For New Year’s Eve, we decided to head north to check out Birch Bay and the city of Blaine. Even with unusually cold temperatures and snow on the ground, we found plenty of fun things to do near Blaine to make it a memorable weekend. Visiting in winter made for a really quiet, relaxing trip with no crowds. We are already talking about trying to go back in the summer sometime, when we imagine the waterfront town really comes alive!

About Blaine, WA

Blaine is a small city located in Washington state along the US-Canada border in Whatcom County. It is known for the Peace Arch International Monument and Park, which is shared with Canada. This park is very unique as one of the only places in the world where people from both countries can come and visit together without a passport!

Blaine is just under two hours north of Seattle, 30 minutes north of Bellingham, and about one hour south of Vancouver, BC. It is a quiet town located along the water, and a great spot to get away for a weekend!

Where to stay near Blaine, WA

There are many great places to stay in the Blaine area, and we found the options to be really affordable in the winter. We stayed in Birch Bay, which was centrally located to everything we wanted to do. Check out Airbnb for plenty of great options, many with beautiful views, beach access, hot tubs, etc. You could also consider staying at the beautiful Semiahmoo Resort.

12 fun things to do near Blaine, WA any time of year

1. Grab a drink by the water in Birch Bay

Birch Bay is a small town located on a crescent-shaped bay with easy beach access and a nice walking path, just 10 minutes south of downtown Blaine. There are a few great options to grab a drink right across the street from the water. Our favorites were The Beach at Birch Bay (check out their calendar for trivia, live music, and other happenings) and Beach Cat Brewing. CJ’s Beach House also comes highly recommended!

2. Have a fire on the beach

Whether you visit in the winter or not, a fire on the beach is always a fun and free thing to do! There are established wood-burning fire pits at Birch Bay State Park that you can use. We brought our propane fire pit and were able to have a fire on the beach right in the heart of Birch Bay. The Semiahmoo Resort website also mentions that they have beach fires and s’mores for their guests.

This is the propane fire pit we have and love. It’s small and portable enough that we take it a lot of places with us, such as to Airbnbs, tailgating at ski resorts, and to use on the beach like this! We also love our portable, waterproof JBL speaker for times like this.

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3. Visit Semiahmhoo Spit and dine at Semiahmoo Resort

Semiahmoo Spit is a long, thin stretch of land that protrudes from the Semiahmoo Peninsula between Semiahmoo Bay and Drayton Harbor. Starting from Semiahmoo Park, you can walk .8 miles one way on a path along the east side of the spit. On a clear day you can enjoy mountain views, and there are lots of birds to watch! After you work up an appetite, consider having dinner and drinks at Packers Kitchen + Bar or grab something quick from Seaview Café and General Store, both located at the resort at the end of the spit.

4. Eat delicious food and grab a drink at Gateway 1890 Taphouse in downtown Blaine

If you’re looking for a clean space, friendly service, and delicious food, look no further than Gateway 1890 Taphouse. They have 20 beers and ciders on tap, plus a selection of wine from a rotating network of more than 100 coastal wineries. We shared the Gateway PPB Burger (a burger with pulled pork) and it was incredible. They also have awesome fries, delicious fried pickles, and a perfect cayenne aioli.

5. Go for a walk at Point Whitehorn Marine Preserve or Birch Bay State Park

While you won’t find any massive hikes right around Blaine, you can certainly enjoy beach walks and short coastal trails. You can hike 4 miles roundtrip at Point Whitehorn Marine Reserve. At Birch Bay State Park, you can walk the .5-mile Terrell Marsh Loop, as well as 1.5 miles of saltwater shoreline.

6. Grab a glass of wine at The Vault Wine Bar or GLM Wine Company

If you’d like to sit back and relax with a glass of wine, consider a visit to The Vault Wine Bar or micro-winery GLM Wine Company. The Vault Wine Bar offers 250+ different wines so you’re sure to find something you like! Looking for a more personalized tasting experience? GLM Wine Company is run out of a converted garage by a couple from the Vancouver, BC area.

7. Enjoy a cup of coffee or a milkshake at Railway Café

What the Railway Café lacks in size, it definitely makes up for in charm! Grab a cup of coffee, fresh-baked pastries, a milkshake, or one of their other food items and relax in their back porch area with a view of the water.

8. Eat fresh oysters at Drayton Harbor Oyster Company

If you’re a fan of oysters, you definitely can’t miss Drayton Harbor Oyster Company. They cultivate and harvest the oysters less than one mile from the restaurant and have a beautiful waterfront setting!

9. Visit Washington’s first pour-it-yourself taproom

Located in Ferndale, just 15 minutes south of Blaine, Downtime Taps is worth a visit! They have 32 rotating taps with a wide array of beers in all styles, select ciders, and featured wines. Guests receive a little key card that’s activated when you open your tab, and then you’re free to try as many drinks as you like, in whatever amounts you like! Despite it’s unassuming location in a plaza, the space is clean, bright, and cozy, and they have a great outdoor space complete with swings!

Pro tip: you can order food from nearby Coconut Kenny’s and have it delivered right to your table. We tried their Mac Attack Pizza, and just trust us when we say it was one of the most insanely delicious things ever.

10. Have an epic outdoor adventure at Mt. Baker

Incredible natural beauty awaits if you’re willing to make the 1.5-hour-drive east from Blaine to the Mt. Baker area (it’s absolutely worth it!). If visiting in the winter, head to Mt. Baker Ski Area for an awesome day of skiing/snowboarding. Looking for something a little slower speed? Try snowshoeing to Artist Point or Bagley Lakes (spend some time educating yourself on avalanche risk before heading out).

If you’re visiting in the summer, enjoy jaw-dropping beauty on a hike to Chain Lakes Loop, Yellow Aster Butte, or Skyline Divide. These are some of the most beautiful hikes in the state — you won’t be disappointed!

Need snowshoes? We’ve had these Tubbs brand snowshoes for years and have gotten a lot of use out of them (women’s | men’s)

11. Hop down to explore nearby Bellingham

Bellingham is another great place to explore just 25 minutes south of Blaine. With great restaurants and seemingly endless brewery options, you’ll just barely scratch the surface of all this city has to offer. Looking for a few ideas of where to start? Try visiting the huge outdoor space at Gruff Brewing Co. or the bright and welcoming Aslan Brewing Co. tasting room. For a short hike with beautiful views, check out Teddy Bear Cove, which is a great spot for hammock hangs and a picnic!

12. Head north across the border to Canada

If you just can’t resist the urge to cross the border, vibrant Vancouver, BC is just about 50 minutes away, depending on border crossing wait times. With its own plethora of options for outdoor adventures, drinks, dining, and more, you could easily tack another week onto your trip!