Travel outlet names Bellingham the best adventure destination in the world for 2024
Adventure probably isn’t the first word you’d associate with subdued excitement. But according to travel outlet Matador Network, the City of Subdued Excitement is also the best place to go for an adventure.
Bellingham named best adventure destination
Matador Network named Bellingham the best adventure destination of 2024 when it released its year-end travel awards in early December. Bellingham won the award over 13 other finalists, who were picked by Matador Network staff. The award stays in the Pacific Northwest after Vancouver Island won the 2023 edition.
“We are honored that our area continues to garner global recognition for our outdoor recreation,” Dylan Deane-Boyle, president and chief executive officer of Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism, said in an email to the Bellingham Herald.
From skiing to mountain biking to beer
Matador Network touted Bellingham’s access to a wide variety of outdoor sports, from skiing to mountain biking, watersports and hiking. The outlet recommended the usual suspects – skiing Mount Baker, biking Galbraith Mountain and hiking North Cascades National Park — as well as water sports on the Salish Sea and hiking in nearby Glacier, Washington.
“From hiking and snow sports at Mount Baker to kayaking in the Salish Sea to exploring North Cascades National Park, Bellingham and Whatcom County offer something for every kind of adventure-seeker,” Deane-Boyle said.
But Matador Network also touted the abundance of options within city limits, from walking through Whatcom Falls Park to jumping off Taylor Dock, as well as riding a bike at the Waterfront Pump Track.
While the award focused on Bellingham’s access to the outdoors, it also gave the city high marks for its more laid-back indoor options. Stemma Brewing Co., El Sueñito Brewing Company and Otherlands Beer all earned a mention as great places for a post-hike beer.
The city’s downtown bar scene was also highlighted, from The Orion to Cap Hansen’s Tavern and Red Rum.
How are the Matador awards chosen?
Matador Network staff judged 14 finalists based on accessibility, range of experiences, sustainability, cost, seasonality, accommodations, and crowds, before picking Bellingham as its winner. Finalists were nominated by Matador Network staff based on their travel experience and knowledge.
Here’s the list of the 13 other finalists:
West Texas
South Dakota Badlands
Crested Butte, Colorado
Squamish, British Columbia
Anchorage, Alaska
La Paz, Mexico
Ogden, Utah
Durango, Colorado
Karakol, Kyrgyzstan
Galapagos Islands
Nelson, British Columbia
Borneo Island, Indonesia
Hokkaido, Japan
Matador Network also opened voting for a readers’ choice top adventure destination, and they picked the Galapagos Islands.
This story was originally published December 10, 2024 at 3:31 PM with the headline "Travel outlet names Bellingham the best adventure destination in the world for 2024."