Bellingham sits where Bellingham Bay meets the foothills of the Cascades, and the water shapes daily life in a way visitors notice right away. Western Washington University brings students and ideas to the hillside above downtown, while the Fairhaven Historic District keeps brick storefronts, bookshops, and cafes along streets that once served sailors and timber workers. The Whatcom Museum tells the story of the city and the region, and Chuckanut Drive winds south along the shore toward cliffs, tide pools, and views across the bay.