Fairhaven Historic District
Fairhaven Historic District
4.5
About
The Historic Fairhaven Village is a charming community located on the south end of Bellingham, WA. In this turn-of-the-century village you’ll find yourself amongst locally owned and operated boutique shops, fine dining, curated art galleries, hotels, spas and outdoor activities aplenty! Surrounded by bay and wooded trails it’s the perfect launching point for a hike, cycle or kayak on the bay. The Fairhaven Village Green park, much like a town square hosts live music, outdoor movies and annual festivals like Dirty Dan Days, Ski-to-Sea Fairhaven Festival, Winterfest and much more! Just minutes off I-5 it’s easy to arrive by car. There is a transportation hub within the village which houses Amtrak and Greyhound stations, Bellingham city bus, Alaska Marine Highway Ferry and San Juan Cruises. Whether it’s a day trip or a long relaxing weekend there truly is something for everyone in Fairhaven.
Duration: 2-3 hours
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The area
Address
How to get there
- Fairhaven Station • 8 min walk
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
240 within 3 miles
Attractions
116 within 6 miles
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
917 reviews
Excellent
610
Very good
266
Average
34
Poor
5
Terrible
2
citytrek
Seattle, WA29 contributions
Aug 2021
We have been visiting Fairhaven for years and we always seem to find something new to visit or to do. The setting of this old port town is stunning. In the past we would stop in on Fairhaven on our trips between Seattle and Vancouver, but this time we stayed over in a lovely boutique historic hotel, the Fairhaven Village Inn, which made the visit much more relaxed and enjoyable. There are many great restaurants, bars and coffee shops to choose from, many that have been around for decades. The waterfront is very picturesque and hilly topography of the town adds to its charm. There are lots of art galleries and small shops that are unique and worth exploring. Tony's Coffee which has been around since the 1970's is one of the best roasters in the Pacific North West.
Written September 15, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
10YEN10
New Westminster, Canada210 contributions
May 2024 • Friends
Whether for a day trip, like this trip, or a half day stop this is a unique area to visit. Plenty of stores to wander through...the casual drink/food and restaurants are surprisingly plentiful and good quality.
Of you have issues with hills this might be a challenge for you.
There is a marine park south of Fairhaven which is worth a visit, time permitting.
Of you have issues with hills this might be a challenge for you.
There is a marine park south of Fairhaven which is worth a visit, time permitting.
Written May 21, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Barb L
Bellingham, WA21 contributions
Jul 2019
What could be more fun that eating fish and chips on and old English Bus. When the weather is warm, not hot,
this is a perfect spot when in the old part of Bellngham. Fairhaven is a fun area to investigate. There are many quaint
shops all around.
this is a perfect spot when in the old part of Bellngham. Fairhaven is a fun area to investigate. There are many quaint
shops all around.
Written March 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hermes_NL 🇳🇱
Amsterdam, The Netherlands21,456 contributions
May 2024 • Friends
The Fairhaven old town centre is a lively dining and shopping area with lots of historical references. Very pleasant to spend time there and have some food. Fairly new are plaques in the pavement that refer to historical events, even with a funny twist.
Written May 8, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MACIMI
West Kelowna, Canada313 contributions
Apr 2022
It was a beautiful sunny day and this area was a great place to walk around. There are one or two empty shops among the stores but more than enough variety to please the shopper or the looker. Parking is free but remember the walking is up and down hills. Some of the shops were really great such as the book shop and a couple of the craft shops. The building themselves have been well restored and looked after and there are plenty of places to sit and just watch the world go by. If you need something to slake the thirst there are plenty of those places as well.
Written April 6, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hermes_NL 🇳🇱
Amsterdam, The Netherlands21,456 contributions
Jul 2022 • Friends
Fairhaven, one of a few cities that make up Bellingham, is very scenic with lots of historic buildings in Red brick. Very lively with great dining and nightlife opportunities as well. The old town hall is now a museum.
Written July 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Allisonspring
Sitka, AK748 contributions
Feb 2020 • Business
Enjoyed our walk from Bellingham to Fairhaven. The storefronts are enjoyable and the views to the water are very nice. A pleasant time for some light shopping or to grab a lunch. We came back for dinner later. Great part of Bellingham to see.
Written February 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rob W
Missoula, MT60 contributions
Jun 2020
When we live here 25 years ago, Fairhaven was more of a place to check out once for the bizarre shops and not go again. Now, Fairhaven has transformed into a destination to shop through the stores and make a day out of it. Tremendous book store, two ice cream places,and a gelato store, and some of the best restaurants in the Bellingham area! Love going to Fairhaven just to hang out.
Written July 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
oldaztravelers
Phoenix, Arizona62 contributions
May 2015 • Couples
By dumb luck we drove through local streets of Bellingham, WA and came upon the surprise of our trip, just appearing in front of us was Fairhaven. We both thought we had arrived in Mayberry USA or Warner Bros. Studio because that's what one sees. Restaurants, stores, great people watching and we even discovered this is one of the main ferry terminals for the Alaska ferries plus local island ferries we think. We were on our way eastward over the Cascades via Washington Pass. But we had to stop, stay and enjoy all Fairhaven had to offer. When in the Bellingham area, you really need to come to Fairhaven and enjoy the food, bars, hotels, people and public areas. It is an exceptional experience, don't miss it! oldaztravelers
Written June 3, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jeannine O
San Diego, CA56 contributions
Aug 2021 • Solo
Great place to walk around and get a bite to eat from one of the many eateries. From crepes to Mexican food they have a wide variety. We were here in August and the weather was all sunshine.
Written August 10, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Are the shops in Fairhaven open on Sundays in June?
Written June 12, 2018
Many shops are open in Fairhaven on Sundays. Most restaurants are open on Sundays; many offer brunch menus.
Also, there are often special events on the weekends, including Sunday.
Written June 13, 2018
There is on street parking on all the streets in Fairhaven. There is also angle parking west of 11th street on McKenzie.
Written June 12, 2018
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