Lovely Things in Lynden (from a brand-new resident)

Hey everyone, it’s Tiffany here. I closed on my Lynden home two months ago and the paint fumes have settled, the boxes are (almost all) unpacked, and the garden is planted. I thought I’d share some of my favorite parts of being a Lynden resident, as someone who before this move, has never lived north of the Axton Rd.

Walkability/Bikeability: 

Most of Lynden is flat. Like really flat. With wide shoulders and sidewalks (which, unlike in Bellingham, it’s legal to bike on). I haven’t ventured too far from my own neighborhood yet, but there are so many options for a nice Sunday afternoon cruise. It’s only 5 miles from corner to corner of town (Northwood & Badger to Front St & Meridian), and there are a multitude of pretty streets and subdivisions to explore. (Btw walking Front St hand-in-hand at night can be pretty magical too).

Lynden Dutch Bakery:

Okay, this one’s a bit sentimental. While I’ve never lived in Lynden before, my Mom would bring me up from our Bellingham home for Mom-and-me dates when I was a preteen. I’d get a white chocolate raspberry muffin and milk. I still got to order milk on a recent stop at the bakery – this time as the adult, on the next generation of girls’ day adventures in Lynden. 

Eucatastrophe Books:

My FAVORITE spot in Lynden. If you saw their Wes-Anderson trend reel recently, that was me behind the camera during a spontaneous shoot just before the store opened! Eucatastrophe roasts coffee beans onsite (which makes the place smell amazing and also means they’re the official supplier for my house), serves up all sorts of coffee and yumminess, has cafe space for conversations and writing, offers a classroom space for community education and events, and of course - BOOKS!

Edaleen Dairy:

Edaleen’s iconic local ice cream was already well-known to me and I’ve already made at least one just-before-closing run for a Saturday night ice cream sundae. Lately I’ve become a big fan of their sub sandwiches. There’s nothing like a thicc sammie to break up a long, hot stretch of yardwork, amiright?

Vander Giessen Nursery:

I didn’t realize “Tomato Days” were such a big deal around here –til I was standing in a line of 20-ish people at 8:55AM last Saturday. Most of this year’s garden comes from Whatcom County’s oldest nursery where (in typical Lynden fashion) I ran into an old acquaintance!

Places I want to go to (soon):

Okay, it’s only been two months so it’s not like I’ve been able to explore everything yet!  I’m looking forward to scouting out the Jansen Art Center, which I didn’t know til recently is open to the public with free admission to the galleries (Tuesday-Saturday; check their website for open hours). They offer classes, performance, and youth programs; the space is equipped with five studios for various artistic disciplines. 

The Lynden Skateway roller rink! There are open skates every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and rumor has it that they still offer adult-sized skater frames (because I’m terrified of falling and adult bodies are very expensive to repair).

“Oh, it’s from Second Chance” is a common refrain in my family’s homes whenever I compliment a new outfit or home decor item. I haven’t yet made it there since moving up here, but this is Lynden’s premier thrift store for clothing, housewares, furniture, books, and jewelry. Since they also have a “here’s what we don’t accept” list, the result is a bit more curated than your everyday [redacted-name]-type place, while still offering the thrill of hunting for and scoring a deal. 

The Lynden Farmers Market opens in just a few weeks! A couple of dozen vendors will be posting up at Centennial Park across from the Lynden Library Saturday 10am-2pm from June-September. There looks to be live music, food trucks, and young entrepreneurs (aged 10-18) learning about marketing and customer service. 

What else should be on my must-experience list as a new Lynden resident? Shoot me an email at tiffany@cohengroupnw.com!

Written by Tiffany Holden. Cover photo taken in Lynden in August of 2022.