Lynden, Washington: a Dutch girls weekend an hour from the border

Lynden was settled by Dutch farmers and never let go of it. There is a windmill on Front Street, brick storefronts along it, and a bakery that makes poffertjes. Behind the town the farmland runs out to Mount Baker.

It is an easy weekend. The town is small, the driving is short, and you can add the Bellingham distilleries if the group wants more.

When to go

Summer or winter, and they are different trips.

Summer has the Northwest Raspberry Festival in July and the NW Washington Fair in August. Winter has the lighted Christmas parade on the first Saturday in December and the kind of weather that makes a spa day sensible.

Spring is apple blossom season in late April with the Farmers Day Parade. Autumn is apple picking at Bellewood.

What a weekend costs

$175 to $575 per person per day.

Where you would stay

The Inn at Lynden is in a 100-year-old building right downtown, $150 to $250. It is the one to book. You walk to everything from it, and guests get free classes at Lynden Yoga Collective.

Oostema Farmstead is an adults-only 117-acre Wagyu cattle ranch with mountain views, $200 to $300. This is the quiet one.

Cobblestone Hotel and Suites has an indoor pool and a breakfast buffet, $149 to $169.

Homestead Resort does condo-style units with a pool and golf, $129 to $166, which works if the group wants kitchens.

Every decision, already made for you

Where to stay, where to eat, what to do, and a ready made 48 hour plan for every town. Pick one, send it to the group, go.

See the handbookOne time payment. Love it or full refund.

Where you would eat

Lynden Dutch Bakery is the mandatory breakfast. Poffertjes and oliebollen, made the way they are made in the Netherlands.

Wissota Chophouse inside the Cobblestone does premium steaks up to $38 and fresh fish.

Avenue Bread has oversized sandwiches and a shepherd's pie people order on purpose.

Fairway Cafe is the local one. Clam chowder and diner food.

The Steakhouse Bistro and Lounge averages $29 for dinner entrees.

What to drink

Bellewood Farms Distillery was Washington's first apple distillery. The vodka and gin tastings are free.

Samson Estates Winery makes fruit wines from local berries, including a raspberry.

Overflow Taps in the Waples Building pours local beer and wine flights.

Chuckanut Bay Distillery in Bellingham runs $20 tours with barrel room access.

The parts most visitors miss

Jim Kaemingk Sr. Trail is a paved city path that passes a stone cottage which looks like it was lifted out of Europe. Free, and it takes an hour.

Twin Sisters Creamery does artisanal cheese with pairing suggestions for the local wines.

Grace Harbor Farms is a cult favourite for dairy: pumpkin spice eggnog, thick yogurt.

Berthusen Park preserves an 1883 farm homestead with old-growth trails.

What the weekend looks like

Friday is checking into the Inn at Lynden, dinner at Avenue Bread or the chophouse, and drinks at Overflow Taps. Saturday is pastries at the Dutch Bakery, the Bellewood distillery tour, lunch at Fairway Cafe, the Heritage Museum and a sunset walk on the Kaemingk Trail. Sunday is a spa day pass at Oasis, the boutiques, and cheese from Twin Sisters for the drive home.

The full plan, in order and with the bookings, is in The Girls' Trip Handbook.

This town is one of 80 on the Feels Like Europe Index, all of which pass the same five points.

Frequently asked questions