This Charming Little Town Is One Of Washington’s Best Kept Secrets

There’s certainly no shortage of charming small towns in Washington. We’ve got our Bavarian village (Leavenworth), our Little Norway (Poulsbo) and our Victorian town (Port Townsend), just to name a few. But our little Dutch-influenced city, Lynden, is sometimes overlooked. And all it takes is one weekend spent here to realized how underrated it is.

Lynden is located just 5 miles close of the Canadian border about 17 miles north of Bellingham. It’s known for its farms, church community and its beautiful windmills.

Lynden looks the way it does because it experienced an influx of Dutch immigration in the early to mid-1900s. The locals chose to preserve the European-style architecture, making for one pleasant little town.

Lynden might not have the same appeal as some of our more popular tourist towns, but it’s a great place to visit. They have some fun events and festivals throughout the year including the Raspberry Festival in July.

One of the best things about Lynden is the food, especially the authentic Dutch food at places like Dutch Mothers Family Restaurant.

And of course, the Lynden Dutch Bakery is a must.

Explore the Lynden Pioneer Museum to get a better idea of the local history.

The City Park, home of the Million Smiles playground, is a beautiful place to take an afternoon stroll.

Lynden is a great destination for a weekend getaway, but you could also see a lot on a day trip. Here are some other beautiful Washington day trip ideas.