In 1956, in an effort to lessen the chance of future world conflicts, President Dwight D. Eisenhower proposed a people-to-people program between the United States and other nations that would involve people and organized groups at all levels of society. The program was originally housed under the National League of Cities. This became Sister Cities International in 1967.
The Bellingham Sister Cities Association (BSCA) is a part of this international organization promoting “person-to-person” activities between countries around the world. Bellingham has four sister cities; all are port cities located around the Pacific Rim.
Bellingham is a seafront community located east of the San Juan Islands archipelago and the beautiful Salish Sea with its resident Orca whale
pods. However, less than a 90-minute drive to our east we have Mt. Baker, a dormant volcano towering nearly 3,300 meters in height. Our
area also offers a very wide range of outdoor activities from sailing to skiing, trails that are great for hiking or mountain biking, kayaking in the ocean or on the Nooksack River, or simply taking leisurely walks around historic Fairhaven or through neighborhoods filled with beautifully restored 100-year-old homes. We also have a very active art community, many micro-breweries and a wide variety of excellent restaurants.
Bellingham’s Sister Cities are:
- Tateyama, Japan
- Punta Arenas, Chile
- Vaasa, Finland
- Cheongju, South Korea
- Port Stephens, Australia
- Tsetserleg, Mongolia
- Nakhodka, Russia
For additional information about our beautiful and vibrant city of Bellingham please visit the websites below that will give you an idea of what our city has to offer.
We are sure you fill find something that piques your interest.
www.adventuresnw.com – Adventures Northwest Magazine has always been about expressing the beauty of where we live, highlighting the importance of connecting to the natural world and supporting our community.
http://cascadiaweekly.com/ – Cascadia Weekly highlights the wide variety of year-round activities we all enjoy here in Bellingham ranging from springtime’s tulip festival to summer sailing regattas to skiing conditions to the performing arts.
https://www.bellingham.org/event-calendar/ – The Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism website provides a wealth of information about local events, dining options, hiking or biking trails, water sports, museums, and so much more.