Lynden, Washington, A Storybook Town in the Pacific Northwest

Just five miles south of the Canadian border, Lynden, Washington, sits amid decorative windmills while scents from a century-old bakery linger in the air. Around every corner, the town feels like a page from a European storybook, with history and stories waiting to be discovered.

In the late 1800s, a number of Dutch families were drawn here by the fertile farmland that felt like home, helping to establish the region’s largest Dutch community. My visit begins at the Inn at Lynden, a fitting starting point for exploring the town’s deep-rooted heritage.

Set inside the historic Waples Building, a more than 100-year-old landmark that once housed the Lynden Department Store and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Inn blends a charming boutique hotel with an inviting mix of shops and eateries, thoughtfully brought to life by its owners.

My cozy room looks out onto the Lynden Dutch Bakery across the street, founded in 1907; it’s a temptation that feels almost unfair. The sight has drawn me in more than once for fresh coffee and traditional scratch-made Dutch pastries and breads, like irresistible stroopwafels, speculaas (spiced cookies), amandelkoeken (almond cookies), and scones.

If you can tear yourself away from the Inn’s inviting lobby, with its warm fireplace and rustic, homey feel, two more places worth visiting are just steps away: Village Books and Paper Dreams, and Avenue Bread—both easily accessible right from inside the hotel.

At Village Books, you’ll discover a wondrous collection of books and unique treasures. Next door, Avenue Bread—a local staple with three more locations in Bellingham—serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with hearty soups, salads, and sandwiches available all day long.

After savoring all of that good food, you might feel like stretching your legs—or better yet, hopping on one of the Inn’s complimentary Dutch-style bikes. Guests can also take advantage of a free fitness pass through one of their local partnerships or simply wander through town on foot to explore. One direction leads to a picturesque, tree-lined street you’ll wish you could call home, while the other leads to a museum where stories of the past truly come to life.

As you step into the Lynden Heritage Museum, you soon realize the space is far larger than it appears from the street. Inside, room after room of interesting exhibits showcase an impressive collection of over 37,000 artifacts.

Some of its most remarkable features include an entire section dedicated to military and war memorabilia, a lower story filled with over 50 original horse-drawn vehicles, and an area with full-size historic storefronts that make you feel as though you’ve stepped back into Lynden’s past.

A new Library Archive is open to the public, free of charge. Visitors can conduct on-site research, browse the extensive book collection, and explore rare images through the archive’s computer database.

A few doors down on Front Street, the Jansen Art Center is housed in what was once Lynden’s City Hall and Fire Station. Today, this creative hub invites visitors to take classes, explore rotating exhibits, and attend special programs. Once home to a library, jail cells, and even a morgue, it has been fully repurposed for ceramics, dance, painting, jewelry-making, music, and textiles—all under one roof.

Spend a little while browsing the unique local shops and antique stores. Be sure to stop inside the Dutch Village Mall next to The Mill at Seventh, the town’s largest windmill. Decorated with charming wooden shoes and a delightful mix of local treasures, it’s a fun stop before making your way to the Newsroom Pub for dinner.

Fittingly located within what was once the Lynden Tribune building, the restaurant’s decor pays homage to its journalistic past with historical displays. Outside, a welcoming patio is on one side of the building, and on the other, a magnificent mural depicting the town.

The menu offers a wide range of options, from burgers and soups to salads, wings, fish and chips, and steak, along with a selection of appetizers, beers and ciders. Just inside, the Daily Scoop serves locally sourced Edaleen Dairy ice cream.

Just beyond town, there’s no lovelier way to end the evening than a stroll through the old-growth forested trails of Berthusen Park, formerly a 236-acre farm established in 1883 by Hans and Lida Berthusen and later left to the city.

Bellewood Farms and Distillery

Don’t leave Lynden without a visit to Bellewood Farms and Distillery. The family-owned farm stretches across 62 acres in the shadow of Mt. Baker. Open year-round, it’s home to a specialty market and gift shop, the welcoming Ten Mile Café, and its scratch bakery, known for pies and other goodies. Don’t miss apple cider slushies—arguably the tastiest sip around, or the most delicious peanut butter made right on the premises.

Throughout the seasons, there’s always something happening. Come for fresh produce, fall apple picking, pumpkins, special events, and live music. Pull up a stool at the distillery and tasting room bar, one of the first apple distilleries of its kind in the region, where brandy, vodka, and gin are crafted from the farm’s own apples.

Plan your trip at bellingham.org/lynden.

Book accommodations by visiting innatlynden.com.

Learn more at bellewoodfarms.com.