Whales and wonders in Birch Bay
Closer to Vancouver than it is to Seattle, Birch Bay encapsulates the beauty of the Pacific Northwest coast as it arcs its way along the cold and icy waters of the Georgia Strait. With Mount Baker looming in the background and rock-studded beachfronts ringing the small towns, you're likely to be spending your days combing through the grass-topped dunes, kayaking between the coves, or spotting orcas splashing their tails out across the sound. Birch Bay vacation rentals come in all shapes and sizes, from cozy waterside cottages to homey lodges with gardens on the edge of the beach.
Birch Bay has natural draws aplenty
The real pull of Birch Bay vacation rentals on the water are the natural attractions that abound. You can just look out across the Georgia Strait and hope to see killer whales splashing in the swells. You can glance to the horizon, and on clear days make out the hulking outline of Mount Cook. The Birch Bay State Park has the best of the pebble beaches of the area, backed by dunes and trodden by fist-sized sea crabs in the mornings.
Ocean enjoyments courtesy of Birch Bay
With the remote San Juan Islands, and the fish-teeming waters of the Puget Sound and Strait of Juan de Fuca right on the doorstep of those Birch Bay vacation rentals, it's easy to see why so many a trip here involves a fishing charter, whale watching, sailing – the list of water-based fun goes on. Others will prefer to stay on dry land, where a smattering of rocky beaches and country clubs awaits. And that's not even mentioning excursions to Vancouver city, sat just an hour's drive to the north.
Birch Bay is surrounded by nature
Birch Bay is surrounded by precisely the sort of natural amphitheater you'd expect from an enclave in the middle of the Pacific Northwest. In one direction, you'll see vistas of the Canadian Coast Ranges expanding on the horizon. To the east, the mighty silhouette of Mount Baker in the WA Cascades can be picked out when the weather's clear. Meanwhile, the bays and inlets closer to home are a little softer on the eye. They have sloping pebble coves, are splashed by light waves, and come peppered with humpback and orca whales.
Transportation options to and around Birch Bay
Fly into Bellingham, WA (BLI-Bellingham Intl.), the closest airport, located 12.8 mi (20.6 km) from the city center. If you can't find a flight that's convenient for your trip, you could also fly into Vancouver Intl. Airport (YVR), which is 27.4 mi (44.1 km) away.