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.

Falls Park & Beyond

     Out of all the parks and places to explore in the area, Whatcom Falls Park is one of my favorites for sure!   I have talked about the great place before.  Please check out 
http://wyomingjack.blogspot.com/2011/03/falls-park-go-and-take-fall-and-enjoy.html

     This park has everything from multiple trails to water falls obviously something to do with the areas name sake.   Multiple water falls.  Above is the main fall.   And right now the water levels are way up with the warm temperatures and lots of current rain.  Two large playgrounds are in the park.  Several buses go right by the park or very near.  You can also get off near Bay View Cemetery and wander you way up.  I always find cemetery's an interesting place to roam around.  They are very peaceful if nothing else.   Turn at the above sign to be very near the main parking lot and the falls trails.  Up a little farther is another large parking lot, by the 2nd playground and some basketball courts.
      Besides the amazing views, pools of water to cool off in, and great trails---  the first time I spent any time in this park was about six years ago.  My girl friend at the time, now she happens to be my wife, was packing up everything she owned into her Buick.   We had meet months before that and now her and her three kids were moving across the country.  So the park has some special meaning to me also.   

                                My exploring partner for the day----Our oldest

    Saturday was a very nice and sun filled day.  I believe it was near 70 outside that day.  So we set out off the bus, down the narrow roadway to the main parking lot.  

     A decent sized fish hatchery is just above the parking lot.   Right now most of the ponds are full of larger fish.   The tank of Rainbow Trout was a sight. 

  

Leading over the old bridge from up above.

This bridge makes for some great pictures.  Most of these are from the trails just above the bridge before crossing it. 

    This is right above the falls and makes it almost look like the water is dropping off to no-wheres-ville.

       I love this picture.  It is much more of a challenge to get down to the river once you cross the bride.  But well worth it.  

Just to the left of the bridge looks like what might be the greatest water

slide there is?

   Once you cross the bridge you can take trails to pretty much any part of town.  We followed the water up past the next two smaller falls.  

     Just past the third waterfall is a bridge that crosses a large pond.  This is usually full of ducks and is supposed to be a great fishing sight.   

    Trails lead on both sides of the pond.  If you stay to the left you soon end up in swamp land.   Relics of the old train tracks can be found all around this area.  We crossed the large bridge and than the road.  Bringing us to Donavan Park.

My hike partner was worn out.

     The full on sun led for some very bright blue water at Lake Whatcom.  

                                                                     My new buddy!

      If you really have some skill, try and cross the floating logs.   This divides the swimming area from were people can boat.    A nice sized playground and pit of sand for playing volley ball is near the lake.  Much of the area is full of sunbathers and swimmers once summer really kicks in.  This is much better an area to wade, than Falls Park which is full of overly sharp and slippery rocks.  But when the temperatures rise, expect to walk before you can cool off.   Some great trails lead around the lake.   Big Rock Park sits on the hillside near Lake Whatcom and will be the focus of a blog in the near future.   This was a very enjoyable day.  And I came away with some great pictures.   These pictures are getting me threw days like today, were it is all out rain outside.  






            Please check out my other blog at  http://wyomingjack.blogspot.com

                        Now it's your turn to guess were I was out exploring last!