In Washington State, there is a city known for its deep Dutch roots.
Behold Lynden, a city north of Bellingham, a city known for its unique heritage and history.
Lynden served as Washington State’s largest Dutch settlement.
Often called a “Dutch-American Town,” Lynden is an incredible travel destination, whether you’re coming from Canada or the United States.
Most of Lynden’s 12,000 residents can speak Dutch.
It is also one of the country’s top producers of raspberries.
Founded in 1874, Lynden is a fascinating place for history buffs.
Its old city hall building now serves as an art center.
At the same time, many of its old buildings are well-preserved and serves as historical landmarks today.
Lynden boasts a charming small-town appeal.
You can reminisce on the old days through its historic downtown or perhaps go outdoors and explore its natural attractions.
If you’re seeking suggestions on the best activities in this Washington State city, read this post about the 20 best things to do in Lynden, WA.
Lijuan Guo / Shutterstock.com
Wiser Lake is a well-known fishing destination nestled roughly three-miles southwest of Lynden.
Anglers from Lynden and neighboring towns and cities converge at this 23-acre lake to cast their lines and hope for a great catch.
Lijuan Guo / Shutterstock.com
This lake features an abundance of brown bullhead catfish, largemouth bass, and pumpkinseed sunfish.
More incredibly, Wiser Lake allows fishing year-round, making it an ideal place to cast your line whenever you visit.
So, bring your fishing gear to Lynden because part of your itinerary will be fishing at Wiser Lake.
Joe Mabel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Lynden Pioneer Museum in downtown Lynden is a fascinating place for history buffs and even casual tourists.
It’s the best place to start your travel adventure in Lynden because of the fascinating history you’ll be learning inside.
The museum itself is in a 1900s blacksmith and implement dealership.
More than 30,000 items are displayed across three levels of this museum, all equally worth checking out.
Lifesize exhibits portraying the old life of Lynden are open to the public in the museum.
These exhibits include old department stores, diners, a jail, a barbershop, and a saloon, a nostalgic experience you shouldn’t miss.
Upon arriving in Lynden, head straight to the Lynden Pioneer Museum.
Lynden City Park is an excellent place to unwind or have fun with your family or travel buddies.
It offers various activities for all types of parkgoers in the city.
Locals love to spend their time relaxing under the shades of the park’s towering trees.
In addition, it’s also an ideal place to bring kids and let them have fun at its playground.
Like all excellent community parks, the Lynden City Park is worth visiting, especially if you’re looking for a retreat from the city noise.
Lynden City Park is situated along Depot Road.
After appreciating the peaceful ambiance of Lynden City Park, head to the Edaleen Dairy adjacent to the park to enjoy a delicious scoop of ice cream.
To cap off your Lynden City Park visit, take your loved ones to Edaleen Dairy, treating the city’s locals with their delicious ice cream since 1975.
From a small family business, this local ice cream joint has expanded to six locations found in the neighboring towns and cities of Lynden.
There’s no better way to cap off your visit to Lynden City Park than satisfy yourself with a scoop or two of Edaleen Dairy’s ice cream.
Jon Lauriat / Shutterstock.com
Berthusen Park is Lynden’s zen park, where you feel tranquility right after setting foot in this area.
Many locals and even visitors consider Berthusen Park an ideal place to meditate and connect with nature.
Most people who visit here love hiking or having a picnic with their companions.
Access Berthusen Park through Badger Road along Berthusen Road if you come from Oostema Farmstead.
Although it’s famous among Lynden’s locals, Berthusen Park has maintained its peaceful environment.
Like most top-notch parks, it has numerous amenities such as a playground, hiking trails, and a forested area.
In addition, the park also meanders along Bertrand Creek, which is another attraction you need to visit there.
The Lynden Post Office is not your typical city post office.
It’s known throughout the region for its unique mural found inside the building, one of the city’s top tourist attractions.
Whether you’re an average tourist or an avid art enthusiast, you will surely appreciate this masterpiece depicting a scene of Phoebe Judson, a pioneer in Lynden.
The mural depicts Judson, who disembarked from a canoe along the Nooksack River in the 1800s.
Mordi Gassner completed this Lynden masterpiece in 1942, naming the mural “Three Ages of Phoebe Goodell Judson.”
Historically, Judson was one of the pioneers who founded Lynden and her husband Holden Allen Judson in the late 1800s.
This 142-foot-long masterpiece in Lynden is astonishing, especially for those who want to learn more about the city’s history.
The Lynden Post Office is situated along Front Street or downtown Lynden.
Joe Mabel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
If you want to discover more of Lynden’s vibrant art scene, head to the Jansen Art Center in downtown Lynden.
Many consider this arts center an art lover’s paradise.
This art center features various art masterpieces from ceramics, textile, jewelry, and other studios.
Commonly referred to by locals as the “J,” this art center in Lynden is not just your typical arts center.
It’s full of rich history and a solid connection to the city’s community.
The art center is inside the old Lynden City Hall.
Lynden converted it into a vibrant non-profit art center where aspiring artists can share their passion for the arts.
Visiting this place offers everyone the opportunity to learn various art forms from ceramics, fine arts, painting, jewelry-making, music, theatre, and textile.
So, always include Jansen Arts Center on your itinerary during your trip to Lynden.
Nooksack Northwood Casino is the premier entertainment hub in Lynden.
Highrollers or penny-pinchers love returning to this casino to enjoy its Vegas-style atmosphere.
This casino boasts more than 300 slots, more than a dozen card tables, two premier dining establishments, and other amenities to complete your experience there.
Nooksack Northwood Casino is still fascinating even if you’re not there to bet.
It’s an excellent place to enjoy leisure time during your Lynden travel adventure.
Nooksack Northwood Casino is along Northwood Road in Lynden.
Emergency Brake, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Most of Lynden’s community activities happen at the Northwest Washington Fair and Event Center, including the Annual Fair every August.
So, when you’re in Lynden in August, you might want to join this exciting festive annual affair.
Thousands of people from neighboring towns and cities join the Annual Fair, converging at the Northwest Washington Fair and Event Center.
In addition, this place situated in Downtown Lynden hosts various events such as car shows, sports events, and many more.
Also, most of Lynden’s locals love holding their affairs there, such as weddings, graduation parties, birthday parties, and conventions.
So, a lot is happening at the Northwest Washington Fair and Event Center.
Make sure to include this place in Lynden in your itinerary.
The Jim Kaemingk Sr. Trail may be very short, spanning 0.8 miles or 2,000 steps, but hiking through this area is a worthwhile experience.
This trail is one of the top places for outdoor recreation in Lynden.
People can also bike, go horseback riding, and cross-country skiing during winter.
The Jim Kaemingk Sr. Trail is a highly-recommended trail to traverse if you’re up for a hike.
If you feel you’ve overeaten during your Lynden travel adventure, head to Jim Kaemingk Sr. Trail and burn some calories.
Laurens Hoddenbagh / Shutterstock.com
Before heading home, fill your belly with great food by visiting some of Lynden’s most famous restaurants and eateries.
This city has many places to choose from when it comes to dining.
Check out Steakhouse9 Bistro along E Homestead Blvd if you’re craving a steak.
Visit Bellewood Acres Country Cafe and try its famous apple pie if you want sweet treats.
Joe Mabel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Meanwhile, the Lynden Dutch Bakery across the famous Inn at Lynden offers you genuine Dutch pastries such as stroopwafel, cinnamon rolls, Dutch bread, and donuts.
Of course, don’t forget to visit the famous Mill along Front Street and taste its gourmet food.
On the other hand, visit the Waples Mercantile Building to sample Drizzle Olive Oil & Vinegar Tasting Room.
It serves mouthwatering salads, cheese, sandwiches, and charcuterie platters.
The Inn at Lynden is in the century-old Waples Mercantile Building.
This boutique hotel is one of the best places for lodging in the city, offering you not just comfort but a bit of history.
In addition, the Inn at Lynden is one of the very few hotels in Washington State listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.
Besides its top-notch accommodation, the Inn at Lynden also features a restaurant and stores, making your stay there extra convenient.
Book a room at the Inn at Lynden along Fifth Street if you’re looking for a hotel in Lynden that can offer you comfort, style, and history.
Laurens Hoddenbagh / Shutterstock.com
Explore Lynden’s downtown area to immerse yourself in its unique heritage and culture.
The city is home to the largest Dutch settlement in Washington State, offering a unique heritage and culture you will experience downtown.
Exploring Front Street’s four-block area will show you the iconic 72-foot-tall windmill.
Thye-Wee Gn / Shutterstock.com
The iconic downtown windmill in Lynden serves as a restaurant featuring cheeses, meats, and cocktails.
In addition, you can also visit the Historic Waples Building, the Lynden Pioneer Museum, and shops, restaurants, and services.
If you’re fortunate enough, you might catch some of the city’s annual festivals, such as the Northwest Raspberry Festival, the Christmas Lighted Parade, and the Farmers Day Parade.
Whether you want to shop, dine, go bar hopping, or wish to learn Lynden’s history, there are a plethora of activities you’ll enjoy in its downtown.
The Appel Farms Cheese is a well-known cheesemaker in Northwest Washington from immigrant owners from Holland.
If you’re craving cheese, Appel Farms Cheese offers a wide array of cheeses from cheddar, parmesan, paneer, Havarti, farmstead Swiss to soft quark cheese.
If you want to buy something from your trip to Lynden, you can visit the store situated in the neighboring town of Ferndale.
The Claire VG Thomas Theatre was once part of the Dutch Village Mall, constructed in 1978.
This theatre, featuring 160 seats, gets its name from Queen Juliana of the Netherlands.
This theatre is fascinating, especially for history buffs, because of its unique architecture following the original Dutch style.
The theatre eventually changed its name to Claire VG Thomas, who founded the Lynden Performing Arts Guild.
The art guild became successful in organizing several productions a year.
Today, it remains a prominent place for arts in Lynden, hosting live theatrical performances each year, which is an experience you should not miss.
If you prefer a countryside-like vacation while in Lynden, then you don’t want to miss Bellewood Farms & Distillery.
Boasting the largest apple orchard within Western Washington, this farm offers a variety of apples and pears.
Its farmland property spans about 62 acres and is home to at least 32 acres of semi-dwarf trees.
Be sure to drop by the farm during harvest season.
By then, you can get u-pick pumpkins and apples for your daily consumption.
Its distillery offers farm-to-glass beverages like gin and vodka.
Visit the free tasting room during its operating hours and cool down with a pint of something that the distillery offers.
Bellewood Farms & Distillery is on Guide Meridian Road.
The Northwest Raspberry Festival is the largest admissions-free event not only within Lynden but also throughout Whatcom County.
A city tradition since 1997, this once-sidewalk sale became a tourist-filled event with the influx of more and more attractions and activities.
One of its most-awaited events is a vintage car show.
There’s also an arts and crafts fair, a kids’ zone, and an impressive lineup of musicians and performers.
The Northwest Raspberry Festival aims to put a spotlight on the agricultural industry of Lynden, as well as support locally-sourced products.
July marks the harvest time for these precious fruits, so have your schedule free by then!
Head over to Front Street to be at the center of the celebration.
And don’t forget to grab a raspberry sundae when you’re there!
Your Lynden visit will not be as memorable without a camping experience at Oostema Farmstead.
Located along Northwood Road, this farm paradise extends to 117 acres.
It’s also home to a world-class Wagyu Cattle Farm with scenic green pastures and the like.
The lush fields of the garden are an ideal camping spot for both RVs and tents.
While waiting for nighttime to come for your campfire stories, stroll along the colorful gardens onsite.
Oostema Farmstead is also pet-friendly, so you can bring the whole family over for a different kind of stay.
Homestead Farms Golf Course stands on property that was once dairy land.
Several years later, that fertile land transformed into a par five golf layout with open landing areas for a more challenging game.
One of its points of pride is its hidden hazards and doglegs.
Its amenities within the property include a Fitness Center and a Steakhouse.
Homestead Farms Golf Course is your best bet for a grand tee time with friends and loved ones.
To get to this golf resort facility, drive over to East Homestead Boulevard.
Ready to go retro while visiting Lynden?
You can never go wrong with a visit to Lynden Skateway.
Built in 1946, this skating rink is a family-owned and operated facility.
This rink has various time schedules for open skating and adult hours.
The facility also offers event rentals and skating classes.
Gather your family and friends at Lynden Skateway on Judson Street.
Lynden is more than just a city; it’s a community rich with a unique heritage, history, arts, and many outdoor activities and leisure.
So, which of these exciting things will you enjoy first?
Bookmark this post as your handy itinerary during your trip to Lynden.
Discover the world.
© All rights reserved.
