A Night in Bellingham

I love my friends… I really do.

I feel like sometimes I can get so wrapped up in the hustle of my busy everyday life, that I forget to appreciate the things that matter most in my life – like my friends. For me, that’s a scary thought, because when I really stop to think about it… where would I be without them?

This past weekend was a lovely reminder for me to stop and reflect on how fortunate I am to have all the special people in my life that I do.

When I reflect on some of the tough times I have been through in this past year and a half – and I think about the people who were there to hold me up when I couldn’t support my own weight; the people who were there to make me laugh when all I wanted to do was cry; the people who offered me their love, support, and strength all while expecting nothing in return… those are some really freaking special people and I am more than a little lucky to have that kind of unconditional love and support in my life.

This is why my friendships are so important to me, and why they are never something I want to let myself take for granted. So I will take any opportunity possible to nurture those bonds. To stay close to them and build stronger, deeper connections.

So when my friend Rosie asked me if I wanted to take a little drive after work on a Friday evening and spend a spur of the moment night in Bellingham… I didn’t even hesitate to say yes.

Rosie is a force. She is that cheerleader of a friend that we all hope for… You know the one who encourages you to step out of your comfort zone, while at the same time playing the role of your safety net, so you never feel afraid to take the leap…

That’s Rosie.

She is wise beyond her years; intelligent, and so genuinely caring. She would do anything for you. She always listens and she empathizes. She will give you support for your point of view and then offer up new perspectives for you to ponder – All without judgment.

She’s the kind of friend who when she says “I gotchu…” you know she does. The kind of friend, who even when you call her hysterically crying just an hour before you’re supposed to get in a car to drive out of town together, (actually happened) she somehow manages to turn your mood around. The kind of friend you know will be there when you need her the most…

And on top of all of that, she is a go-getter. If there is something she sets her sights on… you know she’s going to get it. So when she found us a beautiful oceanfront hotel to stay at just hours before we were ready to leave… I wasn’t even surprised.

We didn’t know what to expect when we arrived at the Hotel Bellwether. When we walked into the lobby, we were immediately taken aback by the warm welcome from the hotel staff. They could not have been more accommodating and sweet than they were.

They greeted us with the warmest welcome and the kindest smiles. They wrote down recommendations for their favourite local breweries, cafes and bakeries for us to explore while we were there…

Oh, and they offered us glasses of champagne upon our arrival, and I mean… I’m not sure it gets much better than that.

So we sipped our champagne while they checked us in, and just when we thought life couldn’t get any better… they surprised us with an upgrade to their Lighthouse Suite. Needless to say we felt more than a little spoiled…

This hotel suite was next level… three floors – each with beautiful views of the ocean more spectacular than the last. The coolest spiral staircase leads you up to the top floor with 360 degree windows and views that you just can’t help but fall in love with.

Once we were all settled, we were more than a little starving. So we went to the hotel restaurant The Lighthouse Grill for a late dinner – which was delicious.

Most of the time I find that hotel restaurants leave a little something to be desired, but in this case, I think it’s safe to say we were all a little blown away by how good the Lighthouse Grill was. I had enjoyed a super fresh salad, while Rosie and her hubby Evan enjoyed a burger and fish tacos (which were also incredible).

After dinner, we decided to hit one of the breweries the ladies at the front desk recommended to us – Aslan Brewing, which is an awesome spot. Beer awesome, and their bar snack game was on point. They have churros guys… ‘nough said.

The next morning Rosie and I took a lovely walk along the harbour in front of the hotel. It was so beautiful and peaceful. You probably won’t believe me but there were actually baby bunnies hopping around the hotel grounds when we were walking. For real. I’ll say it again… this hotel was next level.

After saying goodbye to our lighthouse suite, we made our way into downtown Bellingham for a little stroll.

Fall was definitely present on the streets of Bellingham and we could not have enjoyed it more. The air was crisp and fresh and the colours of the leaves looked so pretty next alongside all the historic brick buildings.

We found a gem of a cafe Camber Coffee and stayed for a little brunch…

First let me say that the coffee here was unreal. I had a vanilla latte – which was outstanding – and Rosie ordered a Lavender Latte that was probably the best I’ve ever tasted.

Evan ordered Chicken and Waffles – unreal – while rose and I tried to keep it light with fresh fruit and granola, which was all so fresh and delicious. I would highly recommend this spot for coffee or brunch.

After we finished our little brunch, we continued our stroll and make our way to the Bellingham Farmers Market.

We were all blown away by the beautiful produce, and equally sad that we wouldn’t be able to bring any of it back with us across the border. So all we could do was gawk.

We passed by a little booth Antler Baking Company and I couldn’t help but drool at all the delicious baked goodies she had. I decided on a Chocolate Chip Sandwich Cookie, but I swear if my stomach was big enough I could have eaten one of everything she had to offer.

Once we were done exploring downtown Bellingham, we made the obligatory stops at Trader Joe’s and Target before heading back over the border back into Canada.

It was a short and sweet getaway, but so needed and so much fun. When I really think about it – I think it’s the short and sweet ones that I love the most.

So for all you fellow Vancouverites who are looking for a weekend getaway – I would highly suggest exploring downtown Bellingham. And if you want a lovely place to stay while you do so, you should absolutely check out Hotel Bellwether. You will not be disappointed.