Downtown Bellingham Full Of Art

A lot can be said about the natural beauty of the Bellingham area.  I try to show this daily in my pictures.  But it is something one must witness for themselves.  

The Big Rock Garden Park is full of art.  Both natural and artist renderings. 

Western College campus has great old buildings to enjoy and 27 sculptures spread around campus. 

I just found a book and map of all the sculptures--  so will be posting about both locations very soon.

Water trickles through this entire sculpture on WWU campus.

And of course the nearby mountains and ocean lead to some natural beauty!

                                                                 From sun up to sunset.

                                                                Art is on local cars

                                                            This car is winking at you.


                                                 Art can even be found on the city bus 

Art is even on walls.

"Reading is sexy!"

I recently wrote a blog on my other sight about tagging and it's fine line between art and 

vandalism.  Please check it out 

http://wyomingjack.blogspot.com/2012/05/mini-rant-15-first-hint-of-tagging-sell.html

                                      Above Boulevard Park--just off State Street.

         "Are you not entertained?"   This was found on WWU campus.  And can also apply to my readers at the moment!


     Speaking of tagging, I have been spotting the below tag, all around Fairhaven--does anyone know what it stands for??   I tried looking up "angry gerbil" and spray painted hamster on Google, but got nothing helpful.  I did learn that it is a bad idea to spray paint your hamster if you wish to keep it alive. 

                                                       Art can be found in a classic old car.

                                           Or the many classic buildings all around town. 

                                                          Beauty can be found every were!

    All of that said, today's post is all about exploring downtown Bellingham.   This is 90% of the murals in the down town area.   I just found two more great ones, past The Mission, while driving our family home yesterday.   Finding as many of these as you can is a great way to spend a lazy Saturday afternoon after going to the Saturday Market.  It also works well for wearing out your kiddos.  Right now, local kids art is displayed all around downtown ---an extra bonus!   I do not know street names ---so to some extent you will have to roam to find some of these pictures.  Find them all and win a great workout~!

Always on the look out for more pictures!

         Today's exploring started out with coffee of course!   The first statue awaited my buddy and I just across the street from the Flat Iron Building.

                                              And than across the street behind us this great mural.

                        Down the hill ---the city park offers great views and more art. 

                                       Enjoy some more murals on the walk to the park.

                                Follow the many stairs back up by the old city hall.   And look for the mural pictured at the top of this blog.   Half a block down you can see a full mural featuring salmon. 

 And near the post office....

            This giraffe guards the public library.    And the nearby museum has some great art both inside and out.  

   Marvel over "the last supper" near Interfaith Medical.

              This boulder blocking most of an alley-way connects to someones deck.  

       Find both of the above murals in the heart of Bellingham's downtown.  

                      Even the parking garage houses some great paintings.  

   One of my personal favorites on Commercial Street.   Although it does not lead to a coffee shop anymore.  :(

       At the Saturday Market....

    Down Railroad Avenue just before the large pet shop.    Well worth a stop inside to see the many animals.  And almost never ending fish tanks!

    Also watch the alleys near here for more abandoned rail road tracks.  

                                  In front of the bus station, watch this sculpture spin. 

                                             And lastly for today-----up State Street.  

                                                                    My kind of coffee mug!!

   Yet another coffee shop that is no longer in business.  Support your local coffee house!   I have noticed for a town that is so into mom & pop stores, and supporting local shopping, the big coffee places are quickly taking over.  

   In support of bike to work day--I am sure this is why this was painted way above the city.  


  I apologize for the next picture----it is on top of the Up & Up building.  

     And of course the newishly painted greeting along the bay heading back to our home in Fairhaven.

More Downtown Bellingham

Last week found me on a quick exploring trip. Our youngest and I had a few errands to do downtown and than were going to hop a random bus and see what adventures we found. This is fun to do randomly. But did not happen on this day. After the bank we went on a walking adventure of sorts. Here are some highlights. And the answer to were I was exploring --- posted several blogs ago. Shown above for those of you that forgot. You have a few more paragraphs to guess were we went. This area has a lot of interesting people and culture but the strange people were out in full force on this day. Notice I have not referenced any of these people as freaks or mentally challenged yet. When we first left the bank, this man was across the street preaching to anyone that stoped to listen about the lord. I am in no way making fun of his ideas or the way he was spending his time. But found it amusing that his background was a building covered in 420 support signs. They are hard to see in the following picture though :(

Our actual wandering started here:

At the old city hall. This building allows for some great pictures. And I am more than sure that the building is haunted. But that is yet another story. Inside is a museum as well as the building beside it. Like most of the museums in town, I have never been in either, so I can't tell you much about that. From here you are very close to the city Library.

Behind the Library
About a block up you hit a post office. Just past there are some great trails filled with water falls.

I have blogged about this before, and we did not go that way on this day.
But still find it very kool that all of these sights are offered right downtown.

We ventured down the many steps past the old building into the large open space. You can easily journey all the way down to the docks from here.

To the right is more park to wander through.

Part of the rare Chip-A-Hoy tribe?
And some fish ladders that are later full of angry salmon that are more than ready to mate.

If anyone recalls when they are released for fishing, please let me know.

All I can recall is my wife and I wandered down to view the large salmon

one night years ago, and the wind off the bay was beyond frigid.

More interesting sights meet us in the open area below the city hall. A varied group of people hang out in here and in the park. Be prepared to be asked for spare change at least three times. They were mowing the large lawn and a man had passed out asleep in the grass in the sun. The lawn mower decided to not wake the man, and left a wide circle of un cut grass around him, and than moved to the other side of the field. Another man was feeding the seagulls and had about 200 birds floating and hovering and swooping down to grab the tasty treats. We also saw this set up tent, I am not sure what the story behind that is.

We crossed the street and passed the large yellow Mexican restaurant. Crews are working on the docks so we found a narrow trail that leads under the docks. The tide was way out on that day, allowing for lots of exploring.

Items are constantly washed in with each tide. We did not find anything worthy to

bring home on this day though.

With a quick glance this abandoned shopping cart almost looks like an outline of the United States map.

Apparently people hang out down here. I found many tables set up and such. And have been told that they have big self cleansing parties were you can jump through the flames and come out a re newed person. Many happen to be on Saturday nights. I have not yet been brave enough to verify this.

We continued north-ish towards the bay. Past the old train depot. These buildings always make for a great picture or three.

You soon pass this great caboose. In this picture it has "Suck it" spray painted across the front. The greeting has long since been painted over.

If you do not know what this sign means---- do not apply for the job. This is what the managers will not as nicely tell you, if you do apply.

More signs that spring is in full bloom

Nestled with the fine restaurants and motels is a great sea life petting zoo of sorts. It is defiantly worth a look. And the museum greatly appreciates all donations.

Down by the bay!

If you follow the trail all the way around to the park you can view many a boat. Luxury yachts are usually ported also. Or buy some of the freshest seafood around.

Look for Willie the Whale. You can also go on whale viewing tours.

Statue for all of the seaman that never came home.

Way past this you can stop at another park of sorts. And follow the shore line during low tide. It is still a very slippery hike though. Years ago we took this adventure and found this great structure. Which is said to have been built during WWII. It has a look out tower up top, that holds a person. And people have written on the walls and added to it for years. I have heard that the structure got torn down, but have not ventured to verify this true or not. Does any of my readers know???

On the way home we ventured into the park below city hall just a little to wash off our shoes mainly.

This leads us to the end of our journey this day. And also my picture of the day.

I find it great how everything here is green. There is green growing on everything even the trees. Of course all of the rain has to do with this.


Any thoughts on were I should explore next?? And as always

                                **Happy Trails**