Lake Padden  

Enjoying a walk around one of Bellingham’s most popular lakes is a great way to step outside and enjoy the cool fall breeze. Not as many people head out to the lake from late October into early December, so there is a great chance you’ll be the only one for a long stretch of trail. Bring a thermos of warm cider or tea and enjoy the silence.  

Biking 

Taking a ride along Squalicum Harbor or near Chuckanut Drive is a fun option to see all the natural beauty of our area, especially the vibrant greens that come with all the rain we get. Bellingham is extra bike friendly with a whole network of trails, including some great spots near the Civic Athletic Complex and Whatcom Falls Park. 

Henderson’s

They’ll buy the books collecting dust on your shelf, and they’ll sell you some books that other people never got to reading. They’re a great place to get lost inside when you’re trying to take shelter from a downpour. Fiction, fantasy, biographies- they’ve got every genre you can think of – plus they’ve got sheet music, postcards, buttons, and all sorts of miscellany to explore within their towering labyrinth. 

Seasonal Spices and Movie Rentals 

If you’ve picked up a book from Henderson’s or rented a movie from The Pickford Film Center’s Film Is Truth database and are hoping to pair a good story with a cozy beverage or meal, look no further than your local tea shop. Wonderland Teas and Spices in downtown Bellingham stocks up at this time of year with special spice blends for mulling cider or wine as well as seasoning packets for plenty of good soups or roasts. Grab a packet for mulling and make some tasty hot apple cider in time for a late-autumn scary movie screening as the rains fall outside your window. 

Attend a Rock Show 

Alternative rock, metal and punk have been staples of Bellingham’s live music scene since time immemorial. Current local bands are keeping the tradition alive at venues across the county. From The Shakedown to the Wild Buffalo to Main St. Bar and Grill, there’s no shortage of heavy, fast, cathartic live shows on the docket as the cold darkness settles in. And there’s no better way to warm up than by thrashing around amongst the blood, sweat and spilt beer of a mosh pit. So, head out, raise those horns up high, and salute some local lords of RAWK!