That WWU View + Hannegan Road Starts Today + Your Monday Scoop

Happy Monday, Bellingham. It's May 18 and the sun is making an appearance this morning. Coffee in hand? Let's get into it.

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Community

That View From Western Washington University Is Hard to Beat

Perched on a hillside above the city, Western Washington University offers a campus view that has a way of stopping people mid-step. This week, the Bellingham Experience community page shared a photograph of the panorama from campus, and it drew exactly the kind of response you'd expect from a community that loves this place: hundreds of reactions and a comment section full of people sharing their own memories of that first view over the bay.

From campus on a clear spring afternoon like today, you can see Bellingham Bay stretching out to the west, the San Juan Islands in the middle distance, and the Olympic Mountains beyond. The Cascades fill in the eastern horizon. Not a bad spot to spend four years.

Adjacent to campus, the Sehome Hill Arboretum offers 175 acres of trails and a public observation tower for anyone who wants that elevated vantage point without a student ID. Trails connect directly from the arboretum into the university grounds. May is one of the better months to make that walk, and today's forecast gives you a good reason to try it.

If you have not been up to campus in a while, it is worth the drive. More on the view and what makes this spot special.

Home Sweet Bellingham

Spring Market Update: What's Moving in Whatcom County

May is traditionally one of the more active months for Whatcom County real estate, and this spring has kept that pattern going. Inventory has been slowly climbing from the lows of the past couple of years, giving buyers a little more breathing room than they had through most of 2024 and 2025.

If you have been watching specific neighborhoods, here is a rough picture of what the market feels like right now. Fairhaven continues to attract buyers drawn to the walkable village feel and proximity to the waterfront. Cordata tends to offer more square footage per dollar, especially for families who want newer construction and easy access to the Cordata corridor. Birchwood and Sunnyland are seeing renewed interest from first-time buyers priced out of the tighter core neighborhoods.

For sellers, the advice from local agents has stayed consistent: homes that are priced accurately and show well are still moving. Overpriced listings are sitting longer than they were a year ago.

The Bellingham.org community page keeps an updated events calendar that often includes real estate open houses and neighborhood tours. If you are actively looking, it is worth checking regularly. And if you are curious what Bellingham homes are selling for right now, the City of Bellingham publishes public permit and property data that can give you a feel for transaction activity in specific areas.

Outdoors

Summer Is Coming Up the Mountain: Picture Lake and Artist Point Are Nearly There

The alpine roads leading to Picture Lake and Artist Point are still buried under the winter snowpack, but warmer temperatures are doing their work. The season is coming.

Picture Lake and Artist Point sit at the upper end of State Route 542, the Mt. Baker Highway, winding east from Bellingham through the Nooksack Valley into the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. Picture Lake, at roughly 4,200 feet, is famous for its mirror-like reflections of Mount Shuksan. Artist Point, a few miles farther up at about 5,100 feet, offers sweeping views of both Shuksan and Mount Baker and connects to several backcountry trails including the Chain Lakes Loop and Ptarmigan Ridge.

The U.S. Forest Service sets no fixed opening date for the Artist Point road. It typically opens sometime between late June and early August once WSDOT crews clear the accumulated snow. This winter brought above-average snowpack to the North Cascades, so the opening could run toward the later end of that range. Check WSDOT's travel information before heading up, and keep an eye on the Forest Service recreation page for updates as things open.

The Mt. Baker Ski Area access road below Artist Point remains open, and Picture Lake is reachable on foot from the day lodge parking area before the upper road clears. For families looking for a wide, accessible boardwalk loop around a spectacular alpine lake, it is worth the drive once the road opens. Read the full planning guide here.

Family

Bellingham Public Library: Storytimes Are on Break, But Programs Keep Going

If your household counts on weekly storytimes at Bellingham Public Library, here is the heads-up: regular sessions are currently paused and will not restart until July. The good news is the library is not going quiet on children's programming in the meantime.

Special events and alternative programs continue at all three branches through the transition period. The online events calendar has the full picture. Printed monthly calendars are also available at the Central Library (210 Central Ave), Barkley Branch (3450 Woburn St), and Fairhaven Branch (1117 12th St).

The library's summer reading program runs June 1 through September 1 for kids, teens, and adults. Sign-up information is on the library website. Programs are free and no library card is required for most public events. Regular storytimes restart in July. Follow the library's Facebook page for schedule updates as they are announced.

Ferndale Drivers: Seamount Drive Closure Coming Tuesday, May 19

Ferndale Drivers: Seamount Drive Closure Coming Tuesday, May 19

The section of Seamount Drive between Vista and Malloy in Ferndale will be closed to through traffic on Tuesday, May 19 from 7am to 5pm. The closure is connected to a private development project.

Signs will direct drivers around the work zone via the Vista roundabout. Residents on both sides of the closure will still have access in and out of their homes. The closure is expected to last just one day.

Plan your Tuesday commute accordingly. More information here.

Community

Bellingham Fire is Hiring: Entry Firefighter Position Open for January 2027 Academy

Bellingham Fire is building an eligibility list for the Entry Firefighter position, with an academy planned for January 2027. The City of Bellingham has opened the NTN FireTeam testing window.

If you or someone you know has been thinking about a career in fire service, this is the opening to watch. Interested applicants can find out more about the NTN FireTeam testing process and application timeline at this link.

Community Event

Free Meet-a-Truck Event at City Hall Next Thursday

Mark your calendar for next Thursday, May 21. Bellingham Parks and Recreation is hosting the annual free Meet-a-Truck event from 1 to 3pm in front of City Hall on Lottie Street.

Kids get to check out Public Works construction vehicles up close. It is part of National Public Works Week and always draws a crowd of little ones who are very into large machinery. Free for all ages. Event details here.

Local Library

Friends of the Bellingham Public Library Book Sale: May 20-23

A good reason to stop by Central Library next week: the Friends of the Bellingham Public Library May Book Sale runs Wednesday, May 20 through Saturday, May 23. Most books are $2, and all genres will be available.

Hours are 10am to 6pm Wednesday through Friday, and 10am to 1pm on Saturday. Saturday is $5 per bag day. The library is at 210 Central Ave. Full sale details here.

Upcoming Week

The Upcoming Week

★ Sponsored Cascade Home Cleaning

Spring Is Here. Your Home Deserves a Fresh Start.

If you've been putting off that deep clean, this is your sign. Cascade Home Cleaning is offering 40% off your first deep clean for new recurring clients through the end of this week.

Cascade is a local Bellingham-area company with a reputation for showing up on time and doing the job right. If you've been meaning to get the house in shape before summer settles in, this is a solid way to make it happen without a big price tag.

Book by Friday to lock in the discount. Schedule online at cascadehomecleaning.com.