have benefited from WECU’s volunteer hours and fiscal donations goes on and on.
“WECU has partnered with us for years,” says Mike Cohen, executive director of Bellingham Food Bank. “Staff at WECU has always been very community-minded and eager to help us.”
The Sweat Equity Team helps with two food drives every year – the food bank’s Milk Money and Food4Tots campaigns.
“WECU has done an excellent job of promoting these causes and engaging hundreds in our fight against hunger.”
Carla Hasche, executive director of Whatcom Center for Early Learning (WCEL), is equally grateful for the help WECU employees have given her organization.
“WECU volunteers have been amazing at helping out Whatcom Center for Early Learning,” says Hasche. “They came and painted the fire escape on ‘The Big Blue House,’ the home of our organization.”
“We were so grateful that they would donate their whole sunny Saturday to our project,” she continues. “And what a fantastic job they did; it made such a difference in the building’s appearance.”
WECU also fiscally supports many local non-profit organizations.
WECU volunteers also help WCEL with its fundraising, offering data entry and other support services on the night of its annual gala. “They are such capable help and make things run smoothly during our biggest fundraising event of the year,” says Hasche.
These are just two examples of the many organizations and projects WECU employees enthusiastically throw their support behind.
“We also do quarterly donations through out Social Responsibility Committee,” Volland continues. “We strive to fiscally support organizations that really keep the community strong, addressing issues that really benefit us as a whole.”
Organizations can apply for a social responsibility donation at WECU’s website.
“We sit down and hash those out,” Volland says. “The committee talks it through and tries to find the most pressing needs. Our giving is pretty diverse, with a lot of requests for different pieces of community support.”
In the first quarter of 2014 alone, WECU donated more than $42,000 to a variety of organizations.
Village Books is the recipient of a $7500 grant from bestselling author James Patterson as part of his Million Dollars to Indie Bookstores program. The start-up grant will support the store’s children’s programming, including the new position of Kids Programming Director, filled by Claire McElroy-Chesson, a bookseller who has been with the store for several years and leads various children’s events.
“We were thrilled to be included in James Patterson’s Million Dollar support of indie bookstores,” said Chuck Robinson, co-owner of Village Books. “His grant will make it possible to launch the new Kids Programming Director position in a much bigger way than we would otherwise have been able to do.”
James Patterson will give a total of $1 million dollars to dozens of independent bookstores across the country. His independent bookstore campaign has been featured in the “New York Times” and “Publisher’s Weekly” as well as on “CBS This Morning” and “NPR Morning Edition.” Patterson announced his second round of grants, which included Village Books, at the Book Expo America trade show in New York City at the end of May. Store owners Chuck and Dee Robinson picked up the check at the event.
Village Books will be using the grant to support McElroy-Chesson’s position and to expand on the programs and services to children, families and local schools. In her new role, McElroy-Chesson will work with the children’s book buyer and events coordinator in planning a variety of activities for kids of all ages. She’ll work closely with schools in planning author visits and book fairs, she will lead non-author children’s events at the store, and she will assist with other activities. McElroy-Chesson will lead this year’s Camp VB, a week-long, half-day camp for kids, and she hosts story time the first Saturday of every month in the kids’ section.
“Claire has been with Village Books for a long time and has already been engaged in kids programming,” said Robinson. “She’s the perfect person to step into this position. She’s already created a number of new activities and has many more in the works.”
James Patterson’s grants come at a time when independent bookstores work hard to stand out as community hubs in the face of online retail giants. Patterson is committed to bringing attention to the important contributions of indie bookstores, and he is especially concerned with inspiring children to become lifelong readers. Patterson worked with the American Booksellers Association, publishers and fellow authors to identify stores that would be good candidates, and he accepts applications from viable bookstores that have a children’s book section in their stores. Grants are personally funded by Patterson. For more information about James Patterson and his program, click here.
“It’s great that someone like James Patterson recognizes the value of independent bookstores to our country’s culture and to the future of reading. Everyone should be grateful for his generosity,” said Robinson.
The cows, pigs, rabbits and other animals featured annually at the Northwest Washington Fair in Lynden are being joined this year by camels, reptiles and bucking broncs, oh my!
The 104th edition of the fair, being presented Aug. 11-16, also will include the Lynden PRCA Rodeo, a slate of entertainers led by country star Gary Allan and perennial favorites such as the demolition derby.
“This year’s variety of top-notch entertainment is amazing,” said fair manager Jim Baron.
The Northwest Washington Fair, which annually draws around 200,000 attendees each year, will be open from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. each day. Gate admission is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors 62 and older, and $7 for children ages 6-12. Children 5 and younger are admitted for free. Discounted admission tickets will be available before fair week at Haggen Food & Pharmacy stores and Peoples Bank branches in Whatcom County and online here. Also, discounted carnival ride passes are offered before fair week at Little Caesars Pizza stores in Whatcom and Skagit counties.
Gary Allan will be one of many star studded performers at the Northwest Washington Fair.
Highlights of this year’s fair include:
The 10th annual Lynden PRCA Rodeo, featuring PRCA Clown of the Year JJ Harrison and some of the world’s top professional cowboys competing in bull riding, bareback riding and more, will be presented Aug. 12-13.
After the demolition derby Aug. 11 and the rodeo, the grandstand stage will be brought out for Allan on Aug. 14, rock-and-roll great Huey Lewis and The News on Aug. 15 and alternative rockers Collective Soul on Aug. 16.
Whatcom County-based Camel Safari, a hit in its fair debut last year, returns to offer rides on its Dromedary (one-hump) and Bactrian (two-hump) camels.
Predators of the Heart, an Anacortes-based exotic animal refuge that is home to alligators, cougars, snakes and more, will bring some of its residents and provide educational talks.
The Rainbow Squares, a local square-dancing group, will perform at the fair for its 30th year at 5 p.m. Aug. 16 in front of the fair’s clock tower.
The core of the fair continues to be thousands of exhibits from local farms, residents and 4-H and FFA youth, displaying the area’s best in livestock, flowers, art and much more. Last year’s fair featured more than 10,000 exhibits and 1,600 exhibitors.
A wide variety of carnival rides and games for all ages also is available from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. Free entertainment will be featured each day from noon-9 p.m. on the Charter College Festival Stage and from 1:30-7:30 p.m. on the RECO Community Stage.
The schedule of featured grandstand performances follows with fair admission included in the prices for tickets purchased before fair week:
Monday, Aug. 11 – Demolition derby. Reserved grandstand tickets are $22 for the 12:30 p.m. show, $27 for the 7:30 p.m. show or $32 for both shows.
Tuesday, Aug. 12 and Wednesday, Aug. 13 – Lynden PRCA Rodeo, 7:30 p.m.; adults, $27; children ages 4-12, $22.
Thursday, Aug. 14 – Gary Allan, 7:30 p.m.; reserved tickets, $52.
Friday, Aug. 15 – Huey Lewis and The News, 7:30 p.m.; reserved tickets, $52.
Fans can’t wait to see Huey Lewis and the News at this year’s Northwest Washington Fair.
Allan’s “Every Storm” is his fifth No. 1 single and was nominated for the Academy of Country Music’s Song of the Year. Allan, 46, also has reached the top of charts with “Man to Man,” “Tough Little Boys,” “Nothing On But The Radio” and “Watching Airplanes” as he mixes honky-tonk bravado and grainy isolation. He’s amassed seven gold albums, including three that were certified platinum, during his 17-year recording career.
Huey Lewis and The News have sold more than 20 million albums since forming in 1979. Their Top Ten hits include “Heart of Rock & Roll,” “Stuck With You,” “I Want A New Drug,” “If This Is It,” “Hip To Be Square” and “The Power of Love,” which debuted in the hit film “Back To The Future” and reached No. 1 on Billboard’s singles chart. The group’s live show incorporates a variety of musical influences, including rhythm & blues and soul, and features a horn section with two saxophones and a trumpet.
Founded by vocalist and guitarist Ed Roland, Collective Soul shot to international fame with its 1993 release, “Hints, Allegations and Things Left Unsaid,” and its mega No. 1 hit “Shine.” Collective Soul dramatically expanded its fan base by performing on the soundtrack to one of the hottest movies of 2008 – “Twilight.”
The public can purchase tickets and select seats for all grandstand performances through the fair’s website here. Tickets purchased through the website may be printed by the buyer through their computer, eliminating the need to pick them up at the fair office. Tickets also are available at the fair office, 1775 Front St., Lynden, and by phone at 360-354-7777. Discounts are available for groups of 40 or more. For group sales, call the fair, 360-354-4111.
For the second year in a row, Batman won first place in the Sunnyland Stomp Chicken Race! Second place went to Jesse and third place to Phyllis Diller. Rumor has it they’ll need bleachers for next year’s event — it’s become so popular!
Scan the schedule of events to plan your Sunnyland Stomp itinerary.
Sizzling! We always get a few days here in Bellingham each summer when our usually moderate temperatures begin to skyrocket. We simply aren’t accustomed to 90+ degree weather and it can sometimes feel sweltering.
Bloedel Donovan Park is one of the places to dip your toes around Bellingham during sunny summer days.
How do you cool off around Bellingham without spending a dime? Here are 8 ideas to keep your cool during these steamy summer days.
Visit your neighborhood branch of the Bellingham Public Library. You know the library is a spectacular stop when the rainy months get you down; try a library visit for hot days, too. Perhaps you can even find a book about polar bears, ice cream, and ice caps.
Cool off at the Cornwall or Fairhaven spray parks.
Take a power walk inside Bellis Fair Mall. Play “I Spy” with the kids to keep them engaged while you circle. Bonus points if you wear a pedometer and log some serious miles.
Frolic in the water feature at Barkley Village’s Gazebo Park.
Find shade under the playground equipment at a local park. Elizabeth Park in the Columbia neighborhood is one shady favorite, much of it protected from the rays by its plethora of magnificent trees.
Take a stroll in nature. Get under the cool shade of massive trees at the Sehome Arboretum or make the climb up to Fragrance Lake.
Bonus: If you have $1 in your wallet, take in a family-friendly movie on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings through August 19 at Barkley Village Regal Cinema. Get all the details on $1 summer movies here.
Want more free ideas? Find our bucket list of 25 free things to do with kids this summer here.
Did we miss your favorite way to stay cool without breaking the bank? Drop us a note at submit@whatcomtalk.com.
Many banks emphasize their friendly customer service, but few can offer an authentic hometown feel like Bank of the Pacific. Since opening their doors...
