Last year I was privileged enough to stay in Bellingham for the summer. I got a full-time job and settled into what many told me to be the ‘best time of my life’. Sadly everyone was wrong. I was completely miserable for the first month. Having stayed in the dorms without a car I was unsure what there was to do. The city for sure kept up its name of subdued excitement. However things got better (as they do) and I explored my surroundings and was able to find things that were really fun and for the most part pretty cheap. If you’re in the position I was in and are starting to get a bit antsy about your summer plans look no further! Bellingham -Go spend a day at the lake: Lake Samish, Lake Padden and Lake Whatcom are all great options all under a half hour from Westerns campus. -Lake Samish and Lake Whatcom both have boat rental options. -Lake Whatcom has Westerns boat house and with student ID rentals are $3. http://www.vu.wwu.edu/lakewood/boathouse/ -Fairhaven Outdoor Cinema: Go get an ice cream cone at ACME and enjoy a movie outdoor movie in Fairhaven. This years line ups are here: http://www.epiceap.com/fairhaven-outdoor-cinema/ -Free concerts as well as ones under $10 -Levitt AMP Bellingham Music Series// Downtown sounds: http://concerts.levittamp.org/bellingham -Kimya Dawson & 4 other performers $10 at Makeshift: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/1434348 -Block Party Make Shift: https://www.facebook.com/events/111528812511403/ -Color Run 5k Bellingham: http://thecolorrun.com/bellingham/ Outside city limits -Mariners college nights: Get a group together and go enjoy a professional baseball game at a lower rate! - http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com/sea/ticketing/special_group.jsp?group=college- -State Park passes: Explore the many state parks around Whatcom and Skagit County. It’s fairly cheap for a year long pass to be able to explore the Pacific Northwest. - http://www.parks.wa.gov/204/Passes-Permits
