Fairhaven is the most characterful district in Bellingham — a compact Victorian-era village at the southern end of the city that has managed to retain its historic brick streetscape without becoming a theme park. The main street (Village Green) is lined with independent bookshops, restaurants, and galleries, anchored by Village Books, a genuinely excellent independent bookstore that has operated here since 1980.
The neighbourhood was once a rival town that merged with Bellingham in 1903, and the sense of a distinct community persists. The Alaska ferry terminal is here, giving Fairhaven a practical reason for visitors to make the trip south from downtown. The waterfront walk along Padden Creek connects Fairhaven to the bay, and the surrounding residential streets have some of the best Victorian architecture in Bellingham.