Geneva

Geneva

If you are the type of person whose stress melts away when you’re near the lake, out of the busy-ness of downtown or the interstate, and yet not so far into the county that you feel “remote”, then Bellingham’s Geneva neighborhood may be just your ticket!

Located on Lake Whatcom’s north-western shore, Geneva is bordered by Whatcom Falls to the west, Lookout and Galbraith Mountains with their thousands of acres and endless miles of hiking and biking trails to the south, and Silver Beach to the north. Characterized by a mixture of home styles ranging from early-20th century Craftsman, to NW Contemporary, to waterfront cottages and multi-million dollar trophy homes as well, Geneva is the opposite of a “cookie-cutter neighborhood.” 

Most homes date from the 70’s to the present, and due in part to its proximity to the lake and the abundance of waterfront and water-view homes, Geneva is generally considered to be one of Bellingham’s more affluent neighborhoods. With lot sizes generally larger than you’ll find among the in-city neighborhoods, with plenty of mature trees lining the quiet side streets, and Whatcom County’s largest lake lending a sense of calm, Geneva has a very peaceful atmosphere among Bellingham neighborhoods.

In Geneva you are 10 to 12 minutes along Lakeway Drive back west to Whole Foods, Fred Meyer, Woods Coffee, and Interstate 5 access. From Geneva you can also drive south along Lake Whatcom Blvd. past Sudden Valley and through Alger, where you can access Interstate 5 already 12 miles south of the Bellingham exits. You are just minutes away from Euclid Park and its quaint beach access, or Stimpson Nature Reserve, which boasts a 4+ mile trail among massive old-growth trees. Venture just a few minutes more from Geneva and the parks, trails, and outdoor recreation are practically endless.

There are two schools in Geneva: the fully-public Geneva Elementary, and private Whatcom Hills Waldorf School. Western Geneva homes are served by Carl Cozier Elementary, right across the street from Whole Foods. And located a mile from Geneva back towards town, Kulshan Middle School serves 6th through 8th graders. 

Be sure to include a drive out to Geneva in your visit of Bellingham. Because it is outside the city limits, it is excluded from some maps as a notable, named neighborhood, but please take our word that it is very much worth checking out!