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Bellingham:
Gateway to Whatcom County,
Alaska Marine Highway, NW Washington
and San Juan Islands
by
Jerry W. Bird
 Having
lived in the border town of Point Roberts, Wa for
six years prior to launching our magazines,
Bellingham was our second home. It still is a
favorite place to visit, as the lure of Bellis Fair
Mall, Mount Baker and the Dutch Village at Lynden
continue to attract the ladies of our family. As a
personal choice, I get a kick out of visiting Old
Fairhaven, site of the Alaska Marine Highway
Terminal, the Colophon bookstore, and many quaint,
turn of the century buildings. I even found a
museum of old radios, that date back to the crystal
set and Marconi's era.
Western
Washington University campus is just up the drive
on Sehome Hill, where one can look clear across the
Bellingham Bay to the San Juan Islands.
Bellingham,
Airport Update
Alpha Aviation no longer exists at all. Bellingham
Fuel Service (360 671 1600) has replaced them with
Texaco products, Jet A and 100LL.
Bakerview Aircraft Maintenance no longer exists.
Whatcom Territory Aero Services has replaced them
for aircraft maintenance services.
A new Bellingham based Airline Bellingham Air
Service (360 671 2250) is offering charter services
to the San Juan Islands and the Puget sound
area.
John Sibold has moved on to the Washington State
Dept. of Transportation, Aviation Division. He has
been replaced by Art Choat.
Update courtesy of Joseph Young - Pilot, Fan
 ARight:
Scenic excursion trains once connected the cities
along the Pacific Coast, including Vancouver via
Seattle and Bellingham. Now at last the train is
back and it's doing well according to Amtrak.
Bellingham is also southern terminus of the Alaska
Marine Highway fleet, and has a modern airport near
the Bellis Fair Shopping Mall. See item below.
One
Fairhaven experience I'll never forget, is staying
at a unique bed and breakfast that's perched
halfway up the hill, looking like something from an
Alfred Hitchcock movie set. Adorning its ancient
porch railings are several hand carvings of black
cats. According to the story, the original owner's
furry felines populated most of Fairhaven and
Bellingham in the late 1800s and were banished like
Napoleon to an island, which failed to hold them
all, and many escaped back across the bay. Despite
the guest home's menacing look, we had a wonderful
experience and a typical Washington breakfast.
Speaking of food fit for royal palates, try the
Oyster Shack on the scenic Chuckanut Drive that
winds south along the shore from
Fairhaven.
 We
enjoy visiting Bellingham International Airport
(BLI), which always looks like it just came out of
the gift wrap. It is one of the smartest, best kept
facilities I've seen for a city of this size. Just
off Interstate 5, a few minutes from downtown
Bellingham and 40 miles south of Vancouver, BC, BLI
serves as a port of entry for general aviation
aircraft. Bellingham Airport is a popular stopover
for folks visiting San Juan Islands, Vancouver
Island and Gulf Islands. The following is some of
the information we gleaned while visiting the
manager's office. " (more
below)
Editor
"Thanks
Boeing for a delightful
introduction
Future of Flight Aviation Center
Hot
Trends and Thriving Spas
When
health is a priority
Bellingham
International
Airport
is a 24-hour, full service commercial airport
located just minutes south of the U.S. - Canada
border in northwest Washington state. Bellingham
International is a growing airport which sees some
250,000 people traveling through it each year.
Connecting flights, on such commuter airlines as
Horizon Air and United
Express,
transport air travelers to Seattle and locations
beyond. Bellingham International Airport offers
various ground transportation services for travel
to and from the Airport. A 500-space parking lot
adjoins the Main Terminal, with parking at $.80 /
hour $4.80 / day $28.75 / week. For further
information call (360) 733-5823.
Passenger
Services
Horizon Airlines - (800) 547-9308.
www.horizonair.com
West Isle Air - (800) 874-4434 - service to the San
Juan Islands
Airporter Shuttle - (800) 235-5247 or (360)
380-8800. www.airporter.com
Quick as Air Coastlines - Canada Reservations:
(604) 244-3744 / U.S.
Reservations: (800) 665-2122
Taxi Services - (360) 733-8294
Car Rental - Avis, Budget, Hertz, and National (all
located in the terminal)
Hotels
(within walking distance) - Hampton Inn: (360)
676-7700
World Duty Free Americas / Border North by
AMMEX
A pre-order duty-free luxury goods and deluxe
confectionery shop The airport's new Aviation
Center was completed in August, 1998.
Bellingham
International Airport Facilities and
Services
6,700 ft. all-weather approach (ILS-Rwy 16,
/MLS-Rwy 34)
24-hour tower
Airport Rescue Fire Fighting (ARFF) service
U.S. Customs international terminal
Trade-related services at the airport include a
foreign trade zone, customs brokerage, and air
cargo services (FEDEX)
Bellingham
Aero Inc. 4121 Mitchell Way (360) 671 2250
http://bellinghamaero.com
is now the supplier of the General Aviation pilot's
needs
Bellingham
Air Service (360 671 2250) i
On-Site
Fueling Services - Aviation Fueling Services
(360) 676-7624 Unicom122.95
Aircraft
Maintenance - Bakerview
A/C Maintenance - (360) 671-8223
ATIS - (134.5) (360) 647-5939
U.S. Customs - (360) 734-3520 or (360) 734-5463
Alpha Aviation - Maintenance, flight (360)
734-1999
Bellingham
International Airport
(BLI)
4201
Mitchell Way, Bellingham, WA 98226
(EXIT 258 off Interstate 5)
(360) 671-5674, fax (360) 734-3009
Art
Choat, Airport Manager
Dennis
Partlow, Airport Operations Supervisor -
dennisp@portofbellingham.com
Whatcom County
as a tourism and business destination
For visitors who are driving, Bellingham
(population over 61,000) is 90 miles north of
Seattle and an hour south of Vancouver. It faces
the Pacific on Squalicum Harbor, Bellingham Bay,
second largest port in Puget Sound. Being an active
waterfront port, you'll see evidence of fishing,
cold storage, boat building, shipping, paper
processing and marina operations. We're told that
almost 2,000 pleasure and commercial boats are
moored at the port. From here tourists can book
cruises to Vancouver Island and the San Juan
Islands.
Downtown
Bellingham has retained much of its mid century
charm, with a selection of restaurants, specialty
and art shops, plus the Whatcom Museum of History
and Art (built in 1892) and an excellent library
which we frequent whenever the opportunity
arises.
More to come in
this space. Or contact:
Bellingham/Whatcom Convention & Visitor's
Bureau
tourism@bellingham.org
Washington
Aerospace Alliance
Seattle Tower, Suite 1600
1218 Third Ave, Seattle,WA 98101
Email:kmiller@apcoassoc.com
Tel: (206) 443-5712
Fax: (206) 224-4344
Website:
www@waa.net
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