August 14, 2020
We are here for you!
Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism provides this Tourism Talk e-news to provide ongoing information to our local businesses. We have also added tourism industry resources to Bellingham.org for access anytime.
We are here to help all our members navigate these uncertain times.
MORE TOURISM SUPERHEROES
We love to see our tourism businesses throughout Whatcom County committed to keeping guests and employees safe, and to helping us move toward reopening. Thank you for continuing to share your mask photos with us!

We are also compiling a list of all the places where the public can buy masks in Whatcom County. Bay to Baker has fun Bellingham flag masks, and Fairhaven Toy Garden has a selection of masks for kids. If you have masks for sale, please contact us at [email protected], to let us know where they can be purchased and for what price.
Silver Reef
North Cascades Institute
North Cascades Institute
Fairhaven Toy Garden
Cultural Heritage Tourism Meeting Aug. 18
Our quarterly Cultural Heritage Tourism Stakeholders Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 18, 3 - 5 p.m. Specific details was sent in a separate email. If you would like more information, please contact Annette Bagley, [email protected]. 
Whatcom County Health Department (WCHD) has partnered with Whatcom Unified Command and researchers at Western Washington University to launch a survey to learn more about people’s choices about COVID-19 personal prevention practices.
 
We all know the drill: wash your hands, keep your distance, wear a mask. There have been a lot of changes to our daily lives, and WCHD wants to know how you feel about these recommendations. Learning more about how community members are adjusting will help public health leaders develop inclusive solutions that benefit everyone.
 
In March 2020 , Whatcom Unified Command (WUC) was activated to provide an integrated, coordinated, multi-jurisdictional response to the threat of COVID-19 locally, in partnership with the Whatcom County Health Department. Over the past five months, numbers have made a difference in the shared effort to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

The number of people and agencies working, the volume of supplies received and distributed, and the breadth of agencies and individuals served, are unprecedented in recent memory. But there is one number that drives all others.
Bellingham and Whatcom County officials are hosting a listening series on race and justice, an opportunity for community members to share their experiences and their ideas for how leaders can make meaningful, effective changes.

Remaining sessions are scheduled for:
  • 11:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m., Saturday, August 15
  • 5:00-7:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 18
The Whatcom Museum is launching a new community art project this month called Whatcom² (Whatcom Squared). Community members will turn the Lightcatcher building’s glass Lightwall into a massive “stained glass” patchwork by creating artworks on large transparent squares. The artworks will respond to the prompt, “Show us what your community looks like.”
This article recently appeared in Forbes Magazine by Leslie Kelly
Welcome to Whatcom County, home to some of the most spectacular U-pick berry farms on the planet.
This agriculturally rich region two hours north of Seattle is one of the nation’s leading producers of raspberries, with last year’s crop weighing in at more than 65 million pounds. Like other farm communities around the country fortunate enough to be deep in fruit this time of year, picking your own is a time-honored tradition that continues to thrive.
by Brandon
On June 25, 2020, a new brewery and cafe opened in Bellingham’s Sunnyland neighborhood. Pairing rustic lagers and farmhouse ales with European-inspired street foods, Otherlands Beer is a welcome addition to the diverse Whatcom County brewing scene. This self-described “funny little family-owned brewery & cafe” is fast becoming a local favorite. 
During these times of physical distancing, it is important that our community works to remain socially connected. The events calendar serves as a hub for Whatcom County businesses, restaurants, stores and other organizations to share their events and online activities.

August 15
August 15 & 18
August 15, 22 & 29

Time: 10 am - 2 pm
Free
August 19 & 26

Time: 11 am - 4 pm
Free
August 19

Time: 6 pm - 7 pm
Free
August & September 2020
Our region is full of beauty! Send us your scenic photos from all around the county and enter them in our latest contest for a chance at a prize! Yes, members can enter. Members can also donate prizes. Enter here.
Questions? We are happy to answer them for you.
Give us a call at 360-671-3990, email us or visit our website at bellingham.org.

Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism
904 Potter Street, Bellingham, WA 98229
360-671-3990| bellingham.org