From the downtown harbor, boats depart regularly for the nearby San Juan Islands. Bellingham Farmers market attracts more than 100 local vendors and thousands of visitors over long summer weekends.

The town has a large retiree community, many of whom are no doubt attracted by the state's lack of income tax. Mild summers (average July high of 73 degrees) and winters (average January low of 32) are another selling point (as long as you don't mind frequent cloudy days).

At the Academy of Lifelong Learning at Western Washington University, faculty or other experts lead 60 multi-session classes and excursions a year. That has drawn about 250 members to the 12-year-old program.