Entertainment

POSTED: Tuesday, Apr. 17, 2007

Ferndale attractions grow with the city

While Ferndale’s historic downtown is only about nine square blocks, the city center is surrounded by parks that celebrate Ferndale’s natural beauty and its pioneer heritage. Five pioneer murals combine with several authentic Lummi totem poles to give downtown Ferndale a distinctively frontier image.

What’s there: Hiking, parks and gardens, dining

Who will enjoy it: Couples, families and out-of-towners.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

How to get there: From I-5, take exit 262 and head west on Main Street. Take Main Street across the Nooksack River into downtown Ferndale.

Parking: Free parking lines both sides of Main Street and Second Avenue.

Plan to stay: 2-3 hours. A recent downtown improvement project brought new curbs, sidewalks and bike lanes making downtown Ferndale more pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly.

DINING

Breakfast: Babe’s Place, 2038 Main St., 380-0705; open 6 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 6 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday.

Lunch: Kowloon Inn, 5625 Third Ave., 384-4600; open 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Tuesday- Sunday for lunch buffet and 4:30-9 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday for dinner. Or try Grant’s Drive-In, 1861 Main St., 384-1240; open 9 a.m.-8 p.m. daily.

Dinner: Main Street Bar and Grill, 2005 Main St., 312-9162; open 9 a.m.-2 a.m. daily. Or try Chihuahua Family Mexican Restaurant, 5694 Third Ave., 384-5820; open 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Community-wide garage sale (April 28): Residents in Ferndale and Custer invite buyers and browsers to rummage at the annual community garage sale. A map showing those participating in the event can be picked up at the Ferndale Chamber of Commerce, 5683 Second Ave., starting April 23. For more information call 384- 3042.

Scottish Highland Games (June 2-3): Two-day event will be held in Pioneer Park this year. Attractions include caber tossing, fencing demonstrations, Celtic entertainment, arts and crafts, Irish step dancers, food vendors, camping and more.

FOUR THINGS TO DO

1. Tennant Lake Interpretive Center and Fragrance Garden

Location: 5326 Nielsen Road, 384-3064

Directions: Heading west on Main Street, take a left on Hovander Road at the railroad underpass. Then take a right onto Nielsen Road and go all the way to the end.

Hours: Fragrance Garden is open year-round from 8 a.m.- dusk and the Interpretive Center’s spring hours are noon-4 p.m. Thursday-Saturday.

Web site: www.co.whatcom.wa.us/parks/tennantlake. The Tennant Lake Interpretive Center’s mission is to promote awareness, appreciation and conservation of wetlands through educational programs about the plants and animals of Tennant Lake. Visitors can walk the boardwalk around the swampy marshlands surrounding the lake or take in the view from the 50-foot lookout tower. The Fragrance Garden is wheelchair accessible and signs describing the more than 200 herb varieties, such as curry and rosemary, are also in Braille.

2. Historic Pioneer Park

Location: First Avenue and Cherry Street

Hours: 11:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday

Tour Fees: Adults $3, ages 6- 12 $2, under 6 free

Heading west on Main Street, take a left on First Avenue to Cherry Street. Pioneer Park is home to one of the largest collections of cedar slab log cabins dated from between 1873- 1895. The city of Ferndale assembled these cabins from all over Whatcom County over the course of several decades. Featured cabins include one of the earliest churches in Whatcom County from 1876, the Lynden jail from around 1880 and a one-room schoolhouse from 1890.

3. Hovander Homestead Park

Location: Nielsen and River Lea Road

Hours: 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

Directions: Heading west on Main Street, take a left on Hovander Road at the railroad underpass. Then take a right onto Nielsen Road. Heading down Nielsen Road, take a right on River Lea Road, which winds around a corner to a turn-of-the-century farmhouse.

The Hovander Homestead Park grounds include a barn, a garden and a veteran’s memorial. The park has views of Mount Baker and access to the Nooksack River. Hikers can enjoy several trails inside the park. A portion of the Coast Millennium Trail starts at the boat launch at the north end of the park and winds along the Nooksack River on the park’s west edge. On the Dike Loop trail hikers can explore birds and wetlands for six miles along the Nooksack River through Hovander Homestead and Tennant Lake parks. Also, a short halfmile trail connects Hovander with Tennant Lake Park.

4. Vanderyacht City Park

Location: Bass Street

Hours: Dawn to dusk

Heading west on Main Street, take a right on Second Avenue, go over the train tracks and then take a right onto Bass Street. Bring the dogs because Vanderyacht City Park is an off-leash dog park. The 13-acre park has a beautiful scenic walk along the Nooksack River with an interpretive trail pointing out the natural wonders above and below. Benches, barbeque grills, and a large grassy field provide a great place to play and frolic with pets.

“Day Tripping” seeks to explore areas in Whatcom County that can be enjoyed in an afternoon. If you have an idea for “Day Tripping” contact Lance Henderson at lance.henderson@bellinghamherald.com or call 756-2859.