Alabama Hill

Today’s neighborhood spotlight is focused on the popular Alabama Hill neighborhood. The neighborhood is one of the most desirable neighborhoods in Bellingham, and for good reason. The houses in the area are oriented to the west in order to provide spectacular views that overlook our wonderful city. Alabama Hill is a safe and family-friendly neighborhood to live in, and is surrounded by other popular Bellingham neighborhoods. The area is also perfect for people who want to be close to the city, while also having the privacy and quiet of the suburbs. Less than five miles from the center of downtown Bellingham, Alabama Hill is right in the sweet spot.  

Indoor & Outdoor Fun

There is no shortage of activities when living in the Alabama Hill neighborhood.  Bloedel-Donovan park, located on the West shore of lake Whatcom is a popular spot to swim in the summer months or just go on a walk and relax. There is also Whatcom Falls Park, which provides many different fun outdoor activities for people of all ages to enjoy. The neighborhood is also right in between downtown Bellingham, and Bellis Fair mall, so you are just minutes away from all the food and shopping you could want. Within five minutes of leaving your house, you could be starting a shopping spree, eating delicious food, or walking the boardwalk. 

Excellent Schools

Alabama Hill provides a top-notch school system for the children of Bellingham. Elementary schoolers from the area go to Roosevelt Elementary school, located on Yew Street. Middle schoolers will either go to Whatcom Middle School on Halleck Street or Kulshan Middle School on Kenoyer Drive. High school kids either go to Bellingham High School or Squalicum High School, which are both fantastic schools. 

If you’re interested in living on Alabama Hill? Check out our listings here.

This weeks Neighborhood Spotlight is focused on Bellingham’s City Center area. Bellingham’s City Center acts as the city’s financial and cultural hub, with the town hall, court and many different classic Bellingham landmarks. Although housing prices in the City Center are a fair amount higher, the access to activities and sights make it worth it.

City Center: Smaller Pieces of a Whole

Most neighborhoods are their own standalone location, but not the City Center. Many smaller neighborhoods come together to make up this historic area.  These areas reflect the past uses of the land. For example, the Waterfront District was used to support commercial fishing and industrial uses. Bellingham’s Old Town is located right next to the Port of Bellingham, and is influenced by the economy of the port. Other areas of the City Center are the Civic Center, Arts District, and Downtown. All areas have their own personality and style, so there is a little something to fit every personality.

Food & Fun on Every Corner

Throughout the entire area, there are activities and sights on every corner. In the Arts District, you can head over to the Whatcom Museum of History & Art, or catch a show at Mt. Baker Theater. There is a large amount of bars and clubs in the Downtown area, making Bellingham’s nightlife oodles of fun. Scattered throughout the entire City Center are amazing restaurants of every food type. Whether it be Jalapeno’s, Bayou on Bay, or AB Crepes, there are no wrong decisions when looking for something to eat.

Great Schools Galore

School zones are very small in this neighborhood, due to the high population in the area. Children in the area have multiple schools they might go to due to this. Elementary-aged kids either go to Lowell, Parkview, or Columbia Elementary. In middle school, students will either go to Fairhaven or Whatcom Middle School. After middle school, half will go to Sehome High School, while the others go to Bellingham High School.

Interested in living in Bellingham’s City Center? Head to our website here.

This weeks neighborhood spotlight is focused on the Birchwood neighborhood. This neighborhood is located in the Northwestern area of the city, and is one of the more rural areas in Bellingham. With larger lots and smaller streets than many of the other neighborhoods in the area, the neighborhood is very quiet and private. Everyone has a home here, with apartment complexes being built in the area in a addition to the large-lot properties. For all daily needs, located near the neighborhood is a small commercial area. However, Birchwood is within 10 minutes of both the mall and downtown Bellingham.

Be One with Nature

You’ll never be lacking things to do when living in this scenic neighborhood. Birchwood Park, Squalicum Park and Shuksan Meadows both have playgrounds and basketball courts for some good family fun. If you want nice amenities and aren’t afraid to pay a little extra, head to the Bellingham Country Club. BCC offers fun for the whole family, with fitness areas, a pool and a great golf course. You can also get a little closer to nature by following the Bay to Baker Trail. Sporting a newly groomed trail, it starts at Squalicum Park and runs almost to Cornwall Park near downtown Bellingham. 

Birchwood Schools

All the children that live in the area attend Birchwood Elementary School and Shuksan Middle School. Once reaching high school, the majority of student will go the Bellingham High, with a small portion of students will go to Squalicum High.

So, if you’re looking for a beautiful neighborhood that is private yet is close to many activities, look no further than Birchwood. Keep checking back every Monday where we will cover different neighborhoods in Bellingham and Whatcom County.

Looking for a home in the Birchwood neighborhood? You can find them at our website here.

This weeks neighborhood spotlight is focused on the beautiful Barkley neighborhood. One of the newest neighborhoods in Bellingham, the neighborhood was created in 2010 when the Mt. Baker neighborhood was split into two smaller areas, Barkley and Irongate. What remained was 814 acres of land located north of Alabama Hill, and just south of Sunset Drive. The neighborhood is a perfect place to live for people of all ages, and it continues to grow. 

Barkley Has Everything You Need

The area has both residential and commercial buildings, with Sunset Square providing both shopping and dining amenities. However, the crown jewel of the area is Barkley Village, a wonderful area that includes industrial, commercial, and professional buildings right in the middle of multiple residential neighborhoods. Living in the neighborhood means that you’re only a short walk away from shopping, entertainment, and food, making this a perfect place for young adults and families alike. Living here also means that you are less than five miles away from the heart of downtown Bellingham, so you’re never far away from the action.

Escape the Noise

Not only does the Barkley neighborhood have entertainment for the urbanites out there, but it has beautiful trails and ponds to get you outdoors. If you’re looking for a place to escape the noise, Sunset pond is a fantastic place to hike or walk a dog. The park is located behind Sunset Square with parking located on James Street. There is also Mt. Baker park, a great park located at the top of Barkley Hill.

Don’t Forget the Kids

Children living in this neighborhood either go to Sunnyland Elementary, Northern Heights Elementary or Roosevelt Elementary. Students in middle school mostly go to Shuksan Middle School, with a small amount going to Whatcom Middle School. The local high school that students attend is Squalicum High School.
You can find homes in the Barkley neighborhood at our website here.