Why Columbia is one of my favorite Bellingham neighborhoods

Excuse me in advance but I’m going to gush for a minute about one of my favorite neighborhoods in Bellingham: Columbia!

This neighborhood is known for having a super strong sense of community. People who buy in Columbia tend to stay there for a very long time. There are many families in Columbia, but there’s also a ton of people that are retired; many folks have raised their kids in that neighborhood and still own, love and enjoy their homes. There are kids running around everywhere.

Ice cream trucks love to visit the streets of Columbia in the summertime.

People also love their dogs in this neighborhood. After hours, the playground at Columbia Elementary (a stately brick building situated in the middle of the neighborhood) becomes an off-leash dog park. While kids swing and slide on the play equipment, dog parents throw balls for their furry kids, and simultaneously everyone tends to socialize.

Playground at Columbia Elementary

Playground at Columbia Elementary

Walkability of the Columbia Neighborhood

Depending on where you live in the Columbia neighborhood, you will be walkable to downtown. I’ve walked from Columbia to downtown in about 20 minutes. Get on your bike and it will takes 5 minutes.

Restaurants in the Columbia Neighborhood

Goods Local Brews (a local tap house with a taco food truck reliably parked on-site) is located in the neighborhood, as well as Elizabeth Station (best pizza!) and Narrative Coffee. You’re also walkable to the restaurants and breweries on Meridian Street in the Fountain District, including Zeeks Pizza and Diamond Jim’s (a greasy spoon brunch spot).

Goods, the best place to grab a casual beer and tacos… or in December, buy Christmas trees!

Parks in the Columbia Neighborhood

Elizabeth Park is a large park that sits at the entrance of the Columbia neighborhood. There’s playground equipment, tennis/pickleball courts, and a lot of open space for walking or picnicking while you enjoy a beautiful and charming canopy of mature trees. Other parks include Carl Lobe and Lorraine Ellis.

Home Prices in the Columbia Neighborhood

The desirability of the neighborhood translates into a higher median sales prices than some other neighborhoods in Bellingham. The average sales price in Columbia in 2023 was $758,000, about 20% higher than the average sales price of Bellingham as a whole. Also, while there are some large historic stately homes (especially bordering Elizabeth Park), there’s also a lot of small bungalows. And people will get very creative in how to fit into said tiny bungalows! People sacrifice space (large closets, extra bathrooms, usable garages) for the neighborhood vibes.

A Day in the Life - in the Columbia Neighborhood

Below is a short video that features me and my dog running around some of the aforementioned favorite spots of Columbia… enjoy!

If you want to learn more about some of my favorite neighborhoods in Bellingham, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I love to share my knowledge.

Also, feel free to follow me on Instagram for more Bellingham life and real estate content.

Blue Skies and Tired Thighs! These Are Bellingham’s Best Hikes.

We could send you an hour east to places like Excelsior Pass, Yellow Aster Butte, or Skyline Divide to get your hike on, and you absolutely should check out those incredible areas, but to get a great hike in Bellingham you don’t even really need to leave town! We are so lucky to have an awesome array of great trails just outside of our front doors. From epics that will leave you with tired legs to a quick jaunt through the woods Bellingham proper has you covered.

If you’re the ultra-fit hiker and want to challenge your cardio, consider hiking or running up Oyster Dome to Samish Overlook. After a few initial sweeping switchbacks off Chuckanut drive, the trail turns to steep rooty goodness that will have you begging for the top. This is a true reward hike, as once you’ve reached Oyster Dome you’re met with a giant rock outcropping and stunning views of Bellingham Bay and the San Juan Islands. Round trip up and back down is just about 7 miles with a 2,100-foot elevation gain. It might not sound like much for experienced hikers, but take our word for it, it’s a bit of a lung buster.

Photo by Kelsey Bumsted

If you love the idea of Oyster Dome but want to do something a bit less popular that same area offers a ton of other options on both the front and back side of Chuckanut and Blanchard Mountains. Starting from the same lot as Oyster Dome, you can take the PNW Trail Connector to Lizard Lilly Connector and Max’s Shortcut. This will mostly keep you in the trees, shrouded in massive canopy of old growth cedars. On summer days huckle and thimble berries provide trailside nutrition. This hike is less intense and less crowded. It also has a couple lakes in case you want to filter water or go for a quick swim!

Swim you say? There’s no better swimming in Bellingham than the cool, crisp waters of Lake Whatcom. Fortunately, the Chantarelle Trail ends at the North Lake Whatcom Trail and offers bountiful swimming options from beaches to private little coves and ample opportunities to jump and splash around. The trail and surrounding area are dog friendly too, so if Fido is along for the stroll, it can cool down too. The Chantarelle Trail is a multi-use trail shared most often with mountain bikers but have no fear, they’re very friendly and happy to share the forest. It’s a 4.2 mile out and back that offers a great view of Lake Whatcom and surrounding local mountains. This trail gets lovely evening light so plan for a finish and a sunset picnic at the lake!

If you’re looking for something much mellower and close to everything, you simply can’t beat a stroll through Whatcom Falls Park. Bellingham is an oasis and it’s on full display in this beautiful, urban sanctuary that features several gorgeous and full waterfalls throughout its trail network. The Park is packed with miles of trails, creeks, a duck pond, plenty of resting spots, and lots of quiet areas tucked away. This is a busy area, but it’s still easy to find quiet among the gorgeous trees and rushing water. In the summertime people swim in the creek and even jump off some of the bigger cliffs for a cool down. While there’s essentially no elevation gain in this park, it’s a great place to trail run, walk with the kids, or take the dogs for a stroll. It truly is one of our local gems.

Photo by Kelsey Bumsted

Last but not least is the mountain that has something for everyone: Galbraith. Located in the heart of Bellingham, Galbraith Mountain boasts over 80 miles of trails. It’s used by hikers, equestrians, and mountain bikers alike and offers incredible views of the city, Mt. Baker, the Sisters and north to the Coast Mountains in Canada. You can go as far as you want in this monstrous maze of trails and enjoy everything from clear cuts bustling with Foxgloves and Fireweed to beautiful dark forests with creeks running through the vicinity. Trails range from mellow to very technical for hikers and can be as steep or as easy as you want. Be sure to download an app like Trailforks as it is easy to get lost in the web!

Whether you’re planning an all-day exploration of Galbraith or just trying to get out to stretch the legs and lungs on Oyster Dome, there’s no shortage of trails. We’ve only listed a small sampling of what’s in store for you in Bellingham. So, lace up your boots, grab your water, and get hiking!

Best Holiday Shopping in Downtown Bellingham

Christmas is just around the corner, which for me means, cue the gift giving anxiety! I never know what to give certain friends and family members who seem to already have everything, so over the last year I’ve been mentally taking note of some downtown Bellingham’s best gift shopping options. So here’s my list—and in no particular order!

BabyGreens

1201 Cornwall #103

Plants are an instant way to breathe life into a dull space. And who doesn’t love a new gorgeous house plant? I actually cannot contain my excitement about BabyGreens, a tiny and magical store that offers a beautiful assortment of lush houseplants and a carefully curated collection of modern pots.

BabyGreens has a lot of adorable succulent plants, gorgeous hanging plants, and some really nice large fiddle head figs. Pretty much every on-trend stylish plant imaginable.

Don’t have a green thumb yourself? Don’t be intimidated. Owner Nick Meza and his staff can help answer questions related to the care preferences and requirements of each plant. There’s also quite a few fool-proof options to choose from — he can hook you up!

Ormolulu

301 W Holly St.

For truly exceptional one-of-a-kind vintage pieces, Ormolulu can’t be beat. Located in the Bay St Village building, Ormolulu is one of the most entertaining and enjoyable places to shop. You can’t go in there necessarily expecting to find a specific thing… it’s way more fun to visit with open mindedness and wonder because you never know what amazing item you’ll find.

Ormolulu is known for their exceptional repurposed/rewired vintage lighting. They also rework vintage and antique furniture. Right now my absolute favorite items in stock are the selection of vintage Christmas decor! So many cute things (but be forewarned: their selection is flying out the door right now.)

Bonus: Ormolulu is open every single day until Christmas!

Old World Deli

1228 N State St

Isn’t this a sandwich spot? It sure is. And an amazing one at that. But this deli is also stocked with an interesting array of gourmet foods, which make it the perfect holiday gift-buying spot for your foodie friends. From truffle polenta mix to gourmet spices and sauces, to interesting cocktail fixings, there’s definitely a delicious array of giftable treats. It’s the type of stuff that you wouldn’t necessarily buy for yourself (maybe you would..but I tend to not buy myself expensive salts and marinades), but you’d love to receive as a gift.

Apse Adorn

1307 Cornwall Ave.

This husband and wife duo design the most gorgeous and simple jewelry! They primarily sold online until the fall of 2017, when they opened up their brick and mortar location on Cornwall. What a delightful addition to downtown Bellingham! This is the perfect place to buy a gift for a person who appreciates stylish, modern accessories.

Every time I go in to this shop, I find a new piece that I love. Some of their pieces are very understated, and others are bold—but it’s never overdone. Their jewelry craft takes place in the back room, making it simple to size pieces for you. You can also browse their selection online.

Through the holidays, Apse is hosting a pop up shop from Makeworth Market, which will be opening a retail location and cafe in downtown Bellingham in early 2019. So currently there’s a nicely curated collection of PNW-worthy goods added to the mix.

Ideal

1227 Cornwall Ave.

Ideal is a reliable go-to spot for unique and modern gifts primarily in the home and lifestyle categories. This is the perfect place to shop for the design enthusiast in your life. You’ll find cool trinkets, vessels and textiles—from well-known brands such as Marimekko and Chilewich to lesser known but equally as cool brands such as KLT Works, a local PNW artist. You can pick up a Stendig wall calendar, or a Tivoli Audio bluetooth radio speaker. They have interesting Scandinavian and Japanese glassware and other items of interest. Lots to choose from!

During my most recent visit, I was really obsessing over these gorgeous handmade bowls from KLT Works.

Hot Tip: Ideal also has a nice selection of baby and children’s gifts! I love their artsy children’s books.

Of course there are other fantastic shops in downtown Bellingham, but these are my 2018 picks for holiday gift giving in a pinch. I think you can find unique, gift-worthy items at each of these stores…and lots of potential items for the tough-to-buy-for people in your life. Have fun and good luck!